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 $1,639 per month in Port of Spain vs $1,149 in Couva, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,759 per month in Port of Spain vs $1,756 in Couva, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,879 per month in Port of Spain vs $2,363 in Couva, rent included.

Port of Spain costs about 43% more than Couva, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Port of Spain sits 19% above the global median, while Couva is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.44 TTD 70.4

$10.39 TTD 70.0

0.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.4 TTD 602

$60.0 TTD 405

48.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.71 TTD 58.7

$8.23 TTD 55.5

5.83%

Cappuccino

$3.76 TTD 25.34

$3.83 TTD 25.83

-1.83%

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

$1.04 TTD 7.01

$1.00 TTD 6.76

4.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 TTD 5.12

$0.75 TTD 5.06

1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 TTD 14.60

$1.80 TTD 12.16

20.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 TTD 24.70

$2.53 TTD 17.04

44.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.46 TTD 16.59

$2.00 TTD 13.47

23.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 TTD 17.46

$2.33 TTD 15.72

11.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.83 TTD 19.05

$2.84 TTD 19.11

-0.35%

Eggs

$4.40 TTD 29.66

$3.74 TTD 25.24

17.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.49 TTD 43.75

$6.74 TTD 45.47

-3.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.08 TTD 68.0

$10.20 TTD 68.7

-1.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.68 TTD 78.7

$9.01 TTD 60.7

29.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.62 TTD 37.90

$5.54 TTD 37.36

1.44%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 TTD 21.12

$2.52 TTD 17.01

24.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 TTD 25.52

$3.70 TTD 24.96

2.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 TTD 29.47

$4.32 TTD 29.11

1.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 TTD 14.76

$0.76 TTD 5.12

188.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 TTD 12.85

$0.72 TTD 4.85

165.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 TTD 12.69

$1.44 TTD 9.73

30.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 TTD 9.38

$1.17 TTD 7.86

18.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 TTD 39.29

$5.56 TTD 37.48

4.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 TTD 129

$17.97 TTD 121

6.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 TTD 15.52

$1.49 TTD 10.02

54.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 TTD 19.84

$3.06 TTD 20.64

-3.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 TTD 9.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 TTD 906

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 TTD 6.84

$0.84 TTD 5.66

20.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 TTD 8.57

$0.89 TTD 6.03

42.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.62 TTD 98.6

$14.73 TTD 99.3

-0.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TTD 7.81

$1.15 TTD 7.77

0.87%

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

$37.5K TTD 252.8K

$37.3K TTD 251.2K

0.64%

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

$41.2K TTD 277.6K

$41.6K TTD 280.5K

-1.00%

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

$89.5 TTD 603

$43.63 TTD 294

105.11%

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

$51.9 TTD 350

$41.36 TTD 279

25.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.7 TTD 382

$44.63 TTD 301

26.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 TTD 377

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.13 TTD 88.5

Cinema Ticket

$8.77 TTD 59.1

$8.74 TTD 58.9

0.34%

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

$405 TTD 2,731

$392 TTD 2,645

3.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K TTD 72.2K

$10.8K TTD 73.0K

-1.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 TTD 368

0.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.9 TTD 350

$36.30 TTD 245

42.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 TTD 966

$89.6 TTD 604

59.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 TTD 687

$88.6 TTD 598

14.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 TTD 6,743

$420 TTD 2,831

138.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 TTD 3,524

$385 TTD 2,597

35.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,216 TTD 14.9K

$524 TTD 3,531

323.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,194 TTD 8,047

$462 TTD 3,117

158.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,316 TTD 29.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,991 TTD 13.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$778 TTD 5,242

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

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

Last update for Port of Spain: September 7, 2026

Last update for Couva: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Port of Spain versus $420 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 $60.0 in Couva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $320 – 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: $1,639 in Port of Spain, $1,149 in Couva – roughly 43% apart. Port of Spain costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Port of Spain and $1,723 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 $1,639 in Port of Spain and $1,149 in Couva. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $405 per month in Port of Spain and $392 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 $1,149, than in Port of Spain at $1,639. 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 $1,149 in Couva to $1,639 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.