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: $1,131 in Tobago versus $1,233 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,889 in Tobago versus $2,002 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,647 in Tobago versus $2,770 in San Fernando.

Living in Tobago costs roughly 8% less than in San Fernando, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tobago 15% lower, San Fernando 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.73 TTD 59.0

$10.34 TTD 69.9

-15.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.9 TTD 445

$58.2 TTD 393

13.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 TTD 49.13

$7.42 TTD 50.2

-2.02%

Cappuccino

$3.72 TTD 25.17

$3.58 TTD 24.18

3.91%

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

$0.91 TTD 6.13

$1.09 TTD 7.34

-16.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 TTD 5.43

$0.76 TTD 5.14

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 TTD 25.50

$1.89 TTD 12.77

99.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 TTD 20.38

$2.47 TTD 16.67

22.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 TTD 15.64

$2.08 TTD 14.04

11.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 TTD 15.25

$2.34 TTD 15.82

-3.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.01 TTD 20.37

$2.57 TTD 17.37

17.12%

Eggs

$4.67 TTD 31.57

$3.76 TTD 25.43

24.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.20 TTD 48.64

$8.16 TTD 55.1

-11.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.60 TTD 51.3

$10.24 TTD 69.2

-25.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 TTD 50.5

$8.56 TTD 57.9

-12.73%

Apples (1kg)

$6.68 TTD 45.17

$5.74 TTD 38.76

16.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 TTD 16.21

$2.55 TTD 17.23

-5.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 TTD 19.44

$4.34 TTD 29.31

-33.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.99 TTD 20.19

$4.78 TTD 32.27

-37.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 TTD 7.83

$1.28 TTD 8.63

-9.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 TTD 8.16

$0.76 TTD 5.16

59.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 TTD 10.89

$1.46 TTD 9.86

10.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 TTD 8.79

$1.19 TTD 8.07

9.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.91 TTD 33.19

$5.66 TTD 38.26

-13.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.09 TTD 149

$17.39 TTD 118

27.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.25 TTD 21.94

$1.55 TTD 10.49

109.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 TTD 23.28

$2.76 TTD 18.63

24.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 TTD 5.14

$0.43 TTD 2.88

76.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.61 TTD 301

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 TTD 5.07

$0.92 TTD 6.25

-18.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 TTD 5.24

$0.86 TTD 5.80

-9.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.66 TTD 106

$14.61 TTD 98.8

7.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 TTD 6.71

$1.00 TTD 6.76

-1.00%

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

$26.7K TTD 180.5K

$34.7K TTD 234.2K

-22.92%

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

$39.6K TTD 267.8K

$38.7K TTD 261.2K

2.50%

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

$45.22 TTD 306

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

$42.58 TTD 288

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 TTD 398

$45.13 TTD 305

30.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 TTD 370

$45.90 TTD 310

19.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.86 TTD 100

$9.04 TTD 61.1

64.38%

Cinema Ticket

$7.45 TTD 50.3

$8.92 TTD 60.3

-16.48%

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

$96.2 TTD 650

$326 TTD 2,202

-70.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,203 TTD 14.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 TTD 351

$44.40 TTD 300

17.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.01 TTD 311

$37.01 TTD 250

24.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$155 TTD 1,049

$89.0 TTD 601

74.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.0 TTD 473

$87.9 TTD 594

-20.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$414 TTD 2,799

$539 TTD 3,639

-23.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 TTD 2,366

$341 TTD 2,302

2.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 TTD 5,393

$955 TTD 6,455

-16.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 TTD 4,560

$701 TTD 4,738

-3.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,016 TTD 13.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,493 TTD 10.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$730 TTD 4,933

$1,023 TTD 6,912

-28.63%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $414 in Tobago and $539 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 40% 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 $58.0 in San Fernando. Groceries flip the comparison at $328 vs $330, with Tobago cheaper for home cooking.

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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, San Fernando earns 40% less. 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: $414 in Tobago versus $539 in San Fernando. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $96.2 in Tobago versus $326 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 $66.0 versus $58.0 in San Fernando. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,131 in Tobago versus $1,233 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.