Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando and Port of Spain Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando and Port of Spain

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in San Fernando versus $1,639 in Port of Spain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,001 in San Fernando versus $2,759 in Port of Spain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,749 in San Fernando versus $3,879 in Port of Spain.

Living in San Fernando costs roughly 24% less than in Port of Spain, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: San Fernando is 9% below, Port of Spain is 19% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.29 TTD 69.4

$10.44 TTD 70.4

-1.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 TTD 399

$89.4 TTD 602

-33.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.15 TTD 54.9

$8.71 TTD 58.7

-6.43%

Cappuccino

$3.80 TTD 25.64

$3.76 TTD 25.34

1.06%

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

$0.99 TTD 6.67

$1.04 TTD 7.01

-4.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 TTD 5.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.87 TTD 12.61

$2.17 TTD 14.60

-13.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 TTD 16.92

$3.66 TTD 24.70

-31.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 TTD 13.66

$2.46 TTD 16.59

-17.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 TTD 15.25

$2.59 TTD 17.46

-12.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.81 TTD 18.92

$2.83 TTD 19.05

-0.71%

Eggs

$3.93 TTD 26.50

$4.40 TTD 29.66

-10.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 TTD 45.75

$6.49 TTD 43.75

4.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.95 TTD 67.1

$10.08 TTD 68.0

-1.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.72 TTD 58.8

$11.68 TTD 78.7

-25.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.54 TTD 37.36

$5.62 TTD 37.90

-1.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 TTD 16.65

$3.13 TTD 21.12

-21.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.59 TTD 24.23

$3.79 TTD 25.52

-5.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 TTD 28.20

$4.37 TTD 29.47

-4.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 TTD 4.86

$2.19 TTD 14.76

-67.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 TTD 5.19

$1.91 TTD 12.85

-59.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 TTD 10.19

$1.88 TTD 12.69

-19.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 TTD 7.82

$1.39 TTD 9.38

-16.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.76 TTD 38.84

$5.83 TTD 39.29

-1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.73 TTD 120

$19.09 TTD 129

-7.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 TTD 10.53

$2.30 TTD 15.52

-32.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 TTD 20.50

$2.94 TTD 19.84

3.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 TTD 3.05

$1.37 TTD 9.22

-67.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.37 TTD 299

$134 TTD 906

-66.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 TTD 5.86

$1.01 TTD 6.84

-13.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 TTD 6.09

$1.27 TTD 8.57

-29.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.99 TTD 101

$14.62 TTD 98.6

2.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 TTD 7.91

$1.16 TTD 7.81

0.86%

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

$36.2K TTD 244.4K

$37.5K TTD 252.8K

-3.34%

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

$41.2K TTD 277.8K

$41.2K TTD 277.6K

0.04%

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

$44.23 TTD 298

$89.5 TTD 603

-50.58%

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

$42.55 TTD 287

$51.9 TTD 350

-18.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.30 TTD 312

$56.7 TTD 382

-18.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 TTD 344

$56.0 TTD 377

-8.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.13 TTD 88.5

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 TTD 59.9

$8.77 TTD 59.1

1.37%

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

$396 TTD 2,670

$405 TTD 2,731

-2.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K TTD 74.2K

$10.7K TTD 72.2K

2.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 TTD 372

$54.6 TTD 368

1.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.31 TTD 252

$51.9 TTD 350

-28.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 TTD 605

$143 TTD 966

-37.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.5 TTD 590

$102 TTD 687

-14.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$509 TTD 3,429

$1,000 TTD 6,743

-49.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 TTD 2,634

$523 TTD 3,524

-25.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 TTD 6,007

$2,216 TTD 14.9K

-59.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$745 TTD 5,025

$1,194 TTD 8,047

-37.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,997 TTD 13.5K

$4,316 TTD 29.1K

-53.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,513 TTD 10.2K

$1,991 TTD 13.4K

-24.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,028 TTD 6,928

$778 TTD 5,242

32.16%

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 San Fernando: September 6, 2026

Last update for Port of Spain: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $509 in San Fernando and $1,000 in Port of Spain. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 32% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $59.0 in San Fernando vs $89.0 in Port of Spain for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 vs $358 per month, with San Fernando 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

San Fernando vs Port of Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Fernando is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 32% higher in San Fernando, 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: $509 in San Fernando versus $1,000 in Port of Spain. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,253 per month in San Fernando versus $1,639 in Port of Spain – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando runs roughly 203% less than in Port of Spain. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,253 in San Fernando versus $1,639 in Port of Spain, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Fernando but tight or insufficient in Port of Spain. The gap between the two cities makes San Fernando 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.

Expats usually find San Fernando gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.