Cost of Living Comparison Between Tobago and Port of Spain Cost of Living Comparison Between Tobago and Port of Spain

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,193 in Tobago versus $1,613 in Port of Spain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,838 in Tobago versus $2,727 in Port of Spain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,484 in Tobago versus $3,841 in Port of Spain.

Living in Tobago costs roughly 26% less than in Port of Spain, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tobago is 13% below, Port of Spain is 17% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 TTD 67.7

$10.54 TTD 70.1

-3.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.46 TTD 283

$90.5 TTD 602

-53.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.58 TTD 63.7

$8.75 TTD 58.2

9.49%

Cappuccino

$3.67 TTD 24.45

$3.80 TTD 25.29

-3.42%

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

$1.63 TTD 10.88

$1.05 TTD 6.99

55.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 TTD 10.88

$0.71 TTD 4.71

129.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 TTD 25.12

$2.28 TTD 15.15

65.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 TTD 29.19

$3.68 TTD 24.51

19.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.50 TTD 16.66

$2.44 TTD 16.27

2.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 TTD 16.55

$2.51 TTD 16.72

-0.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 TTD 15.29

$2.88 TTD 19.15

-20.14%

Eggs

$4.85 TTD 32.30

$4.53 TTD 30.15

7.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.20 TTD 41.26

$6.85 TTD 45.56

-9.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.21 TTD 47.95

$10.12 TTD 67.4

-28.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.91 TTD 39.34

$11.83 TTD 78.7

-50.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 TTD 26.66

$5.61 TTD 37.33

-28.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 TTD 16.36

$3.02 TTD 20.11

-18.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 TTD 14.99

$3.79 TTD 25.24

-40.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 TTD 15.03

$4.27 TTD 28.41

-47.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 TTD 6.56

$2.15 TTD 14.31

-53.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 TTD 11.00

$1.95 TTD 12.94

-15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 TTD 12.05

$1.84 TTD 12.27

-1.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 TTD 9.89

$1.42 TTD 9.42

4.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 TTD 29.63

$6.06 TTD 40.30

-26.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.66 TTD 144

$18.94 TTD 126

14.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.77 TTD 25.06

$2.24 TTD 14.90

68.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 TTD 29.31

$2.97 TTD 19.79

48.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 TTD 5.03

$1.17 TTD 7.77

-35.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$136 TTD 902

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 TTD 5.14

$1.03 TTD 6.82

-25.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 TTD 8.23

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.07 TTD 60.4

$14.97 TTD 99.6

-39.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 TTD 6.91

$1.17 TTD 7.79

-11.11%

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

$37.4K TTD 248.8K

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

$41.7K TTD 277.6K

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

$59.9 TTD 399

$91.5 TTD 609

-34.51%

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

$26.98 TTD 180

$52.4 TTD 349

-48.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.0 TTD 493

$57.5 TTD 382

28.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.2 TTD 341

$57.1 TTD 380

-10.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.12 TTD 87.3

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 TTD 52.5

$8.72 TTD 58.0

-9.52%

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

$74.5 TTD 495

$399 TTD 2,655

-81.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K TTD 73.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.59 TTD 290

$54.8 TTD 364

-20.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.02 TTD 320

$52.9 TTD 352

-9.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 TTD 913

$147 TTD 981

-6.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.9 TTD 599

$103 TTD 685

-12.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 TTD 2,656

$1,028 TTD 6,841

-61.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 TTD 2,191

$518 TTD 3,449

-36.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$550 TTD 3,662

$2,187 TTD 14.6K

-74.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$509 TTD 3,390

$1,195 TTD 7,949

-57.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,371 TTD 29.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,974 TTD 13.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$746 TTD 4,963

$776 TTD 5,165

-3.91%

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 Tobago: August 31, 2026

Last update for Port of Spain: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Tobago and $1,028 in Port of Spain. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Port of Spain pays 4% 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 $90.0 in Port of Spain for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $308 vs $358 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 Port of Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tobago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 4% lower in Port of Spain. 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 $1,028 in Port of Spain. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $74.5 in Tobago versus $399 in Port of Spain. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tobago – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $90.0 in Port of Spain. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,193 in Tobago versus $1,613 in Port of Spain, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tobago but tight or insufficient in Port of Spain. 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 Port of Spain 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 35% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.