Cost of Living Comparison Between Tobago and Arima Cost of Living Comparison Between Tobago and Arima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,133 per month in Tobago vs $1,163 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,881 per month in Tobago vs $1,925 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,630 per month in Tobago vs $2,687 in Arima, rent included.

Tobago is about 3% cheaper than Arima, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Tobago and Arima are more affordable than the global median – Tobago 15% lower, Arima 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.95 TTD 60.3

$9.03 TTD 60.8

-0.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.0 TTD 445

$72.7 TTD 490

-9.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.19 TTD 48.48

$7.50 TTD 50.6

-4.13%

Cappuccino

$3.68 TTD 24.78

$2.39 TTD 16.12

53.97%

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

$0.95 TTD 6.42

$0.94 TTD 6.36

1.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 TTD 5.49

$0.75 TTD 5.07

8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 TTD 25.04

$1.59 TTD 10.70

133.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 TTD 20.13

$3.04 TTD 20.51

-1.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 TTD 15.89

$2.27 TTD 15.31

3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 TTD 15.56

$2.37 TTD 15.96

-2.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.92 TTD 19.65

$2.27 TTD 15.29

28.63%

Eggs

$4.54 TTD 30.61

$4.30 TTD 28.98

5.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 TTD 48.71

$6.25 TTD 42.12

15.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.44 TTD 50.1

$5.83 TTD 39.27

27.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.21 TTD 48.58

$4.33 TTD 29.17

66.51%

Apples (1kg)

$7.02 TTD 47.29

$5.66 TTD 38.18

24.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 TTD 16.67

$2.07 TTD 13.94

19.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.94 TTD 19.81

$4.37 TTD 29.45

-32.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 TTD 20.25

$4.37 TTD 29.48

-31.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 TTD 8.14

$1.00 TTD 6.73

21.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 TTD 8.13

$0.84 TTD 5.65

44.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 TTD 10.56

$1.46 TTD 9.83

7.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 TTD 8.76

$1.14 TTD 7.72

14.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.67 TTD 31.45

$4.29 TTD 28.92

8.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.60 TTD 146

$19.35 TTD 130

11.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.38 TTD 22.76

$1.89 TTD 12.75

78.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 TTD 23.10

$2.81 TTD 18.95

22.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 TTD 5.23

$0.79 TTD 5.31

-1.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 TTD 4.82

$0.92 TTD 6.19

-21.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 TTD 4.87

$0.72 TTD 4.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.48 TTD 104

$14.64 TTD 98.7

5.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 TTD 6.88

$0.94 TTD 6.33

8.51%

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

$26.7K TTD 179.8K

$27.3K TTD 183.7K

-2.11%

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

$39.7K TTD 267.6K

$27.7K TTD 186.4K

43.59%

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

$81.5 TTD 549

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

$43.65 TTD 294

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 TTD 393

$62.7 TTD 422

-7.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 TTD 367

$47.80 TTD 322

13.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 TTD 97.9

Cinema Ticket

$7.41 TTD 49.94

$5.19 TTD 34.98

42.77%

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

$95.7 TTD 645

$131 TTD 881

-26.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,074 TTD 47.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 TTD 342

$51.2 TTD 345

-0.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 TTD 317

$27.01 TTD 182

74.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$153 TTD 1,029

$127 TTD 859

19.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.8 TTD 457

$75.0 TTD 505

-9.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 TTD 2,714

$485 TTD 3,267

-16.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 TTD 2,357

$355 TTD 2,389

-1.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$800 TTD 5,395

$843 TTD 5,680

-5.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$677 TTD 4,564

$707 TTD 4,763

-4.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 TTD 4,943

$1,206 TTD 8,127

-39.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

133.33%

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

Last update for Tobago: July 12, 2026

Last update for Arima: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $403 in Tobago versus $485 in Arima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 64% higher in Arima, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Tobago versus $73.0 in Arima. Groceries tell a different story – $329 in Tobago vs $292 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

Tobago vs Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arima costs about 3% more than Tobago, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,699 per month in Tobago and $1,745 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tobago, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,133 in Tobago and $1,163 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $95.7 per month in Tobago and $131 in Arima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tobago, where all-in costs run around $1,133, than in Arima at $1,163. In Tobago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tobago – 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 Tobago. 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.