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: $1,214 in Tobago versus $1,232 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,844 in Tobago versus $2,031 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,474 in Tobago versus $2,831 in San Fernando.

Living in Tobago costs roughly 1% less than in San Fernando, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tobago 11% lower, San Fernando 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.05 TTD 67.7

$10.52 TTD 70.8

-4.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.19 TTD 277

$58.7 TTD 395

-29.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.65 TTD 65.0

$8.06 TTD 54.2

19.73%

Cappuccino

$3.66 TTD 24.63

$3.68 TTD 24.78

-0.54%

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

$1.65 TTD 11.11

$1.04 TTD 7.03

58.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 TTD 11.39

$0.75 TTD 5.06

125.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 TTD 24.99

$1.79 TTD 12.05

107.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 TTD 29.67

$2.62 TTD 17.64

68.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.48 TTD 16.71

$1.98 TTD 13.35

25.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 TTD 16.27

$2.31 TTD 15.53

4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 TTD 16.00

$2.89 TTD 19.43

-17.65%

Eggs

$4.87 TTD 32.75

$3.77 TTD 25.34

29.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.23 TTD 41.89

$6.51 TTD 43.82

-4.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.24 TTD 48.68

$10.06 TTD 67.7

-28.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.75 TTD 38.68

$8.69 TTD 58.5

-33.83%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 TTD 27.69

$5.54 TTD 37.30

-25.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 TTD 16.61

Oranges (1kg)

$2.23 TTD 14.98

$3.72 TTD 25.06

-40.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.34 TTD 15.73

$4.22 TTD 28.37

-44.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 TTD 6.64

$0.77 TTD 5.21

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.64 TTD 11.06

$0.71 TTD 4.79

130.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 TTD 12.66

$1.48 TTD 9.98

27.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 TTD 10.06

$1.15 TTD 7.72

30.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 TTD 28.93

$5.63 TTD 37.89

-23.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.71 TTD 146

$17.96 TTD 121

20.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.62 TTD 24.37

$1.53 TTD 10.31

136.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 TTD 29.83

$3.04 TTD 20.42

45.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 TTD 4.90

$0.43 TTD 2.88

69.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.66 TTD 294

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 TTD 4.74

$0.90 TTD 6.09

-22.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 TTD 5.68

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.88 TTD 59.7

$14.82 TTD 99.7

-40.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 TTD 7.19

$1.16 TTD 7.82

-7.76%

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

$36.6K TTD 246.0K

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

$40.5K TTD 272.4K

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

$58.0 TTD 390

$43.51 TTD 293

33.21%

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

$26.08 TTD 176

$42.50 TTD 286

-38.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.5 TTD 488

$46.20 TTD 311

56.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 TTD 352

$51.2 TTD 344

2.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.72 TTD 51.9

$8.94 TTD 60.2

-13.65%

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

$72.3 TTD 486

$394 TTD 2,653

-81.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K TTD 72.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.00 TTD 303

$54.7 TTD 368

-17.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.07 TTD 323

$37.21 TTD 250

29.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 TTD 960

$86.7 TTD 583

64.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 TTD 592

$87.0 TTD 586

1.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$406 TTD 2,735

$512 TTD 3,442

-20.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 TTD 2,275

$390 TTD 2,621

-13.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 TTD 3,780

$911 TTD 6,132

-38.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$519 TTD 3,491

$751 TTD 5,054

-30.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 TTD 13.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,515 TTD 10.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$740 TTD 4,979

$1,029 TTD 6,924

-28.09%

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: September 14, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $406 in Tobago and $512 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Fernando pays 39% 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: $41.00 in Tobago vs $59.0 in San Fernando for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $308 vs $317 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 San Fernando: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tobago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 39% 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: $406 in Tobago versus $512 in San Fernando. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $72.3 in Tobago versus $394 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 $41.00 versus $59.0 in San Fernando. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,214 in Tobago versus $1,232 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 1% less than in San Fernando. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.