Cost of Living Comparison Between Port of Spain and Carenage Cost of Living Comparison Between Port of Spain and Carenage

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,573 per month in Port of Spain vs $927 in Carenage, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,743 per month in Port of Spain vs $1,625 in Carenage, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,913 per month in Port of Spain vs $2,322 in Carenage, rent included.

Port of Spain costs about 70% more than Carenage, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Port of Spain sits 17% above the global median, while Carenage is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.21 TTD 68.4

$10.54 TTD 70.6

-3.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.4 TTD 599

$87.6 TTD 587

2.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 TTD 48.97

$7.20 TTD 48.26

1.53%

Cappuccino

$3.66 TTD 24.54

$3.80 TTD 25.49

-3.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 TTD 7.01

$1.05 TTD 7.06

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 TTD 5.50

$0.81 TTD 5.44

1.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 TTD 12.13

$1.81 TTD 12.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 TTD 20.46

$3.07 TTD 20.55

-0.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.63 TTD 17.61

$2.63 TTD 17.63

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 TTD 18.16

$2.77 TTD 18.57

-2.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.56 TTD 17.16

$2.62 TTD 17.56

-2.29%

Eggs

$5.03 TTD 33.73

$5.10 TTD 34.14

-1.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.98 TTD 53.5

$8.05 TTD 53.9

-0.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.31 TTD 69.1

$10.28 TTD 68.9

0.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.21 TTD 95.2

$14.42 TTD 96.6

-1.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.73 TTD 38.38

$5.71 TTD 38.28

0.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 TTD 16.79

$2.51 TTD 16.84

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 TTD 29.05

$4.37 TTD 29.28

-0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 TTD 32.28

$4.77 TTD 31.96

1.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 TTD 9.71

$1.50 TTD 10.06

-3.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 TTD 11.18

$1.66 TTD 11.13

0.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 TTD 13.15

$1.87 TTD 12.54

4.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 TTD 9.84

$1.39 TTD 9.30

5.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 TTD 38.67

$5.93 TTD 39.76

-2.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.09 TTD 121

$18.45 TTD 124

-1.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 TTD 14.55

$2.21 TTD 14.83

-1.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 TTD 19.07

$2.82 TTD 18.91

1.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 TTD 7.10

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.6 TTD 641

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 TTD 7.01

$1.01 TTD 6.77

3.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 TTD 8.56

$1.27 TTD 8.49

0.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.91 TTD 99.9

$14.63 TTD 98.0

1.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 TTD 7.31

$1.10 TTD 7.35

-0.91%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.1K TTD 228.1K

$34.0K TTD 227.9K

0.12%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.0K TTD 254.6K

$38.8K TTD 259.8K

-2.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.6 TTD 540

$79.4 TTD 532

1.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$45.86 TTD 307

$46.87 TTD 314

-2.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.2 TTD 410

$62.2 TTD 417

-1.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 TTD 360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 TTD 88.7

Cinema Ticket

$10.05 TTD 67.3

$9.72 TTD 65.1

3.40%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$329 TTD 2,203

$328 TTD 2,198

0.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,096 TTD 47.5K

$7,171 TTD 48.0K

-1.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 TTD 398

$58.5 TTD 392

1.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.55 TTD 258

$38.33 TTD 257

0.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$144 TTD 967

$147 TTD 986

-1.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 TTD 849

$127 TTD 850

-0.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 TTD 5,086

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 TTD 3,208

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,841 TTD 12.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,273 TTD 8,526

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,382 TTD 29.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,724 TTD 11.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 TTD 4,908

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.38

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Port of Spain: June 1, 2026

Last update for Carenage: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Port of Spain versus $88.0 in Carenage. Groceries tell a different story – $373 in Port of Spain vs $374 in Carenage – so Port of Spain wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Port of Spain vs Carenage: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Port of Spain is pricier by about 70%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,360 per month in Port of Spain and $1,391 in Carenage. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Port of Spain and $88.0 in Carenage. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Port of Spain – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Carenage, where all-in costs run around $927, than in Port of Spain at $1,573. In Carenage it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port of Spain it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Carenage – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Carenage. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port of Spain makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.