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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,219 per month in Tobago vs $760 in San Juan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,813 per month in Tobago vs $1,320 in San Juan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,406 per month in Tobago vs $1,880 in San Juan, rent included.

Tobago costs about 61% more than San Juan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tobago and San Juan are more affordable than the global median – Tobago 12% lower, San Juan 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.97 TTD 67.2

$10.41 TTD 70.2

-4.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.45 TTD 279

$58.1 TTD 392

-28.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 TTD 66.6

$7.87 TTD 53.1

25.54%

Cappuccino

$3.83 TTD 25.82

$3.63 TTD 24.49

5.51%

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

$1.63 TTD 11.00

$1.15 TTD 7.77

41.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 TTD 11.08

$0.76 TTD 5.12

115.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 TTD 25.41

$2.26 TTD 15.22

66.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 TTD 29.69

$3.00 TTD 20.21

46.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.55 TTD 17.17

$2.00 TTD 13.46

27.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 TTD 15.95

$2.29 TTD 15.45

3.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 TTD 15.45

$2.88 TTD 19.40

-20.49%

Eggs

$4.90 TTD 33.04

$3.78 TTD 25.47

29.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 TTD 42.08

$6.80 TTD 45.87

-8.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.39 TTD 49.83

$9.90 TTD 66.7

-25.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.90 TTD 39.80

$8.68 TTD 58.5

-32.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.08 TTD 27.53

$5.36 TTD 36.14

-23.88%

Banana (1kg)

$2.39 TTD 16.14

$2.55 TTD 17.19

-6.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 TTD 15.66

$3.76 TTD 25.36

-38.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.34 TTD 15.79

$4.32 TTD 29.15

-45.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 TTD 6.70

$0.76 TTD 5.11

30.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 TTD 11.13

$0.71 TTD 4.82

132.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 TTD 12.65

$1.44 TTD 9.74

30.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 TTD 9.71

$1.21 TTD 8.14

19.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 TTD 30.49

$5.63 TTD 37.94

-19.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.83 TTD 147

$17.60 TTD 119

24.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.63 TTD 24.46

$1.56 TTD 10.54

132.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 TTD 29.63

$3.04 TTD 20.50

44.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 TTD 4.83

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 TTD 5.10

$0.86 TTD 5.77

-11.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 TTD 6.08

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 TTD 60.4

$14.83 TTD 100.0

-39.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 TTD 6.92

$1.11 TTD 7.48

-7.21%

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

$36.2K TTD 244.0K

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

$41.2K TTD 277.7K

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

$57.8 TTD 390

$43.95 TTD 296

31.56%

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

$26.72 TTD 180

$42.65 TTD 288

-37.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.6 TTD 489

$46.19 TTD 311

57.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 TTD 350

Cinema Ticket

$7.61 TTD 51.3

$9.05 TTD 61.0

-15.91%

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

$74.2 TTD 500

$393 TTD 2,647

-81.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K TTD 73.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.33 TTD 292

$55.1 TTD 371

-21.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.16 TTD 318

$37.08 TTD 250

27.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 TTD 949

$87.6 TTD 591

60.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.2 TTD 601

$87.8 TTD 592

1.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 TTD 2,709

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 TTD 2,259

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 TTD 3,681

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$514 TTD 3,463

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 TTD 4,940

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 5, 2026

Last update for San Juan: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Tobago versus $58.0 in San Juan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $309 vs $317 – making Tobago the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tobago costs about 61% more than San Juan, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,829 per month in Tobago and $1,139 in San Juan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,219 in Tobago and $760 in San Juan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $74.2 per month in Tobago and $393 in San Juan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan, where all-in costs run around $760, than in Tobago at $1,219. In San Juan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tobago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Juan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Juan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tobago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.