Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando and Arima Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando and Arima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in San Fernando vs $1,162 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,968 per month in San Fernando vs $1,901 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,740 per month in San Fernando vs $2,639 in Arima, rent included.

San Fernando costs about 3% more than Arima, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Fernando and Arima are more affordable than the global median – San Fernando 11% lower, Arima 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.30 TTD 70.0

$8.65 TTD 58.8

19.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.2 TTD 402

$72.8 TTD 494

-18.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 TTD 51.2

$7.30 TTD 49.59

3.29%

Cappuccino

$3.76 TTD 25.52

$2.31 TTD 15.67

62.77%

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

$1.09 TTD 7.37

$0.94 TTD 6.39

15.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 TTD 5.45

$0.75 TTD 5.11

6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TTD 12.89

$1.65 TTD 11.19

15.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 TTD 16.76

$2.98 TTD 20.26

-17.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 TTD 13.56

$2.24 TTD 15.24

-10.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.32 TTD 15.74

$2.37 TTD 16.11

-2.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 TTD 17.44

$2.30 TTD 15.63

11.74%

Eggs

$3.77 TTD 25.58

$4.22 TTD 28.63

-10.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 TTD 54.8

$6.21 TTD 42.16

29.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.36 TTD 70.3

$5.72 TTD 38.83

81.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.47 TTD 57.5

$4.25 TTD 28.86

99.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.81 TTD 39.45

$5.91 TTD 40.10

-1.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 TTD 17.30

$1.96 TTD 13.33

30.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 TTD 29.10

$4.42 TTD 29.99

-2.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.63 TTD 31.46

$4.49 TTD 30.47

3.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 TTD 8.33

$1.00 TTD 6.77

23.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 TTD 5.23

$0.78 TTD 5.31

-1.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 TTD 9.90

$1.44 TTD 9.80

1.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 TTD 8.22

$1.20 TTD 8.17

0.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.52 TTD 37.49

$4.19 TTD 28.48

31.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 TTD 120

$19.55 TTD 133

-9.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 TTD 10.20

$1.90 TTD 12.90

-21.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 TTD 18.54

$2.73 TTD 18.52

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 TTD 2.86

$0.80 TTD 5.43

-47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.18 TTD 300

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 TTD 6.23

$0.95 TTD 6.42

-3.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 TTD 6.24

$0.72 TTD 4.92

27.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.79 TTD 100

$14.71 TTD 99.9

0.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 TTD 7.00

$0.92 TTD 6.28

11.96%

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

$34.2K TTD 232.4K

$27.0K TTD 183.2K

26.83%

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

$38.8K TTD 263.7K

$27.3K TTD 185.2K

42.39%

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

$45.18 TTD 307

$79.5 TTD 540

-43.16%

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

$42.01 TTD 285

$44.40 TTD 301

-5.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.20 TTD 314

$63.0 TTD 427

-26.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.57 TTD 309

$48.51 TTD 329

-6.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.82 TTD 59.9

Cinema Ticket

$9.12 TTD 61.9

$5.10 TTD 34.63

78.82%

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

$326 TTD 2,212

$131 TTD 889

148.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,226 TTD 15.1K

$7,130 TTD 48.4K

-68.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.00 TTD 306

$51.7 TTD 351

-12.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.74 TTD 249

$26.67 TTD 181

37.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 TTD 600

$126 TTD 858

-30.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.8 TTD 610

$74.8 TTD 508

20.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$532 TTD 3,610

$475 TTD 3,222

12.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 TTD 2,365

$362 TTD 2,457

-3.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 TTD 6,636

$847 TTD 5,748

15.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$699 TTD 4,749

$705 TTD 4,788

-0.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,016 TTD 13.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,497 TTD 10.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,009 TTD 6,850

$1,190 TTD 8,077

-15.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.38

79.33%

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

Last update for San Fernando: April 26, 2026

Last update for Arima: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $532 in San Fernando versus $475 in Arima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 18% higher in Arima, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in San Fernando versus $73.0 in Arima. Groceries tell a different story – $329 in San Fernando vs $292 in Arima – so Arima wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

San Fernando vs Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Fernando costs about 3% more than Arima, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,795 per month in San Fernando and $1,744 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,197 in San Fernando and $1,162 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $326 per month in San Fernando and $131 in Arima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arima, where all-in costs run around $1,162, than in San Fernando at $1,197. In Arima it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Fernando it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Arima – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Arima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Fernando makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.