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 $1,217 per month in San Fernando vs $1,154 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,005 per month in San Fernando vs $1,909 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,794 per month in San Fernando vs $2,664 in Arima, rent included.

San Fernando costs about 5% more than Arima, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Fernando and Arima are more affordable than the global median – San Fernando 9% lower, Arima 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.40 TTD 70.1

$8.78 TTD 59.2

18.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 TTD 399

$74.7 TTD 504

-20.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 TTD 50.9

$7.61 TTD 51.3

-0.92%

Cappuccino

$3.68 TTD 24.82

$2.36 TTD 15.91

55.93%

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

$1.09 TTD 7.34

$1.01 TTD 6.81

7.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 TTD 5.18

$0.70 TTD 4.74

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 TTD 12.30

$1.60 TTD 10.77

13.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 TTD 16.73

$2.98 TTD 20.10

-16.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 TTD 13.72

$2.24 TTD 15.09

-9.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 TTD 15.80

$2.35 TTD 15.86

-0.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 TTD 17.71

$2.29 TTD 15.45

14.85%

Eggs

$3.83 TTD 25.83

$4.28 TTD 28.84

-10.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.09 TTD 54.6

$6.14 TTD 41.42

31.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.45 TTD 70.5

$5.79 TTD 39.05

80.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 TTD 58.7

$4.24 TTD 28.62

105.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.92 TTD 39.97

$5.72 TTD 38.57

3.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 TTD 16.75

$2.03 TTD 13.70

22.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 TTD 29.41

$4.32 TTD 29.16

0.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 TTD 31.51

$4.38 TTD 29.57

6.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 TTD 8.35

$1.00 TTD 6.73

24.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 TTD 5.13

$0.82 TTD 5.55

-7.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 TTD 10.06

$1.44 TTD 9.73

3.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 TTD 7.85

$1.20 TTD 8.08

-3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.69 TTD 38.36

$4.16 TTD 28.04

36.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.35 TTD 117

$18.94 TTD 128

-8.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 TTD 10.24

$1.95 TTD 13.18

-22.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 TTD 18.27

$2.74 TTD 18.50

-1.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 TTD 3.09

$0.82 TTD 5.55

-43.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.31 TTD 299

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 TTD 5.76

$1.00 TTD 6.76

-15.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 TTD 5.77

$0.72 TTD 4.85

19.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.56 TTD 98.2

$14.52 TTD 98.0

0.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 TTD 6.68

$1.01 TTD 6.83

-1.98%

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

$34.4K TTD 232.1K

$26.8K TTD 180.9K

28.34%

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

$38.2K TTD 257.8K

$27.2K TTD 183.7K

40.35%

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

$44.86 TTD 303

$81.5 TTD 550

-44.96%

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

$42.88 TTD 289

$45.14 TTD 305

-5.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.00 TTD 304

$63.0 TTD 425

-28.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.91 TTD 316

$48.29 TTD 326

-2.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.62 TTD 58.2

Cinema Ticket

$8.80 TTD 59.4

$5.10 TTD 34.39

72.55%

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

$325 TTD 2,195

$134 TTD 905

142.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,224 TTD 15.0K

$7,162 TTD 48.3K

-68.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.93 TTD 296

$52.4 TTD 354

-16.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.61 TTD 247

$26.95 TTD 182

35.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 TTD 605

$125 TTD 843

-28.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 TTD 610

$73.6 TTD 497

22.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$533 TTD 3,596

$482 TTD 3,252

10.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 TTD 2,355

$356 TTD 2,403

-2.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$976 TTD 6,583

$839 TTD 5,662

16.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$695 TTD 4,688

$715 TTD 4,821

-2.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,976 TTD 13.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 TTD 10.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,030 TTD 6,947

$1,190 TTD 8,030

-13.48%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Arima: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $533 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 16% 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 $75.0 in Arima. Groceries tell a different story – $330 in San Fernando vs $290 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 5% 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 $1,826 per month in San Fernando and $1,731 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 $1,217 in San Fernando and $1,154 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $325 per month in San Fernando and $134 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 $1,154, than in San Fernando at $1,217. 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.