Cost of Living Comparison Between Tobago and St.James Cost of Living Comparison Between Tobago and St.James

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,219 per month in Tobago vs $918 in St.James, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,813 per month in Tobago vs $1,588 in St.James, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,406 per month in Tobago vs $2,259 in St.James, rent included.

Tobago costs about 33% more than St.James, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tobago and St.James are more affordable than the global median – Tobago 12% lower, St.James 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.97 TTD 67.2

$10.38 TTD 70.0

-3.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.45 TTD 279

$89.3 TTD 602

-53.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 TTD 66.6

$8.91 TTD 60.1

10.89%

Cappuccino

$3.83 TTD 25.82

$3.64 TTD 24.56

5.22%

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

$1.63 TTD 11.00

$0.99 TTD 6.69

64.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 TTD 11.08

$0.72 TTD 4.85

127.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 TTD 25.41

$2.26 TTD 15.24

66.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 TTD 29.69

$3.60 TTD 24.25

22.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.55 TTD 17.17

$2.46 TTD 16.57

3.66%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 TTD 15.95

$2.49 TTD 16.76

-4.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 TTD 15.45

$2.78 TTD 18.76

-17.63%

Eggs

$4.90 TTD 33.04

$4.51 TTD 30.40

8.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 TTD 42.08

$6.60 TTD 44.47

-5.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.39 TTD 49.83

$10.26 TTD 69.2

-27.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.90 TTD 39.80

$11.78 TTD 79.4

-49.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.08 TTD 27.53

$5.55 TTD 37.40

-26.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.39 TTD 16.14

$3.11 TTD 20.97

-23.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 TTD 15.66

$3.60 TTD 24.28

-35.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.34 TTD 15.79

$4.42 TTD 29.78

-47.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 TTD 6.70

$2.21 TTD 14.91

-55.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 TTD 11.13

$1.93 TTD 13.01

-14.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 TTD 12.65

$1.90 TTD 12.81

-1.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 TTD 9.71

$1.36 TTD 9.14

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 TTD 30.49

$5.95 TTD 40.08

-24.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.83 TTD 147

$19.36 TTD 131

12.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.63 TTD 24.46

$2.23 TTD 15.02

62.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 TTD 29.63

$2.99 TTD 20.13

46.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 TTD 4.83

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 TTD 5.10

$1.05 TTD 7.10

-27.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 TTD 8.25

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 TTD 60.4

$14.93 TTD 101

-39.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 TTD 6.92

$1.11 TTD 7.49

-7.21%

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

$37.0K TTD 249.2K

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

$41.5K TTD 280.1K

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

$57.8 TTD 390

$92.2 TTD 621

-37.25%

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

$26.72 TTD 180

$51.2 TTD 345

-47.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.6 TTD 489

$56.6 TTD 382

28.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 TTD 350

Cinema Ticket

$7.61 TTD 51.3

$8.88 TTD 59.9

-14.30%

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

$74.2 TTD 500

$405 TTD 2,732

-81.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K TTD 73.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.33 TTD 292

$54.5 TTD 367

-20.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.16 TTD 318

$52.4 TTD 353

-10.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 TTD 949

$148 TTD 998

-4.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.2 TTD 601

$104 TTD 700

-14.07%

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 St.James: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Tobago versus $89.0 in St.James. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $309 vs $358 – 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 St.James: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,219 in Tobago, $918 in St.James – roughly 33% apart. Tobago costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,829 per month in Tobago and $1,377 in St.James. 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 $918 in St.James. 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 $405 in St.James. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in St.James, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Tobago at $1,219. In St.James it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tobago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward St.James – 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 St.James. 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.