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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,573 per month in Port of Spain vs $1,331 in Couva, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,743 per month in Port of Spain vs $2,087 in Couva, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,913 per month in Port of Spain vs $2,843 in Couva, rent included.

Port of Spain costs about 18% more than Couva, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Port of Spain sits 17% above the global median, while Couva is 1% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.21 TTD 68.4

$10.22 TTD 68.5

-0.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.4 TTD 599

$89.1 TTD 597

0.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 TTD 48.97

$7.19 TTD 48.14

1.67%

Cappuccino

$3.66 TTD 24.54

$3.74 TTD 25.04

-2.14%

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

$1.05 TTD 7.01

$1.08 TTD 7.25

-2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 TTD 5.50

$0.78 TTD 5.25

5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 TTD 12.13

$1.80 TTD 12.04

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 TTD 20.46

$3.01 TTD 20.17

1.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.63 TTD 17.61

$2.75 TTD 18.45

-4.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 TTD 18.16

$2.81 TTD 18.82

-3.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.56 TTD 17.16

$2.62 TTD 17.57

-2.29%

Eggs

$5.03 TTD 33.73

$5.13 TTD 34.37

-1.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.98 TTD 53.5

$7.72 TTD 51.8

3.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.31 TTD 69.1

$10.58 TTD 70.9

-2.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.21 TTD 95.2

$14.51 TTD 97.2

-2.07%

Apples (1kg)

$5.73 TTD 38.38

$5.86 TTD 39.25

-2.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 TTD 16.79

$2.50 TTD 16.75

0.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 TTD 29.05

$4.40 TTD 29.47

-1.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 TTD 32.28

$4.76 TTD 31.90

1.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 TTD 9.71

$1.48 TTD 9.93

-2.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 TTD 11.18

$1.71 TTD 11.45

-2.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 TTD 13.15

$1.97 TTD 13.20

-0.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 TTD 9.84

$1.46 TTD 9.79

0.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 TTD 38.67

$6.06 TTD 40.62

-4.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.09 TTD 121

$18.65 TTD 125

-3.00%

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

$2.85 TTD 19.08

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

$1.05 TTD 7.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 TTD 8.56

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

$33.8K TTD 226.7K

0.64%

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

$38.0K TTD 254.6K

$38.5K TTD 258.2K

-1.37%

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

$80.6 TTD 540

0.11%

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

$45.86 TTD 307

$46.08 TTD 309

-0.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.2 TTD 410

$61.0 TTD 408

0.41%

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

$10.11 TTD 67.7

-0.59%

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

$329 TTD 2,203

$334 TTD 2,239

-1.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,096 TTD 47.5K

$7,129 TTD 47.8K

-0.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 TTD 398

$59.3 TTD 397

0.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.55 TTD 258

$38.56 TTD 258

-0.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$144 TTD 967

$146 TTD 980

-1.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 TTD 849

$130 TTD 870

-2.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 TTD 5,086

$407 TTD 2,726

86.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 TTD 3,208

$385 TTD 2,578

24.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,841 TTD 12.3K

$524 TTD 3,510

251.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,273 TTD 8,526

$474 TTD 3,174

168.60%

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 Couva: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $759 in Port of Spain versus $407 in Couva. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Port of Spain versus $89.0 in Couva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $379 – making Port of Spain the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Couva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,573 in Port of Spain, $1,331 in Couva – roughly 18% apart. Port of Spain costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,360 per month in Port of Spain and $1,997 in Couva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Couva, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,573 in Port of Spain and $1,331 in Couva. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $329 per month in Port of Spain and $334 in Couva. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Couva, where all-in costs run around $1,331, than in Port of Spain at $1,573. In Couva it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port of Spain it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Couva has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,331 in Couva to $1,573 in Port of Spain. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Couva. 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.