Cost of Living Comparison Between Port of Spain and San Fernando Cost of Living Comparison Between Port of Spain and San Fernando

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,549 in Port of Spain versus $1,198 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,722 in Port of Spain versus $1,963 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,895 in Port of Spain versus $2,727 in San Fernando.

Living in Port of Spain is roughly 29% more expensive than San Fernando, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Port of Spain is 15% above, San Fernando is 11% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.50 TTD 71.0

$10.19 TTD 68.9

3.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.3 TTD 604

$59.3 TTD 401

50.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 TTD 51.0

$7.36 TTD 49.77

2.45%

Cappuccino

$3.75 TTD 25.36

$3.55 TTD 24.03

5.63%

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

$1.04 TTD 7.03

$1.06 TTD 7.15

-1.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 TTD 5.58

$0.75 TTD 5.06

10.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 TTD 12.23

$1.89 TTD 12.77

-4.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 TTD 20.48

$2.46 TTD 16.63

23.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.64 TTD 17.82

$2.07 TTD 14.01

27.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 TTD 18.30

$2.34 TTD 15.81

15.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.65 TTD 17.93

$2.63 TTD 17.77

0.76%

Eggs

$5.04 TTD 34.06

$3.77 TTD 25.47

33.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.70 TTD 52.0

$7.96 TTD 53.8

-3.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.61 TTD 71.7

$10.53 TTD 71.2

0.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.32 TTD 96.8

$8.52 TTD 57.6

68.08%

Apples (1kg)

$5.78 TTD 39.06

$5.96 TTD 40.27

-3.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 TTD 17.42

$2.58 TTD 17.48

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 TTD 29.76

$4.32 TTD 29.23

1.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.84 TTD 32.70

$4.74 TTD 32.05

2.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 TTD 9.68

$1.23 TTD 8.30

16.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 TTD 11.54

$0.73 TTD 4.92

134.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 TTD 13.31

$1.46 TTD 9.84

34.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 TTD 9.55

$1.21 TTD 8.16

16.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.93 TTD 40.06

$5.69 TTD 38.45

4.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.16 TTD 123

$17.94 TTD 121

1.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 TTD 14.48

$1.54 TTD 10.41

38.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 TTD 18.54

$2.82 TTD 19.06

-2.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 TTD 6.77

$0.42 TTD 2.86

138.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.5 TTD 666

$43.75 TTD 296

125.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 TTD 7.04

$0.86 TTD 5.79

20.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 TTD 8.32

$0.91 TTD 6.16

35.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.65 TTD 99.1

$14.70 TTD 99.4

-0.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 TTD 7.68

$1.03 TTD 6.98

10.68%

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

$34.0K TTD 229.7K

$33.8K TTD 228.2K

0.66%

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

$38.0K TTD 257.0K

$38.4K TTD 259.8K

-1.07%

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

$80.6 TTD 545

$44.62 TTD 302

80.57%

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

$47.38 TTD 320

$41.80 TTD 283

13.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 TTD 416

$45.79 TTD 310

34.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 TTD 375

$45.66 TTD 309

21.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 TTD 88.2

$8.95 TTD 60.5

45.70%

Cinema Ticket

$9.96 TTD 67.3

$9.01 TTD 60.9

10.54%

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

$328 TTD 2,215

$324 TTD 2,190

1.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,186 TTD 48.6K

$2,257 TTD 15.3K

218.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 TTD 401

$44.69 TTD 302

32.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.10 TTD 258

$36.57 TTD 247

4.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$144 TTD 974

$89.0 TTD 602

61.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 TTD 867

$87.7 TTD 593

46.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$760 TTD 5,137

$550 TTD 3,720

38.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 TTD 3,203

$341 TTD 2,302

39.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,820 TTD 12.3K

$952 TTD 6,436

91.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,266 TTD 8,557

$697 TTD 4,714

81.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,357 TTD 29.5K

$2,003 TTD 13.5K

117.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 TTD 11.5K

$1,489 TTD 10.1K

14.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$728 TTD 4,919

$1,031 TTD 6,971

-29.44%

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 7, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $760 in Port of Spain and $550 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 42% 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 $59.0 in San Fernando for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $333 per month, with San Fernando 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 San Fernando: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Fernando is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, San Fernando earns 42% less. 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: $760 in Port of Spain versus $550 in San Fernando. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,549 per month in Port of Spain versus $1,198 in San Fernando – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando runs roughly 125% less than in Port of Spain. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,198 in San Fernando versus $1,549 in Port of Spain, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Fernando but tight or insufficient in Port of Spain. The gap between the two cities makes San Fernando 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.

Expats usually find San Fernando gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.