Cost of Living Comparison Between St.James and Tobago Cost of Living Comparison Between St.James and Tobago

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $918 per month in St.James vs $1,219 in Tobago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,588 per month in St.James vs $1,813 in Tobago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,259 per month in St.James vs $2,406 in Tobago, rent included.

St.James is about 25% cheaper than Tobago, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both St.James and Tobago are more affordable than the global median – St.James 33% lower, Tobago 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.38 TTD 70.0

$9.97 TTD 67.2

4.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.3 TTD 602

$41.45 TTD 279

115.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.91 TTD 60.1

$9.88 TTD 66.6

-9.82%

Cappuccino

$3.64 TTD 24.56

$3.83 TTD 25.82

-4.96%

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

$0.99 TTD 6.69

$1.63 TTD 11.00

-39.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 TTD 4.85

$1.64 TTD 11.08

-56.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 TTD 15.24

$3.77 TTD 25.41

-40.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 TTD 24.25

$4.40 TTD 29.69

-18.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.46 TTD 16.57

$2.55 TTD 17.17

-3.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 TTD 16.76

$2.37 TTD 15.95

5.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 TTD 18.76

$2.29 TTD 15.45

21.40%

Eggs

$4.51 TTD 30.40

$4.90 TTD 33.04

-7.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 TTD 44.47

$6.24 TTD 42.08

5.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.26 TTD 69.2

$7.39 TTD 49.83

38.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.78 TTD 79.4

$5.90 TTD 39.80

99.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.55 TTD 37.40

$4.08 TTD 27.53

36.03%

Banana (1kg)

$3.11 TTD 20.97

$2.39 TTD 16.14

30.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 TTD 24.28

$2.32 TTD 15.66

55.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.42 TTD 29.78

$2.34 TTD 15.79

88.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 TTD 14.91

$0.99 TTD 6.70

123.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 TTD 13.01

$1.65 TTD 11.13

16.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 TTD 12.81

$1.88 TTD 12.65

1.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 TTD 9.14

$1.44 TTD 9.71

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.95 TTD 40.08

$4.52 TTD 30.49

31.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.36 TTD 131

$21.83 TTD 147

-11.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 TTD 15.02

$3.63 TTD 24.46

-38.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 TTD 20.13

$4.39 TTD 29.63

-31.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 TTD 4.83

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 TTD 7.10

$0.76 TTD 5.10

38.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 TTD 8.25

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.93 TTD 101

$8.96 TTD 60.4

66.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 TTD 7.49

$1.03 TTD 6.92

7.77%

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

$37.0K TTD 249.2K

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

$41.5K TTD 280.1K

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

$92.2 TTD 621

$57.8 TTD 390

59.37%

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

$51.2 TTD 345

$26.72 TTD 180

91.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.6 TTD 382

$72.6 TTD 489

-21.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 TTD 350

Cinema Ticket

$8.88 TTD 59.9

$7.61 TTD 51.3

16.69%

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

$405 TTD 2,732

$74.2 TTD 500

446.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K TTD 73.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 TTD 367

$43.33 TTD 292

25.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 TTD 353

$47.16 TTD 318

11.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$148 TTD 998

$141 TTD 949

5.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 TTD 700

$89.2 TTD 601

16.37%

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 St.James: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tobago: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in St.James versus $41.00 in Tobago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 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

St.James vs Tobago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $918 in St.James, $1,219 in Tobago – roughly 33% apart. Tobago costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,377 per month in St.James 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 $918 in St.James and $1,219 in Tobago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $405 per month in St.James and $74.2 in Tobago. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in St.James, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Tobago at $1,219. In St.James it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tobago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward St.James – 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 St.James. 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.