Cost of Living Comparison Between Tobago and Chaguanas Cost of Living Comparison Between Tobago and Chaguanas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,113 in Tobago versus $1,251 in Chaguanas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,862 in Tobago versus $2,023 in Chaguanas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,611 in Tobago versus $2,794 in Chaguanas.

Living in Tobago costs roughly 11% less than in Chaguanas, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tobago 16% lower, Chaguanas 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.83 TTD 59.3

$7.36 TTD 49.42

19.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.9 TTD 449

$88.9 TTD 597

-24.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 TTD 49.32

$7.49 TTD 50.3

-1.87%

Cappuccino

$3.63 TTD 24.40

$3.12 TTD 20.93

16.35%

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

$0.92 TTD 6.18

$1.04 TTD 6.99

-11.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 TTD 5.81

$0.76 TTD 5.12

13.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 TTD 24.19

$1.83 TTD 12.30

96.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 TTD 20.27

$2.63 TTD 17.69

14.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 TTD 15.79

$2.55 TTD 17.13

-7.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.29 TTD 15.35

$2.22 TTD 14.91

3.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.01 TTD 20.19

$2.69 TTD 18.09

11.90%

Eggs

$4.68 TTD 31.41

$4.10 TTD 27.56

14.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 TTD 50.4

$7.76 TTD 52.1

-3.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 TTD 50.6

$9.16 TTD 61.5

-17.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 TTD 50.3

$12.47 TTD 83.8

-39.94%

Apples (1kg)

$6.94 TTD 46.63

$4.67 TTD 31.37

48.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 TTD 16.54

$2.54 TTD 17.09

-3.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 TTD 20.43

$3.68 TTD 24.71

-17.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 TTD 20.40

$4.42 TTD 29.68

-31.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 TTD 7.84

$1.45 TTD 9.72

-19.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 TTD 8.01

$1.74 TTD 11.67

-31.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 TTD 10.53

$1.44 TTD 9.67

9.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 TTD 8.68

$1.24 TTD 8.33

4.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 TTD 32.88

$4.60 TTD 30.86

6.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.19 TTD 149

$20.17 TTD 135

10.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.36 TTD 22.59

$2.14 TTD 14.35

57.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 TTD 23.11

$2.70 TTD 18.10

27.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 TTD 4.88

$1.29 TTD 8.65

-43.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 TTD 4.84

$1.01 TTD 6.81

-28.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 TTD 4.77

$1.07 TTD 7.19

-33.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.39 TTD 103

$15.04 TTD 101

2.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 TTD 6.66

$0.91 TTD 6.09

8.79%

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

$26.8K TTD 179.6K

$32.8K TTD 220.3K

-18.46%

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

$40.0K TTD 268.6K

$36.8K TTD 246.9K

8.79%

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

$80.8 TTD 542

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

$47.42 TTD 318

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.3 TTD 405

$50.8 TTD 341

18.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 TTD 369

$43.79 TTD 294

25.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.05 TTD 101

$29.35 TTD 197

-48.72%

Cinema Ticket

$7.17 TTD 48.15

$8.74 TTD 58.7

-17.96%

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

$97.8 TTD 657

$318 TTD 2,133

-69.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,344 TTD 49.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.2 TTD 350

$56.1 TTD 377

-6.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.12 TTD 316

$38.92 TTD 261

21.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$154 TTD 1,032

$136 TTD 910

13.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.7 TTD 454

$116 TTD 781

-41.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$417 TTD 2,801

$427 TTD 2,864

-2.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 TTD 2,332

$384 TTD 2,579

-9.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 TTD 5,486

$636 TTD 4,274

28.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$662 TTD 4,447

$547 TTD 3,676

20.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$729 TTD 4,894

$778 TTD 5,222

-6.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.38

30.11%

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

Last update for Tobago: July 28, 2026

Last update for Chaguanas: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $417 in Tobago and $427 in Chaguanas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chaguanas pays 7% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $67.0 in Tobago vs $89.0 in Chaguanas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $342 per month, with Tobago cheaper across the board.

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 Chaguanas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tobago wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Chaguanas. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tobago the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Chaguanas. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $417 in Tobago versus $427 in Chaguanas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Chaguanas. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,113 per month in Tobago versus $1,251 in Chaguanas – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,113 in Tobago versus $1,251 in Chaguanas, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tobago but tight or insufficient in Chaguanas. The gap between the two cities makes Tobago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Tobago and Chaguanas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Tobago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Chaguanas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.