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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in San Fernando versus $1,098 in Tobago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,968 in San Fernando versus $1,867 in Tobago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,740 in San Fernando versus $2,635 in Tobago.

Living in San Fernando is roughly 9% more expensive than Tobago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Fernando 11% lower, Tobago 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.30 TTD 70.0

$9.02 TTD 61.3

14.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.2 TTD 402

$67.4 TTD 458

-12.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 TTD 51.2

$7.25 TTD 49.21

4.00%

Cappuccino

$3.76 TTD 25.52

$3.79 TTD 25.72

-0.79%

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

$1.09 TTD 7.37

$0.95 TTD 6.48

14.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 TTD 5.45

$0.88 TTD 5.97

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TTD 12.89

$3.76 TTD 25.54

-49.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 TTD 16.76

$2.90 TTD 19.69

-14.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 TTD 13.56

$2.32 TTD 15.78

-13.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.32 TTD 15.74

$2.36 TTD 16.04

-1.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 TTD 17.44

$2.90 TTD 19.69

-11.38%

Eggs

$3.77 TTD 25.58

$4.51 TTD 30.61

-16.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 TTD 54.8

$7.60 TTD 51.6

6.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.36 TTD 70.3

$7.28 TTD 49.44

42.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.47 TTD 57.5

$7.24 TTD 49.17

16.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.81 TTD 39.45

$6.77 TTD 45.97

-14.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 TTD 17.30

$2.46 TTD 16.71

3.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 TTD 29.10

$3.03 TTD 20.54

41.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.63 TTD 31.46

$2.98 TTD 20.25

55.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 TTD 8.33

$1.21 TTD 8.21

1.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 TTD 5.23

$1.19 TTD 8.10

-35.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 TTD 9.90

$1.63 TTD 11.04

-10.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 TTD 8.22

$1.30 TTD 8.85

-6.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.52 TTD 37.49

$4.87 TTD 33.10

13.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 TTD 120

$20.44 TTD 139

-13.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 TTD 10.20

$3.37 TTD 22.85

-55.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 TTD 18.54

$3.47 TTD 23.55

-21.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 TTD 2.86

$0.71 TTD 4.83

-40.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.18 TTD 300

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 TTD 6.23

$0.71 TTD 4.85

29.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 TTD 6.24

$0.72 TTD 4.87

27.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.79 TTD 100

$15.23 TTD 103

-2.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 TTD 7.00

$1.04 TTD 7.04

-0.96%

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

$34.2K TTD 232.4K

$26.6K TTD 180.6K

28.67%

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

$38.8K TTD 263.7K

$39.6K TTD 269.1K

-1.99%

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

$45.18 TTD 307

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

$42.01 TTD 285

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.20 TTD 314

$60.1 TTD 408

-23.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.57 TTD 309

$54.9 TTD 373

-17.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.82 TTD 59.9

$14.82 TTD 101

-40.49%

Cinema Ticket

$9.12 TTD 61.9

$7.37 TTD 50.0

23.74%

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

$326 TTD 2,212

$96.3 TTD 654

238.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,226 TTD 15.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.00 TTD 306

$51.9 TTD 352

-13.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.74 TTD 249

$46.51 TTD 316

-21.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 TTD 600

$155 TTD 1,056

-43.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.8 TTD 610

$69.6 TTD 472

29.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$532 TTD 3,610

$402 TTD 2,728

32.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 TTD 2,365

$339 TTD 2,299

2.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 TTD 6,636

$811 TTD 5,503

20.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$699 TTD 4,749

$665 TTD 4,513

5.24%

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

$665 TTD 4,513

51.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.38

-23.14%

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

Last update for San Fernando: April 26, 2026

Last update for Tobago: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $532 in San Fernando and $402 in Tobago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 52% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $59.0 in San Fernando vs $67.0 in Tobago. Groceries flip the comparison at $329 vs $326, with Tobago cheaper for home cooking.

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 Tobago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tobago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

San Fernando pays 52% 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: $532 in San Fernando versus $402 in Tobago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $326 in San Fernando versus $96.3 in Tobago. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tobago – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $59.0 in San Fernando. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,098 in Tobago versus $1,197 in San Fernando, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tobago but tight or insufficient in San Fernando. The gap between the two cities makes Tobago 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.

Safety-wise, San Fernando and Tobago are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Tobago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in San Fernando. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.