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 $1,198 per month in San Fernando vs $1,147 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,963 per month in San Fernando vs $1,892 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,727 per month in San Fernando vs $2,637 in Arima, rent included.

San Fernando costs about 4% 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 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.19 TTD 68.9

$8.67 TTD 58.6

17.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.3 TTD 401

$72.6 TTD 491

-18.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.36 TTD 49.77

$7.46 TTD 50.5

-1.34%

Cappuccino

$3.55 TTD 24.03

$2.44 TTD 16.49

45.49%

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

$1.06 TTD 7.15

$0.97 TTD 6.55

9.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 TTD 5.06

$0.77 TTD 5.19

-2.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 TTD 12.77

$1.66 TTD 11.20

13.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 TTD 16.63

$2.92 TTD 19.78

-15.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 TTD 14.01

$2.32 TTD 15.70

-10.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 TTD 15.81

$2.29 TTD 15.47

2.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 TTD 17.77

$2.38 TTD 16.09

10.50%

Eggs

$3.77 TTD 25.47

$4.27 TTD 28.86

-11.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.96 TTD 53.8

$6.24 TTD 42.16

27.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.53 TTD 71.2

$6.02 TTD 40.67

74.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 TTD 57.6

$4.33 TTD 29.28

96.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 TTD 40.27

$5.91 TTD 39.95

0.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 TTD 17.48

$1.96 TTD 13.23

31.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 TTD 29.23

$4.18 TTD 28.28

3.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 TTD 32.05

$4.55 TTD 30.79

4.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 TTD 8.30

$1.03 TTD 6.98

19.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 TTD 4.92

$0.81 TTD 5.49

-9.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 TTD 9.84

$1.52 TTD 10.30

-3.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 TTD 8.16

$1.21 TTD 8.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.69 TTD 38.45

$4.26 TTD 28.79

33.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.94 TTD 121

$18.46 TTD 125

-2.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 TTD 10.41

$1.95 TTD 13.18

-21.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 TTD 19.06

$2.83 TTD 19.14

-0.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 TTD 2.86

$0.78 TTD 5.26

-46.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.75 TTD 296

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 TTD 5.79

$0.99 TTD 6.71

-13.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 TTD 6.16

$0.71 TTD 4.78

28.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.70 TTD 99.4

$14.60 TTD 98.7

0.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 TTD 6.98

$0.95 TTD 6.44

8.42%

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

$33.8K TTD 228.2K

$26.9K TTD 181.6K

25.67%

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

$38.4K TTD 259.8K

$27.0K TTD 182.4K

42.41%

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

$44.62 TTD 302

$78.5 TTD 531

-43.17%

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

$41.80 TTD 283

$44.44 TTD 300

-5.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.79 TTD 310

$62.8 TTD 425

-27.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.66 TTD 309

$47.11 TTD 319

-3.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.95 TTD 60.5

Cinema Ticket

$9.01 TTD 60.9

$5.21 TTD 35.23

72.94%

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

$324 TTD 2,190

$133 TTD 897

144.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,257 TTD 15.3K

$7,146 TTD 48.3K

-68.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.69 TTD 302

$51.1 TTD 346

-12.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.57 TTD 247

$26.10 TTD 176

40.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 TTD 602

$127 TTD 857

-29.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 TTD 593

$72.6 TTD 491

20.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$550 TTD 3,720

$482 TTD 3,259

14.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 TTD 2,302

$350 TTD 2,366

-2.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 TTD 6,436

$854 TTD 5,774

11.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$697 TTD 4,714

$723 TTD 4,890

-3.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,003 TTD 13.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,489 TTD 10.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,031 TTD 6,971

$1,185 TTD 8,011

-12.98%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Arima: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $550 in San Fernando versus $482 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 15% 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 – $333 in San Fernando vs $293 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 4% 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 $1,797 per month in San Fernando and $1,721 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 $1,198 in San Fernando and $1,147 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $324 per month in San Fernando and $133 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 $1,147, than in San Fernando at $1,198. 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.