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: $1,578 in Port of Spain versus $1,217 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,773 in Port of Spain versus $2,005 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,968 in Port of Spain versus $2,794 in San Fernando.

Living in Port of Spain is roughly 30% 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

$10.30 TTD 69.5

$10.40 TTD 70.1

-0.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.3 TTD 602

$59.1 TTD 399

51.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.22 TTD 48.73

$7.54 TTD 50.9

-4.24%

Cappuccino

$3.62 TTD 24.41

$3.68 TTD 24.82

-1.63%

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

$1.09 TTD 7.39

$1.09 TTD 7.34

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 TTD 5.66

$0.77 TTD 5.18

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 TTD 12.33

$1.82 TTD 12.30

0.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 TTD 21.21

$2.48 TTD 16.73

26.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.65 TTD 17.85

$2.03 TTD 13.72

30.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.74 TTD 18.50

$2.34 TTD 15.80

17.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 TTD 17.32

$2.63 TTD 17.71

-2.28%

Eggs

$5.06 TTD 34.11

$3.83 TTD 25.83

32.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.83 TTD 52.8

$8.09 TTD 54.6

-3.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.39 TTD 70.1

$10.45 TTD 70.5

-0.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.23 TTD 96.0

$8.70 TTD 58.7

63.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.74 TTD 38.75

$5.92 TTD 39.97

-3.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 TTD 17.16

$2.48 TTD 16.75

2.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 TTD 29.88

$4.36 TTD 29.41

1.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 TTD 31.41

$4.67 TTD 31.51

-0.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 TTD 9.94

$1.24 TTD 8.35

18.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 TTD 11.71

$0.76 TTD 5.13

128.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 TTD 12.84

$1.49 TTD 10.06

27.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 TTD 9.84

$1.16 TTD 7.85

25.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.99 TTD 40.42

$5.69 TTD 38.36

5.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.46 TTD 131

$17.35 TTD 117

12.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 TTD 14.35

$1.52 TTD 10.24

40.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 TTD 19.04

$2.71 TTD 18.27

4.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 TTD 6.75

$0.46 TTD 3.09

117.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.6 TTD 665

$44.31 TTD 299

122.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 TTD 6.81

$0.85 TTD 5.76

18.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 TTD 8.34

$0.86 TTD 5.77

44.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.94 TTD 101

$14.56 TTD 98.2

2.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 TTD 7.46

$0.99 TTD 6.68

12.12%

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

$33.4K TTD 225.3K

$34.4K TTD 232.1K

-2.92%

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

$37.8K TTD 255.0K

$38.2K TTD 257.8K

-1.11%

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

$79.2 TTD 534

$44.86 TTD 303

76.59%

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

$45.77 TTD 309

$42.88 TTD 289

6.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 TTD 419

$45.00 TTD 304

37.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 TTD 367

$46.91 TTD 316

16.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.90 TTD 87.0

$8.62 TTD 58.2

49.65%

Cinema Ticket

$9.85 TTD 66.5

$8.80 TTD 59.4

11.93%

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

$329 TTD 2,220

$325 TTD 2,195

1.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,350 TTD 49.6K

$2,224 TTD 15.0K

230.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.2 TTD 393

$43.93 TTD 296

32.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.65 TTD 261

$36.61 TTD 247

5.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$146 TTD 984

$89.7 TTD 605

62.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 TTD 866

$90.4 TTD 610

42.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 TTD 5,111

$533 TTD 3,596

42.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 TTD 3,217

$349 TTD 2,355

36.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,819 TTD 12.3K

$976 TTD 6,583

86.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,247 TTD 8,409

$695 TTD 4,688

79.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,394 TTD 29.6K

$1,976 TTD 13.3K

122.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,719 TTD 11.6K

$1,484 TTD 10.0K

15.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$751 TTD 5,064

$1,030 TTD 6,947

-27.10%

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 25, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $758 in Port of Spain and $533 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 37% 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 $376 vs $330 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 37% 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: $758 in Port of Spain versus $533 in San Fernando. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,578 per month in Port of Spain versus $1,217 in San Fernando – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando runs roughly 122% less than in Port of Spain. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,217 in San Fernando versus $1,578 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 30% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.