Cost of Living Comparison Between Tobago and San Fernando Cost of Living Comparison Between Tobago and San Fernando

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,113 in Tobago versus $1,217 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,862 in Tobago versus $2,005 in San Fernando.

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

Living in Tobago costs roughly 9% less than in San Fernando, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tobago 16% lower, San Fernando 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.83 TTD 59.3

$10.40 TTD 69.8

-15.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.9 TTD 449

$59.1 TTD 397

13.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 TTD 49.32

$7.54 TTD 50.6

-2.52%

Cappuccino

$3.63 TTD 24.40

$3.68 TTD 24.70

-1.36%

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

$0.92 TTD 6.18

$1.09 TTD 7.31

-15.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 TTD 5.81

$0.77 TTD 5.15

11.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 TTD 24.19

$1.82 TTD 12.24

97.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 TTD 20.27

$2.48 TTD 16.66

21.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 TTD 15.79

$2.03 TTD 13.65

15.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.29 TTD 15.35

$2.34 TTD 15.72

-2.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.01 TTD 20.19

$2.63 TTD 17.63

14.45%

Eggs

$4.68 TTD 31.41

$3.83 TTD 25.71

22.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 TTD 50.4

$8.09 TTD 54.3

-7.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 TTD 50.6

$10.45 TTD 70.2

-27.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 TTD 50.3

$8.70 TTD 58.4

-13.91%

Apples (1kg)

$6.94 TTD 46.63

$5.92 TTD 39.78

17.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 TTD 16.54

$2.48 TTD 16.67

-0.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 TTD 20.43

$4.36 TTD 29.28

-30.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 TTD 20.40

$4.67 TTD 31.37

-34.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 TTD 7.84

$1.24 TTD 8.31

-5.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 TTD 8.01

$0.76 TTD 5.11

56.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 TTD 10.53

$1.49 TTD 10.02

5.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 TTD 8.68

$1.16 TTD 7.82

11.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 TTD 32.88

$5.69 TTD 38.18

-13.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.19 TTD 149

$17.35 TTD 117

27.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.36 TTD 22.59

$1.52 TTD 10.19

121.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 TTD 23.11

$2.71 TTD 18.19

26.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 TTD 4.88

$0.46 TTD 3.07

58.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.31 TTD 298

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 TTD 4.84

$0.85 TTD 5.74

-15.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 TTD 4.77

$0.86 TTD 5.75

-17.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.39 TTD 103

$14.56 TTD 97.8

5.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 TTD 6.66

$0.99 TTD 6.65

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

$26.8K TTD 179.6K

$34.4K TTD 231.1K

-22.25%

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

$40.0K TTD 268.6K

$38.2K TTD 256.7K

4.66%

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

$44.86 TTD 301

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

$42.88 TTD 288

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.3 TTD 405

$45.00 TTD 302

33.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 TTD 369

$46.91 TTD 315

16.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.05 TTD 101

$8.62 TTD 57.9

74.59%

Cinema Ticket

$7.17 TTD 48.15

$8.80 TTD 59.1

-18.52%

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

$97.8 TTD 657

$325 TTD 2,185

-69.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,224 TTD 14.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.2 TTD 350

$43.93 TTD 295

18.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.12 TTD 316

$36.61 TTD 246

28.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$154 TTD 1,032

$89.7 TTD 603

71.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.7 TTD 454

$90.4 TTD 607

-25.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$417 TTD 2,801

$533 TTD 3,580

-21.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 TTD 2,332

$349 TTD 2,344

-0.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 TTD 5,486

$976 TTD 6,553

-16.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$662 TTD 4,447

$695 TTD 4,667

-4.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,976 TTD 13.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 TTD 9,967

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$729 TTD 4,894

$1,030 TTD 6,915

-29.23%

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 San Fernando: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $417 in Tobago and $533 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 41% 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 $59.0 in San Fernando for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $330 per month, with San Fernando 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 San Fernando: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tobago is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 41% lower in San Fernando. 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 $533 in San Fernando. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $97.8 in Tobago versus $325 in San Fernando. 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 $67.0 versus $59.0 in San Fernando. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,113 in Tobago versus $1,217 in San Fernando, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tobago but tight or insufficient in San Fernando. 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 San Fernando 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 9% less than in San Fernando. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.