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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,593 in Port of Spain versus $1,133 in Tobago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,747 in Port of Spain versus $1,881 in Tobago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,901 in Port of Spain versus $2,630 in Tobago.

Living in Port of Spain is roughly 41% more expensive than in Tobago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Port of Spain is 19% above, Tobago is 15% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.50 TTD 70.8

$8.95 TTD 60.3

17.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.6 TTD 604

$66.0 TTD 445

35.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 TTD 49.00

$7.19 TTD 48.48

1.11%

Cappuccino

$3.73 TTD 25.16

$3.68 TTD 24.78

1.36%

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

$1.10 TTD 7.42

$0.95 TTD 6.42

15.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 TTD 5.15

$0.81 TTD 5.49

-6.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TTD 12.83

$3.72 TTD 25.04

-48.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 TTD 20.38

$2.99 TTD 20.13

1.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 TTD 18.28

$2.36 TTD 15.89

14.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 TTD 19.02

$2.31 TTD 15.56

22.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.61 TTD 17.61

$2.92 TTD 19.65

-10.62%

Eggs

$5.14 TTD 34.65

$4.54 TTD 30.61

13.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.77 TTD 52.4

$7.23 TTD 48.71

7.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.60 TTD 71.5

$7.44 TTD 50.1

42.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.37 TTD 96.9

$7.21 TTD 48.58

99.31%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 TTD 39.05

$7.02 TTD 47.29

-17.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 TTD 17.09

$2.47 TTD 16.67

2.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 TTD 28.60

$2.94 TTD 19.81

44.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 TTD 32.83

$3.00 TTD 20.25

62.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 TTD 9.97

$1.21 TTD 8.14

22.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 TTD 11.29

$1.21 TTD 8.13

38.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 TTD 13.06

$1.57 TTD 10.56

23.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 TTD 9.55

$1.30 TTD 8.76

9.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 TTD 40.85

$4.67 TTD 31.45

29.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.02 TTD 128

$21.60 TTD 146

-11.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 TTD 14.95

$3.38 TTD 22.76

-34.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 TTD 18.43

$3.43 TTD 23.10

-20.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 TTD 7.05

$0.78 TTD 5.23

34.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.0 TTD 667

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 TTD 6.86

$0.72 TTD 4.82

41.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 TTD 8.66

$0.72 TTD 4.87

79.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.61 TTD 98.5

$15.48 TTD 104

-5.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 TTD 7.67

$1.02 TTD 6.88

11.76%

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

$34.4K TTD 231.8K

$26.7K TTD 179.8K

28.89%

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

$38.3K TTD 257.8K

$39.7K TTD 267.6K

-3.66%

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

$79.6 TTD 537

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

$46.31 TTD 312

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.4 TTD 414

$58.3 TTD 393

5.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 TTD 365

$54.4 TTD 367

-0.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.11 TTD 88.4

$14.52 TTD 97.9

-9.71%

Cinema Ticket

$10.23 TTD 69.0

$7.41 TTD 49.94

38.06%

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

$330 TTD 2,225

$95.7 TTD 645

244.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,163 TTD 48.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 TTD 405

$50.7 TTD 342

18.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.87 TTD 262

$47.01 TTD 317

-17.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 TTD 967

$153 TTD 1,029

-6.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 TTD 861

$67.8 TTD 457

88.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$765 TTD 5,155

$403 TTD 2,714

89.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 TTD 3,254

$350 TTD 2,357

38.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,824 TTD 12.3K

$800 TTD 5,395

127.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,285 TTD 8,664

$677 TTD 4,564

89.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,344 TTD 29.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,726 TTD 11.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$770 TTD 5,188

$733 TTD 4,943

4.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.38

-23.14%

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

Last update for Port of Spain: July 13, 2026

Last update for Tobago: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $765 in Port of Spain and $403 in Tobago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Port of Spain pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $90.0 in Port of Spain vs $66.0 in Tobago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $329 per month, with Tobago 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 Tobago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tobago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Port of Spain, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $765 in Port of Spain versus $403 in Tobago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $330 in Port of Spain versus $95.7 in Tobago. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tobago – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $90.0 in Port of Spain. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,133 in Tobago versus $1,593 in Port of Spain, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tobago but tight or insufficient in Port of Spain. The gap between the two cities makes Tobago 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.

Safety-wise, Port of Spain and Tobago are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Tobago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.