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 $1,593 per month in Port of Spain vs $1,323 in Couva, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,747 per month in Port of Spain vs $2,077 in Couva, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,901 per month in Port of Spain vs $2,830 in Couva, rent included.

Port of Spain costs about 20% more than Couva, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Port of Spain sits 19% above the global median, while Couva is 1% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.50 TTD 70.8

$10.48 TTD 70.6

0.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.6 TTD 604

$88.3 TTD 595

1.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 TTD 49.00

$7.61 TTD 51.3

-4.47%

Cappuccino

$3.73 TTD 25.16

$3.73 TTD 25.13

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

$1.10 TTD 7.42

$1.05 TTD 7.05

4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 TTD 5.15

$0.83 TTD 5.61

-8.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TTD 12.83

$1.90 TTD 12.81

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 TTD 20.38

$3.03 TTD 20.39

-0.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 TTD 18.28

$2.65 TTD 17.88

2.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 TTD 19.02

$2.80 TTD 18.85

0.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.61 TTD 17.61

$2.59 TTD 17.44

0.77%

Eggs

$5.14 TTD 34.65

$4.93 TTD 33.24

4.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.77 TTD 52.4

$7.87 TTD 53.0

-1.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.60 TTD 71.5

$10.50 TTD 70.8

0.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.37 TTD 96.9

$14.12 TTD 95.2

1.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 TTD 39.05

$5.80 TTD 39.12

-0.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 TTD 17.09

$2.52 TTD 17.01

0.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 TTD 28.60

$4.29 TTD 28.93

-1.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 TTD 32.83

$4.81 TTD 32.44

1.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 TTD 9.97

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 TTD 11.29

$1.72 TTD 11.57

-2.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 TTD 13.06

$1.95 TTD 13.16

-0.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 TTD 9.55

$1.41 TTD 9.53

0.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 TTD 40.85

$5.82 TTD 39.25

4.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.02 TTD 128

$18.83 TTD 127

1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 TTD 14.95

$2.18 TTD 14.69

1.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 TTD 18.43

$2.82 TTD 19.02

-3.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 TTD 7.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.0 TTD 667

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 TTD 6.86

$1.04 TTD 7.04

-1.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 TTD 8.66

$1.22 TTD 8.25

5.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.61 TTD 98.5

$14.66 TTD 98.8

-0.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 TTD 7.67

$1.14 TTD 7.70

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

$34.4K TTD 231.8K

$33.4K TTD 224.8K

3.08%

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

$38.3K TTD 257.8K

$38.2K TTD 257.7K

0.03%

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

$79.6 TTD 537

$80.7 TTD 544

-1.35%

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

$46.31 TTD 312

$46.92 TTD 316

-1.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.4 TTD 414

$60.7 TTD 409

1.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 TTD 365

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.11 TTD 88.4

Cinema Ticket

$10.23 TTD 69.0

$9.81 TTD 66.2

4.28%

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

$330 TTD 2,225

$321 TTD 2,166

2.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,163 TTD 48.3K

$7,092 TTD 47.8K

1.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 TTD 405

$60.0 TTD 405

0.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.87 TTD 262

$38.82 TTD 262

0.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 TTD 967

$145 TTD 979

-1.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 TTD 861

$127 TTD 854

0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$765 TTD 5,155

$417 TTD 2,812

83.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 TTD 3,254

$384 TTD 2,586

25.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,824 TTD 12.3K

$517 TTD 3,481

253.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,285 TTD 8,664

$472 TTD 3,179

172.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,344 TTD 29.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,726 TTD 11.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$770 TTD 5,188

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Couva: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $765 in Port of Spain versus $417 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 $90.0 in Port of Spain versus $88.0 in Couva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 vs $375 – making Couva 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: $1,593 in Port of Spain, $1,323 in Couva – roughly 20% apart. Port of Spain costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,390 per month in Port of Spain and $1,985 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 $1,593 in Port of Spain and $1,323 in Couva. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $330 per month in Port of Spain and $321 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 $1,323, than in Port of Spain at $1,593. 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 $1,323 in Couva to $1,593 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.