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: $1,115 in Tobago versus $1,573 in Port of Spain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,875 in Tobago versus $2,743 in Port of Spain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,634 in Tobago versus $3,913 in Port of Spain.

Living in Tobago costs roughly 29% less than in Port of Spain, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.99 TTD 60.2

$10.21 TTD 68.4

-11.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 TTD 439

$89.4 TTD 599

-26.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 TTD 48.47

$7.31 TTD 48.97

-1.09%

Cappuccino

$3.63 TTD 24.32

$3.66 TTD 24.54

-0.82%

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

$0.92 TTD 6.13

$1.05 TTD 7.01

-12.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 TTD 5.42

$0.82 TTD 5.50

-1.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.67 TTD 24.58

$1.81 TTD 12.13

102.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 TTD 19.30

$3.05 TTD 20.46

-5.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 TTD 15.15

$2.63 TTD 17.61

-14.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 TTD 15.42

$2.71 TTD 18.16

-15.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.90 TTD 19.46

$2.56 TTD 17.16

13.28%

Eggs

$4.48 TTD 30.01

$5.03 TTD 33.73

-10.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 TTD 48.75

$7.98 TTD 53.5

-8.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.35 TTD 49.25

$10.31 TTD 69.1

-28.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.46 TTD 49.98

$14.21 TTD 95.2

-47.50%

Apples (1kg)

$6.97 TTD 46.69

$5.73 TTD 38.38

21.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 TTD 15.83

$2.51 TTD 16.79

-5.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 TTD 19.58

$4.34 TTD 29.05

-32.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 TTD 19.41

$4.82 TTD 32.28

-39.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 TTD 8.11

$1.45 TTD 9.71

-16.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 TTD 8.04

$1.67 TTD 11.18

-28.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 TTD 10.67

$1.96 TTD 13.15

-18.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 TTD 8.76

$1.47 TTD 9.84

-10.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.83 TTD 32.35

$5.77 TTD 38.67

-16.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.73 TTD 146

$18.09 TTD 121

20.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.42 TTD 22.91

$2.17 TTD 14.55

57.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 TTD 22.59

$2.85 TTD 19.07

18.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 TTD 5.15

$1.06 TTD 7.10

-27.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.6 TTD 641

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 TTD 5.06

$1.05 TTD 7.01

-27.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 TTD 5.18

$1.28 TTD 8.56

-39.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.24 TTD 102

$14.91 TTD 99.9

2.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 TTD 6.94

$1.09 TTD 7.31

-4.59%

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

$26.7K TTD 178.8K

$34.1K TTD 228.1K

-21.63%

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

$40.4K TTD 271.0K

$38.0K TTD 254.6K

6.42%

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

$80.6 TTD 540

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

$45.86 TTD 307

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 TTD 404

$61.2 TTD 410

-1.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 TTD 366

$53.7 TTD 360

1.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.05 TTD 101

$13.24 TTD 88.7

13.67%

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 TTD 49.79

$10.05 TTD 67.3

-26.07%

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

$96.9 TTD 649

$329 TTD 2,203

-70.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,096 TTD 47.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 TTD 346

$59.5 TTD 398

-13.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.21 TTD 310

$38.55 TTD 258

19.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$154 TTD 1,029

$144 TTD 967

6.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 TTD 469

$127 TTD 849

-44.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$413 TTD 2,767

$759 TTD 5,086

-45.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 TTD 2,283

$479 TTD 3,208

-28.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 TTD 5,394

$1,841 TTD 12.3K

-56.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 TTD 4,420

$1,273 TTD 8,526

-48.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,382 TTD 29.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,724 TTD 11.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 TTD 4,908

0.00%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Port of Spain: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $413 in Tobago and $759 in Port of Spain. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tobago pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $66.0 in Tobago vs $89.0 in Port of Spain for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $373 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Tobago pays 0% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $413 in Tobago versus $759 in Port of Spain. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $96.9 in Tobago versus $329 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 $66.0 versus $89.0 in Port of Spain. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,115 in Tobago versus $1,573 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 41% less than in Port of Spain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.