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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,115 per month in Tobago vs $1,184 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,875 per month in Tobago vs $1,919 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,634 per month in Tobago vs $2,653 in Arima, rent included.

Tobago is about 6% cheaper than Arima, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Tobago and Arima are more affordable than the global median – Tobago 17% lower, Arima 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.99 TTD 60.2

$8.96 TTD 60.0

0.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 TTD 439

$72.5 TTD 486

-9.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 TTD 48.47

$7.32 TTD 49.03

-1.23%

Cappuccino

$3.63 TTD 24.32

$2.42 TTD 16.24

50.00%

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

$0.92 TTD 6.13

$0.96 TTD 6.46

-4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 TTD 5.42

$0.71 TTD 4.73

14.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.67 TTD 24.58

$1.64 TTD 10.99

123.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 TTD 19.30

$2.89 TTD 19.38

-0.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 TTD 15.15

$2.32 TTD 15.55

-2.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 TTD 15.42

$2.26 TTD 15.17

1.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.90 TTD 19.46

$2.25 TTD 15.09

28.89%

Eggs

$4.48 TTD 30.01

$4.24 TTD 28.37

5.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 TTD 48.75

$5.91 TTD 39.58

23.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.35 TTD 49.25

$5.82 TTD 38.97

26.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.46 TTD 49.98

$4.41 TTD 29.54

69.16%

Apples (1kg)

$6.97 TTD 46.69

$5.97 TTD 40.00

16.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 TTD 15.83

$2.03 TTD 13.63

16.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 TTD 19.58

$4.26 TTD 28.53

-31.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 TTD 19.41

$4.45 TTD 29.78

-34.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 TTD 8.11

$1.04 TTD 6.97

16.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 TTD 8.04

$0.79 TTD 5.27

51.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 TTD 10.67

$1.51 TTD 10.09

5.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 TTD 8.76

$1.20 TTD 8.06

9.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.83 TTD 32.35

$4.32 TTD 28.97

11.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.73 TTD 146

$18.50 TTD 124

17.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.42 TTD 22.91

$1.96 TTD 13.14

74.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 TTD 22.59

$2.72 TTD 18.21

23.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 TTD 5.15

$0.80 TTD 5.34

-3.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 TTD 5.06

$0.98 TTD 6.58

-22.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 TTD 5.18

$0.71 TTD 4.76

8.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.24 TTD 102

$14.94 TTD 100

2.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 TTD 6.94

$0.93 TTD 6.20

11.83%

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

$26.7K TTD 178.8K

$26.8K TTD 179.7K

-0.53%

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

$40.4K TTD 271.0K

$27.6K TTD 185.1K

46.41%

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

$81.4 TTD 545

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

$44.96 TTD 301

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 TTD 404

$61.4 TTD 411

-1.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 TTD 366

$48.83 TTD 327

11.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.05 TTD 101

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 TTD 49.79

$5.11 TTD 34.23

45.40%

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

$96.9 TTD 649

$133 TTD 888

-26.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,247 TTD 48.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 TTD 346

$52.4 TTD 351

-1.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.21 TTD 310

$26.74 TTD 179

72.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$154 TTD 1,029

$127 TTD 848

21.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 TTD 469

$75.2 TTD 504

-6.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$413 TTD 2,767

$475 TTD 3,183

-13.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 TTD 2,283

$355 TTD 2,376

-3.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 TTD 5,394

$856 TTD 5,736

-5.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 TTD 4,420

$721 TTD 4,828

-8.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 TTD 4,908

$1,183 TTD 7,926

-38.08%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Arima: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $413 in Tobago versus $475 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 62% 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 – $327 in Tobago vs $291 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 6% 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 $1,673 per month in Tobago and $1,777 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 $1,115 in Tobago and $1,184 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $96.9 per month in Tobago and $133 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 $1,115, than in Arima at $1,184. 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.