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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,659 in Port of Spain versus $1,274 in Chaguanas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,801 in Port of Spain versus $2,077 in Chaguanas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,944 in Port of Spain versus $2,879 in Chaguanas.

Living in Port of Spain is roughly 30% more expensive than in Chaguanas, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Port of Spain is 21% above, Chaguanas is 7% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.42 TTD 70.1

$10.24 TTD 68.9

1.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.3 TTD 600

$57.8 TTD 389

54.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.83 TTD 59.4

$8.16 TTD 54.9

8.21%

Cappuccino

$3.69 TTD 24.80

$3.18 TTD 21.38

16.04%

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

$1.00 TTD 6.72

$1.24 TTD 8.37

-19.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 TTD 5.12

$0.94 TTD 6.31

-19.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 TTD 14.48

$1.73 TTD 11.62

24.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 TTD 25.25

$2.64 TTD 17.75

42.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.51 TTD 16.90

$2.52 TTD 16.97

-0.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 TTD 17.39

$2.24 TTD 15.05

15.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.83 TTD 19.06

$2.20 TTD 14.80

28.64%

Eggs

$4.27 TTD 28.76

$3.77 TTD 25.37

13.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 TTD 44.43

$7.30 TTD 49.14

-9.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.22 TTD 68.7

$8.21 TTD 55.3

24.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.72 TTD 78.9

$11.62 TTD 78.2

0.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.66 TTD 38.05

$2.94 TTD 19.75

92.52%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 TTD 21.06

$3.08 TTD 20.73

1.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 TTD 25.37

$2.96 TTD 19.93

27.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 TTD 28.62

$5.07 TTD 34.13

-16.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 TTD 14.64

$2.47 TTD 16.65

-11.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 TTD 12.87

$2.19 TTD 14.74

-12.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 TTD 12.44

$1.94 TTD 13.04

-4.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 TTD 9.09

$1.26 TTD 8.46

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.99 TTD 40.29

$2.86 TTD 19.28

109.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.14 TTD 129

$19.62 TTD 132

-2.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 TTD 15.65

$1.89 TTD 12.74

23.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 TTD 19.98

$2.62 TTD 17.60

13.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 TTD 8.88

$0.71 TTD 4.78

85.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 TTD 877

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 TTD 6.81

$2.26 TTD 15.23

-55.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 TTD 8.24

$1.39 TTD 9.36

-12.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.54 TTD 97.8

$14.47 TTD 97.4

0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 TTD 7.47

$1.17 TTD 7.88

-5.13%

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

$37.1K TTD 249.7K

$32.7K TTD 220.3K

13.32%

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

$41.6K TTD 279.6K

$33.1K TTD 222.5K

25.69%

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

$92.1 TTD 620

$104 TTD 702

-11.70%

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

$52.2 TTD 351

$38.65 TTD 260

35.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.4 TTD 386

$50.7 TTD 341

13.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 TTD 379

$50.8 TTD 341

11.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.13 TTD 88.3

$44.57 TTD 300

-70.54%

Cinema Ticket

$8.90 TTD 59.9

$8.69 TTD 58.5

2.42%

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

$391 TTD 2,632

$312 TTD 2,100

25.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K TTD 72.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 TTD 361

$45.56 TTD 307

17.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 TTD 346

$42.24 TTD 284

21.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 TTD 963

$102 TTD 686

40.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 TTD 706

$108 TTD 730

-3.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 TTD 6,770

$474 TTD 3,189

112.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 TTD 3,506

$378 TTD 2,542

37.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,208 TTD 14.9K

$932 TTD 6,271

136.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,182 TTD 7,955

$742 TTD 4,995

59.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,348 TTD 29.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,010 TTD 13.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$775 TTD 5,212

$778 TTD 5,233

-0.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

15.00%

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

Last update for Port of Spain: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chaguanas: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Port of Spain and $474 in Chaguanas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chaguanas pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $89.0 in Port of Spain vs $58.0 in Chaguanas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $328 per month, with Chaguanas cheaper across the board.

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 Chaguanas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chaguanas wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Port of Spain. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chaguanas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 0% lower in Chaguanas. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Port of Spain versus $474 in Chaguanas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Port of Spain. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,659 per month in Port of Spain versus $1,274 in Chaguanas – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,274 in Chaguanas versus $1,659 in Port of Spain, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chaguanas but tight or insufficient in Port of Spain. The gap between the two cities makes Chaguanas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Port of Spain and Chaguanas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chaguanas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.