Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Arima Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Arima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $760 per month in San Juan vs $1,258 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,320 per month in San Juan vs $2,135 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,880 per month in San Juan vs $3,012 in Arima, rent included.

San Juan is about 40% cheaper than Arima, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both San Juan and Arima are more affordable than the global median – San Juan 45% lower, Arima 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.41 TTD 70.2

$10.23 TTD 69.0

1.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 TTD 392

$74.7 TTD 504

-22.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 TTD 53.1

$8.92 TTD 60.1

-11.77%

Cappuccino

$3.63 TTD 24.49

$3.66 TTD 24.66

-0.82%

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

$1.15 TTD 7.77

$1.04 TTD 6.98

10.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 TTD 5.12

$0.71 TTD 4.80

7.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 TTD 15.22

$1.85 TTD 12.48

22.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 TTD 20.21

$2.99 TTD 20.16

0.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 TTD 13.46

$2.45 TTD 16.52

-18.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.29 TTD 15.45

$2.40 TTD 16.20

-4.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.88 TTD 19.40

$2.78 TTD 18.72

3.60%

Eggs

$3.78 TTD 25.47

$4.37 TTD 29.47

-13.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.80 TTD 45.87

$6.80 TTD 45.85

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.90 TTD 66.7

$6.35 TTD 42.78

55.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.68 TTD 58.5

$8.70 TTD 58.7

-0.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.36 TTD 36.14

$5.53 TTD 37.30

-3.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 TTD 17.19

$2.20 TTD 14.85

15.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 TTD 25.36

$3.72 TTD 25.07

1.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.32 TTD 29.15

$5.03 TTD 33.89

-14.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 TTD 5.11

$1.34 TTD 9.01

-43.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 TTD 4.82

$0.96 TTD 6.46

-26.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 TTD 9.74

$1.34 TTD 9.05

7.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 TTD 8.14

$0.91 TTD 6.15

32.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.63 TTD 37.94

$4.78 TTD 32.22

17.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.60 TTD 119

$18.79 TTD 127

-6.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 TTD 10.54

$1.84 TTD 12.39

-15.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 TTD 20.50

$2.99 TTD 20.19

1.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 TTD 6.85

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 TTD 5.77

$0.70 TTD 4.75

22.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 TTD 6.08

$0.75 TTD 5.09

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.83 TTD 100.0

$14.47 TTD 97.5

2.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 TTD 7.48

$1.16 TTD 7.80

-4.31%

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

$36.2K TTD 244.0K

$27.7K TTD 186.9K

30.53%

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

$41.2K TTD 277.7K

$36.3K TTD 244.7K

13.48%

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

$43.95 TTD 296

$92.2 TTD 622

-52.35%

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

$42.65 TTD 288

$44.61 TTD 301

-4.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.19 TTD 311

$56.0 TTD 377

-17.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.3 TTD 346

Cinema Ticket

$9.05 TTD 61.0

$8.81 TTD 59.4

2.72%

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

$393 TTD 2,647

$174 TTD 1,176

125.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K TTD 73.4K

$11.0K TTD 74.2K

-1.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 TTD 371

$62.8 TTD 424

-12.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.08 TTD 250

$44.36 TTD 299

-16.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 TTD 591

$144 TTD 970

-39.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.8 TTD 592

$75.0 TTD 506

16.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 TTD 3,543

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 TTD 2,488

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,046 TTD 7,055

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$889 TTD 5,995

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,187 TTD 8,000

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 Juan: September 8, 2026

Last update for Arima: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in San Juan versus $75.0 in Arima. Groceries tell a different story – $317 in San Juan vs $311 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 Juan vs Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arima costs about 66% more than San Juan, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,139 per month in San Juan and $1,886 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $760 in San Juan and $1,258 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $393 per month in San Juan and $174 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 San Juan, where all-in costs run around $760, than in Arima at $1,258. In San Juan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Juan – 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 San Juan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arima makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.