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: $1,202 in Tobago versus $1,296 in Chaguanas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,799 in Tobago versus $2,100 in Chaguanas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,396 in Tobago versus $2,903 in Chaguanas.

Living in Tobago costs roughly 7% less than in Chaguanas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tobago 11% lower, Chaguanas 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.12 TTD 68.5

$10.20 TTD 69.0

-0.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.37 TTD 287

$59.6 TTD 403

-28.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.60 TTD 65.0

$8.13 TTD 55.0

18.08%

Cappuccino

$3.70 TTD 25.04

$3.21 TTD 21.73

15.26%

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

$1.60 TTD 10.86

$1.31 TTD 8.88

22.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 TTD 11.28

$0.98 TTD 6.60

70.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.65 TTD 24.68

$1.74 TTD 11.79

109.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 TTD 29.75

$2.57 TTD 17.36

71.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 TTD 17.40

$2.39 TTD 16.14

7.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 TTD 16.19

$2.25 TTD 15.25

6.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 TTD 16.37

$2.15 TTD 14.53

12.56%

Eggs

$4.77 TTD 32.30

$3.76 TTD 25.42

26.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.20 TTD 41.93

$7.16 TTD 48.42

-13.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.42 TTD 50.2

$8.21 TTD 55.5

-9.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.97 TTD 40.37

$11.56 TTD 78.2

-48.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.19 TTD 28.36

$2.92 TTD 19.75

43.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 TTD 16.26

$2.99 TTD 20.23

-19.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 TTD 15.24

$3.00 TTD 20.27

-25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 TTD 15.35

$5.23 TTD 35.38

-56.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TTD 6.46

$2.46 TTD 16.62

-61.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 TTD 10.65

$2.16 TTD 14.64

-27.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 TTD 12.33

$2.01 TTD 13.61

-9.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 TTD 9.71

$1.31 TTD 8.88

9.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 TTD 30.20

$2.99 TTD 20.24

49.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.15 TTD 150

$20.13 TTD 136

10.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.60 TTD 24.37

$1.90 TTD 12.88

89.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 TTD 29.38

$2.64 TTD 17.84

64.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 TTD 4.80

$0.72 TTD 4.91

-1.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 TTD 5.19

$2.16 TTD 14.63

-64.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 TTD 9.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 TTD 60.7

$14.94 TTD 101

-40.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 TTD 7.03

$1.16 TTD 7.84

-10.34%

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

$33.4K TTD 226.0K

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

$32.8K TTD 221.7K

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

$57.8 TTD 391

$105 TTD 710

-44.94%

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

$26.68 TTD 181

$39.53 TTD 267

-32.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.8 TTD 506

$51.9 TTD 351

44.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 TTD 354

$51.5 TTD 348

1.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.83 TTD 303

Cinema Ticket

$7.62 TTD 51.6

$9.03 TTD 61.1

-15.61%

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

$72.8 TTD 493

$303 TTD 2,049

-75.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.45 TTD 294

$45.47 TTD 308

-4.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.75 TTD 330

$42.86 TTD 290

13.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 TTD 931

$102 TTD 691

34.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.7 TTD 586

$110 TTD 741

-20.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 TTD 2,700

$469 TTD 3,174

-14.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$337 TTD 2,281

$374 TTD 2,528

-9.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$551 TTD 3,729

$949 TTD 6,420

-41.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$514 TTD 3,481

$749 TTD 5,071

-31.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 TTD 4,979

$784 TTD 5,305

-6.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tobago: September 22, 2026

Last update for Chaguanas: September 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Tobago and $469 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: $42.00 in Tobago vs $60.0 in Chaguanas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $328 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 8% 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: $399 in Tobago versus $469 in Chaguanas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Chaguanas. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,202 per month in Tobago versus $1,296 in Chaguanas – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,202 in Tobago versus $1,296 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 8% less than in Chaguanas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.