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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $760 per month in San Juan vs $1,219 in Tobago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,320 per month in San Juan vs $1,813 in Tobago, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,880 per month in San Juan vs $2,406 in Tobago, rent included.

San Juan is about 38% cheaper than Tobago, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both San Juan and Tobago are more affordable than the global median – San Juan 45% lower, Tobago 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.41 TTD 70.2

$9.97 TTD 67.2

4.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 TTD 392

$41.45 TTD 279

40.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 TTD 53.1

$9.88 TTD 66.6

-20.34%

Cappuccino

$3.63 TTD 24.49

$3.83 TTD 25.82

-5.22%

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

$1.15 TTD 7.77

$1.63 TTD 11.00

-29.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 TTD 5.12

$1.64 TTD 11.08

-53.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 TTD 15.22

$3.77 TTD 25.41

-40.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 TTD 20.21

$4.40 TTD 29.69

-31.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 TTD 13.46

$2.55 TTD 17.17

-21.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.29 TTD 15.45

$2.37 TTD 15.95

-3.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.88 TTD 19.40

$2.29 TTD 15.45

25.76%

Eggs

$3.78 TTD 25.47

$4.90 TTD 33.04

-22.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.80 TTD 45.87

$6.24 TTD 42.08

8.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.90 TTD 66.7

$7.39 TTD 49.83

33.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.68 TTD 58.5

$5.90 TTD 39.80

47.12%

Apples (1kg)

$5.36 TTD 36.14

$4.08 TTD 27.53

31.37%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 TTD 17.19

$2.39 TTD 16.14

6.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 TTD 25.36

$2.32 TTD 15.66

62.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.32 TTD 29.15

$2.34 TTD 15.79

84.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 TTD 5.11

$0.99 TTD 6.70

-23.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 TTD 4.82

$1.65 TTD 11.13

-56.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 TTD 9.74

$1.88 TTD 12.65

-23.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 TTD 8.14

$1.44 TTD 9.71

-15.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.63 TTD 37.94

$4.52 TTD 30.49

24.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.60 TTD 119

$21.83 TTD 147

-19.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 TTD 10.54

$3.63 TTD 24.46

-57.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 TTD 20.50

$4.39 TTD 29.63

-30.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 TTD 4.83

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 TTD 5.77

$0.76 TTD 5.10

13.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 TTD 6.08

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.83 TTD 100.0

$8.96 TTD 60.4

65.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 TTD 7.48

$1.03 TTD 6.92

7.77%

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

$36.2K TTD 244.0K

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

$41.2K TTD 277.7K

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

$43.95 TTD 296

$57.8 TTD 390

-23.99%

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

$42.65 TTD 288

$26.72 TTD 180

59.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.19 TTD 311

$72.6 TTD 489

-36.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 TTD 350

Cinema Ticket

$9.05 TTD 61.0

$7.61 TTD 51.3

18.92%

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

$393 TTD 2,647

$74.2 TTD 500

429.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K TTD 73.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 TTD 371

$43.33 TTD 292

27.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.08 TTD 250

$47.16 TTD 318

-21.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 TTD 591

$141 TTD 949

-37.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.8 TTD 592

$89.2 TTD 601

-1.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 TTD 2,709

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 TTD 2,259

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 TTD 3,681

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$514 TTD 3,463

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 TTD 4,940

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 Tobago: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in San Juan versus $41.00 in Tobago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $317 vs $309 – making Tobago the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Tobago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tobago costs about 61% 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 $1,829 in Tobago. 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 $1,219 in Tobago. 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 $74.2 in Tobago. 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 Tobago at $1,219. In San Juan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tobago 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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Juan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tobago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.