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: $1,133 in Tobago versus $1,593 in Port of Spain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,881 in Tobago versus $2,747 in Port of Spain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,630 in Tobago versus $3,901 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 15% below, Port of Spain is 19% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.95 TTD 60.3

$10.50 TTD 70.8

-14.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.0 TTD 445

$89.6 TTD 604

-26.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.19 TTD 48.48

$7.27 TTD 49.00

-1.10%

Cappuccino

$3.68 TTD 24.78

$3.73 TTD 25.16

-1.34%

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

$0.95 TTD 6.42

$1.10 TTD 7.42

-13.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 TTD 5.49

$0.76 TTD 5.15

6.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 TTD 25.04

$1.90 TTD 12.83

95.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 TTD 20.13

$3.02 TTD 20.38

-0.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 TTD 15.89

$2.71 TTD 18.28

-12.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 TTD 15.56

$2.82 TTD 19.02

-18.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.92 TTD 19.65

$2.61 TTD 17.61

11.88%

Eggs

$4.54 TTD 30.61

$5.14 TTD 34.65

-11.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 TTD 48.71

$7.77 TTD 52.4

-6.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.44 TTD 50.1

$10.60 TTD 71.5

-29.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.21 TTD 48.58

$14.37 TTD 96.9

-49.83%

Apples (1kg)

$7.02 TTD 47.29

$5.79 TTD 39.05

21.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 TTD 16.67

$2.54 TTD 17.09

-2.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.94 TTD 19.81

$4.24 TTD 28.60

-30.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 TTD 20.25

$4.87 TTD 32.83

-38.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 TTD 8.14

$1.48 TTD 9.97

-18.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 TTD 8.13

$1.67 TTD 11.29

-27.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 TTD 10.56

$1.94 TTD 13.06

-19.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 TTD 8.76

$1.42 TTD 9.55

-8.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.67 TTD 31.45

$6.06 TTD 40.85

-22.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.60 TTD 146

$19.02 TTD 128

13.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.38 TTD 22.76

$2.22 TTD 14.95

52.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 TTD 23.10

$2.73 TTD 18.43

25.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 TTD 5.23

$1.05 TTD 7.05

-25.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.0 TTD 667

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 TTD 4.82

$1.02 TTD 6.86

-29.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 TTD 4.87

$1.29 TTD 8.66

-44.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.48 TTD 104

$14.61 TTD 98.5

5.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 TTD 6.88

$1.14 TTD 7.67

-10.53%

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

$26.7K TTD 179.8K

$34.4K TTD 231.8K

-22.42%

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

$39.7K TTD 267.6K

$38.3K TTD 257.8K

3.80%

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

$79.6 TTD 537

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

$46.31 TTD 312

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 TTD 393

$61.4 TTD 414

-5.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 TTD 367

$54.2 TTD 365

0.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 TTD 97.9

$13.11 TTD 88.4

10.76%

Cinema Ticket

$7.41 TTD 49.94

$10.23 TTD 69.0

-27.57%

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

$95.7 TTD 645

$330 TTD 2,225

-71.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,163 TTD 48.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 TTD 342

$60.1 TTD 405

-15.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 TTD 317

$38.87 TTD 262

20.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$153 TTD 1,029

$143 TTD 967

6.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.8 TTD 457

$128 TTD 861

-46.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 TTD 2,714

$765 TTD 5,155

-47.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 TTD 2,357

$483 TTD 3,254

-27.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$800 TTD 5,395

$1,824 TTD 12.3K

-56.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$677 TTD 4,564

$1,285 TTD 8,664

-47.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,344 TTD 29.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,726 TTD 11.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 TTD 4,943

$770 TTD 5,188

-4.72%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Port of Spain: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $403 in Tobago and $765 in Port of Spain. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Port of Spain pays 5% 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: $66.0 in Tobago vs $90.0 in Port of Spain for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $329 vs $378 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.

On paper, salaries run 5% 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: $403 in Tobago versus $765 in Port of Spain. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $95.7 in Tobago versus $330 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 $90.0 in Port of Spain. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,133 in Tobago versus $1,593 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.