Cost of Living Comparison Between Port of Spain and Tacarigua Cost of Living Comparison Between Port of Spain and Tacarigua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,659 in Port of Spain versus $775 in Tacarigua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,801 in Port of Spain versus $1,306 in Tacarigua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,944 in Port of Spain versus $1,836 in Tacarigua.

Living in Port of Spain is roughly 114% more expensive than in Tacarigua, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Port of Spain is 21% above, Tacarigua is 43% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.42 TTD 70.1

$10.21 TTD 68.7

2.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.3 TTD 600

$59.8 TTD 402

49.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.83 TTD 59.4

$7.95 TTD 53.5

11.07%

Cappuccino

$3.69 TTD 24.80

$3.77 TTD 25.35

-2.12%

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

$1.00 TTD 6.72

$1.00 TTD 6.70

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 TTD 5.12

$0.72 TTD 4.85

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 TTD 14.48

$1.89 TTD 12.72

13.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 TTD 25.25

$2.57 TTD 17.29

45.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.51 TTD 16.90

$1.99 TTD 13.37

26.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 TTD 17.39

$2.24 TTD 15.07

15.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.83 TTD 19.06

$2.90 TTD 19.49

-2.41%

Eggs

$4.27 TTD 28.76

$3.78 TTD 25.40

12.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 TTD 44.43

$6.73 TTD 45.27

-1.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.22 TTD 68.7

$9.96 TTD 67.0

2.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.72 TTD 78.9

$8.75 TTD 58.9

33.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.66 TTD 38.05

$5.35 TTD 35.98

5.79%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 TTD 21.06

$2.47 TTD 16.63

26.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 TTD 25.37

$3.77 TTD 25.39

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 TTD 28.62

$4.37 TTD 29.39

-2.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 TTD 14.64

$0.76 TTD 5.12

186.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 TTD 12.87

$0.70 TTD 4.74

172.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 TTD 12.44

$1.43 TTD 9.60

29.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 TTD 9.09

$1.17 TTD 7.87

15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.99 TTD 40.29

$5.75 TTD 38.69

4.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.14 TTD 129

$17.39 TTD 117

10.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 TTD 15.65

$1.48 TTD 9.93

57.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 TTD 19.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 TTD 8.88

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 TTD 877

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 TTD 6.81

$0.85 TTD 5.70

18.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 TTD 8.24

$0.84 TTD 5.65

45.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.54 TTD 97.8

$14.61 TTD 98.3

-0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 TTD 7.47

$1.16 TTD 7.79

-4.31%

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

$37.1K TTD 249.7K

$37.2K TTD 250.4K

-0.30%

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

$41.6K TTD 279.6K

$41.0K TTD 275.7K

1.44%

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

$92.1 TTD 620

$44.43 TTD 299

107.31%

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

$52.2 TTD 351

$41.99 TTD 283

24.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.4 TTD 386

$45.83 TTD 308

25.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 TTD 379

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.13 TTD 88.3

Cinema Ticket

$8.90 TTD 59.9

$9.03 TTD 60.8

-1.44%

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

$391 TTD 2,632

$396 TTD 2,664

-1.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K TTD 72.4K

-0.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 TTD 361

$54.6 TTD 368

-1.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 TTD 346

$37.54 TTD 253

37.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 TTD 963

$89.7 TTD 604

59.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 TTD 706

$89.4 TTD 601

17.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 TTD 6,770

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 TTD 3,506

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,208 TTD 14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,182 TTD 7,955

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,348 TTD 29.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,010 TTD 13.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$775 TTD 5,212

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 13, 2026

Last update for Tacarigua: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $89.0 in Port of Spain vs $60.0 in Tacarigua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $315 per month, with Tacarigua 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 Tacarigua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tacarigua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 114% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,489 in Port of Spain and $1,163 in Tacarigua to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $391 in Port of Spain versus $396 in Tacarigua. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tacarigua – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $89.0 in Port of Spain. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $775 in Tacarigua versus $1,659 in Port of Spain, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tacarigua but tight or insufficient in Port of Spain. The gap between the two cities makes Tacarigua 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 Tacarigua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.