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: $1,198 in San Fernando versus $1,549 in Port of Spain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,963 in San Fernando versus $2,722 in Port of Spain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,727 in San Fernando versus $3,895 in Port of Spain.

Living in San Fernando costs roughly 23% less than in Port of Spain, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: San Fernando is 11% below, Port of Spain is 15% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.19 TTD 68.9

$10.50 TTD 71.0

-2.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.3 TTD 401

$89.3 TTD 604

-33.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.36 TTD 49.77

$7.54 TTD 51.0

-2.39%

Cappuccino

$3.55 TTD 24.03

$3.75 TTD 25.36

-5.33%

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

$1.06 TTD 7.15

$1.04 TTD 7.03

1.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 TTD 5.06

$0.83 TTD 5.58

-9.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 TTD 12.77

$1.81 TTD 12.23

4.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 TTD 16.63

$3.03 TTD 20.48

-18.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 TTD 14.01

$2.64 TTD 17.82

-21.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 TTD 15.81

$2.71 TTD 18.30

-13.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 TTD 17.77

$2.65 TTD 17.93

-0.75%

Eggs

$3.77 TTD 25.47

$5.04 TTD 34.06

-25.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.96 TTD 53.8

$7.70 TTD 52.0

3.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.53 TTD 71.2

$10.61 TTD 71.7

-0.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 TTD 57.6

$14.32 TTD 96.8

-40.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 TTD 40.27

$5.78 TTD 39.06

3.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 TTD 17.48

$2.58 TTD 17.42

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 TTD 29.23

$4.40 TTD 29.76

-1.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 TTD 32.05

$4.84 TTD 32.70

-2.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 TTD 8.30

$1.43 TTD 9.68

-13.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 TTD 4.92

$1.71 TTD 11.54

-57.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 TTD 9.84

$1.97 TTD 13.31

-25.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 TTD 8.16

$1.41 TTD 9.55

-14.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.69 TTD 38.45

$5.93 TTD 40.06

-4.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.94 TTD 121

$18.16 TTD 123

-1.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 TTD 10.41

$2.14 TTD 14.48

-28.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 TTD 19.06

$2.74 TTD 18.54

2.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 TTD 2.86

$1.00 TTD 6.77

-58.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.75 TTD 296

$98.5 TTD 666

-55.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 TTD 5.79

$1.04 TTD 7.04

-17.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 TTD 6.16

$1.23 TTD 8.32

-26.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.70 TTD 99.4

$14.65 TTD 99.1

0.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 TTD 6.98

$1.14 TTD 7.68

-9.65%

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

$33.8K TTD 228.2K

$34.0K TTD 229.7K

-0.66%

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

$38.4K TTD 259.8K

$38.0K TTD 257.0K

1.08%

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

$44.62 TTD 302

$80.6 TTD 545

-44.62%

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

$41.80 TTD 283

$47.38 TTD 320

-11.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.79 TTD 310

$61.6 TTD 416

-25.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.66 TTD 309

$55.4 TTD 375

-17.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.95 TTD 60.5

$13.04 TTD 88.2

-31.37%

Cinema Ticket

$9.01 TTD 60.9

$9.96 TTD 67.3

-9.54%

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

$324 TTD 2,190

$328 TTD 2,215

-1.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,257 TTD 15.3K

$7,186 TTD 48.6K

-68.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.69 TTD 302

$59.4 TTD 401

-24.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.57 TTD 247

$38.10 TTD 258

-4.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 TTD 602

$144 TTD 974

-38.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 TTD 593

$128 TTD 867

-31.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$550 TTD 3,720

$760 TTD 5,137

-27.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 TTD 2,302

$474 TTD 3,203

-28.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 TTD 6,436

$1,820 TTD 12.3K

-47.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$697 TTD 4,714

$1,266 TTD 8,557

-44.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,003 TTD 13.5K

$4,357 TTD 29.5K

-54.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,489 TTD 10.1K

$1,701 TTD 11.5K

-12.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,031 TTD 6,971

$728 TTD 4,919

41.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.38

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

Last update for San Fernando: June 9, 2026

Last update for Port of Spain: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $550 in San Fernando and $760 in Port of Spain. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 42% 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 $333 vs $374 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 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

San Fernando pays 42% more on average, 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: $550 in San Fernando versus $760 in Port of Spain. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,198 per month in San Fernando versus $1,549 in Port of Spain – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Fernando runs roughly 125% less than in Port of Spain. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,198 in San Fernando versus $1,549 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 29% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.