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: $1,613 in Port of Spain versus $1,193 in Tobago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,727 in Port of Spain versus $1,838 in Tobago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,841 in Port of Spain versus $2,484 in Tobago.

Living in Port of Spain is roughly 35% more expensive than in Tobago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Port of Spain is 17% above, Tobago is 13% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.54 TTD 70.1

$10.17 TTD 67.7

3.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.5 TTD 602

$42.46 TTD 283

113.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 TTD 58.2

$9.58 TTD 63.7

-8.66%

Cappuccino

$3.80 TTD 25.29

$3.67 TTD 24.45

3.54%

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

$1.05 TTD 6.99

$1.63 TTD 10.88

-35.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 TTD 4.71

$1.63 TTD 10.88

-56.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 TTD 15.15

$3.77 TTD 25.12

-39.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 TTD 24.51

$4.39 TTD 29.19

-16.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 TTD 16.27

$2.50 TTD 16.66

-2.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.51 TTD 16.72

$2.49 TTD 16.55

0.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.88 TTD 19.15

$2.30 TTD 15.29

25.22%

Eggs

$4.53 TTD 30.15

$4.85 TTD 32.30

-6.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.85 TTD 45.56

$6.20 TTD 41.26

10.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 TTD 67.4

$7.21 TTD 47.95

40.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.83 TTD 78.7

$5.91 TTD 39.34

100.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.61 TTD 37.33

$4.01 TTD 26.66

39.90%

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 TTD 20.11

$2.46 TTD 16.36

22.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 TTD 25.24

$2.25 TTD 14.99

68.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.27 TTD 28.41

$2.26 TTD 15.03

88.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 TTD 14.31

$0.99 TTD 6.56

117.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 TTD 12.94

$1.65 TTD 11.00

18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 TTD 12.27

$1.81 TTD 12.05

1.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 TTD 9.42

$1.49 TTD 9.89

-4.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 TTD 40.30

$4.45 TTD 29.63

36.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.94 TTD 126

$21.66 TTD 144

-12.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 TTD 14.90

$3.77 TTD 25.06

-40.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 TTD 19.79

$4.40 TTD 29.31

-32.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 TTD 7.77

$0.76 TTD 5.03

53.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$136 TTD 902

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 TTD 6.82

$0.77 TTD 5.14

33.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 TTD 8.23

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.97 TTD 99.6

$9.07 TTD 60.4

65.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 TTD 7.79

$1.04 TTD 6.91

12.50%

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

$37.4K TTD 248.8K

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

$41.7K TTD 277.6K

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

$91.5 TTD 609

$59.9 TTD 399

52.69%

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

$52.4 TTD 349

$26.98 TTD 180

94.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 TTD 382

$74.0 TTD 493

-22.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 TTD 380

$51.2 TTD 341

11.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.12 TTD 87.3

Cinema Ticket

$8.72 TTD 58.0

$7.89 TTD 52.5

10.52%

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

$399 TTD 2,655

$74.5 TTD 495

435.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K TTD 73.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 TTD 364

$43.59 TTD 290

25.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.9 TTD 352

$48.02 TTD 320

10.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 TTD 981

$137 TTD 913

7.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 TTD 685

$89.9 TTD 599

14.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 TTD 6,841

$399 TTD 2,656

157.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$518 TTD 3,449

$329 TTD 2,191

57.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,187 TTD 14.6K

$550 TTD 3,662

297.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 TTD 7,949

$509 TTD 3,390

134.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,371 TTD 29.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,974 TTD 13.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$776 TTD 5,165

$746 TTD 4,963

4.06%

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 1, 2026

Last update for Tobago: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,028 in Port of Spain and $399 in Tobago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Port of Spain pays 4% 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 $42.00 in Tobago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $358 vs $308 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 4% 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: $1,028 in Port of Spain versus $399 in Tobago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $399 in Port of Spain versus $74.5 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 $42.00 versus $90.0 in Port of Spain. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,193 in Tobago versus $1,613 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 35% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.