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: $1,639 in Port of Spain versus $1,253 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,759 in Port of Spain versus $2,001 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,879 in Port of Spain versus $2,749 in San Fernando.

Living in Port of Spain is roughly 31% more expensive than in San Fernando, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Port of Spain is 19% above, San Fernando is 9% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.44 TTD 70.4

$10.29 TTD 69.4

1.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.4 TTD 602

$59.1 TTD 399

51.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.71 TTD 58.7

$8.15 TTD 54.9

6.87%

Cappuccino

$3.76 TTD 25.34

$3.80 TTD 25.64

-1.05%

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

$1.04 TTD 7.01

$0.99 TTD 6.67

5.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 TTD 5.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 TTD 14.60

$1.87 TTD 12.61

16.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 TTD 24.70

$2.51 TTD 16.92

45.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.46 TTD 16.59

$2.03 TTD 13.66

21.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 TTD 17.46

$2.26 TTD 15.25

14.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.83 TTD 19.05

$2.81 TTD 18.92

0.71%

Eggs

$4.40 TTD 29.66

$3.93 TTD 26.50

11.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.49 TTD 43.75

$6.79 TTD 45.75

-4.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.08 TTD 68.0

$9.95 TTD 67.1

1.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.68 TTD 78.7

$8.72 TTD 58.8

33.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.62 TTD 37.90

$5.54 TTD 37.36

1.44%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 TTD 21.12

$2.47 TTD 16.65

26.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 TTD 25.52

$3.59 TTD 24.23

5.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 TTD 29.47

$4.18 TTD 28.20

4.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 TTD 14.76

$0.72 TTD 4.86

204.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 TTD 12.85

$0.77 TTD 5.19

148.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 TTD 12.69

$1.51 TTD 10.19

24.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 TTD 9.38

$1.16 TTD 7.82

19.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 TTD 39.29

$5.76 TTD 38.84

1.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 TTD 129

$17.73 TTD 120

7.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 TTD 15.52

$1.56 TTD 10.53

47.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 TTD 19.84

$3.04 TTD 20.50

-3.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 TTD 9.22

$0.45 TTD 3.05

204.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 TTD 906

$44.37 TTD 299

202.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 TTD 6.84

$0.87 TTD 5.86

16.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 TTD 8.57

$0.90 TTD 6.09

41.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.62 TTD 98.6

$14.99 TTD 101

-2.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TTD 7.81

$1.17 TTD 7.91

-0.85%

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

$37.5K TTD 252.8K

$36.2K TTD 244.4K

3.45%

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

$41.2K TTD 277.6K

$41.2K TTD 277.8K

-0.04%

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

$89.5 TTD 603

$44.23 TTD 298

102.33%

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

$51.9 TTD 350

$42.55 TTD 287

21.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.7 TTD 382

$46.30 TTD 312

22.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 TTD 377

$51.0 TTD 344

9.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.13 TTD 88.5

Cinema Ticket

$8.77 TTD 59.1

$8.89 TTD 59.9

-1.35%

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

$405 TTD 2,731

$396 TTD 2,670

2.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K TTD 72.2K

$11.0K TTD 74.2K

-2.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 TTD 368

$55.2 TTD 372

-1.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.9 TTD 350

$37.31 TTD 252

39.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 TTD 966

$89.7 TTD 605

59.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 TTD 687

$87.5 TTD 590

16.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 TTD 6,743

$509 TTD 3,429

96.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 TTD 3,524

$391 TTD 2,634

33.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,216 TTD 14.9K

$891 TTD 6,007

148.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,194 TTD 8,047

$745 TTD 5,025

60.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,316 TTD 29.1K

$1,997 TTD 13.5K

116.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,991 TTD 13.4K

$1,513 TTD 10.2K

31.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$778 TTD 5,242

$1,028 TTD 6,928

-24.33%

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 San Fernando: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Port of Spain and $509 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 32% 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 $358 vs $317 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 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 32% lower in San Fernando. 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: $1,000 in Port of Spain versus $509 in San Fernando. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,639 per month in Port of Spain versus $1,253 in San Fernando – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando runs roughly 203% less than in Port of Spain. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,253 in San Fernando versus $1,639 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 31% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.