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 $1,133 per month in Tobago vs $945 in St.James, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,881 per month in Tobago vs $1,629 in St.James, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,630 per month in Tobago vs $2,312 in St.James, rent included.

Tobago costs about 20% more than St.James, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Tobago and St.James are more affordable than the global median – Tobago 15% lower, St.James 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.95 TTD 60.3

$10.52 TTD 70.9

-14.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.0 TTD 445

$90.5 TTD 610

-27.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.19 TTD 48.48

$7.41 TTD 49.97

-2.97%

Cappuccino

$3.68 TTD 24.78

$3.75 TTD 25.29

-1.87%

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

$0.95 TTD 6.42

$1.09 TTD 7.33

-12.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 TTD 5.49

$0.79 TTD 5.29

2.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 TTD 25.04

$1.80 TTD 12.15

106.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 TTD 20.13

$3.04 TTD 20.47

-1.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 TTD 15.89

$2.74 TTD 18.45

-13.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 TTD 15.56

$2.75 TTD 18.51

-16.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.92 TTD 19.65

$2.63 TTD 17.71

11.03%

Eggs

$4.54 TTD 30.61

$4.96 TTD 33.40

-8.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 TTD 48.71

$7.73 TTD 52.1

-6.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.44 TTD 50.1

$10.37 TTD 69.9

-28.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.21 TTD 48.58

$14.12 TTD 95.2

-48.94%

Apples (1kg)

$7.02 TTD 47.29

$5.66 TTD 38.17

24.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 TTD 16.67

$2.53 TTD 17.05

-2.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.94 TTD 19.81

$4.27 TTD 28.77

-31.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 TTD 20.25

$4.61 TTD 31.10

-34.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 TTD 8.14

$1.42 TTD 9.57

-14.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 TTD 8.13

$1.68 TTD 11.30

-27.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 TTD 10.56

$1.90 TTD 12.83

-17.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 TTD 8.76

$1.41 TTD 9.53

-7.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.67 TTD 31.45

$5.89 TTD 39.69

-20.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.60 TTD 146

$18.80 TTD 127

14.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.38 TTD 22.76

$2.12 TTD 14.30

59.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 TTD 23.10

$2.83 TTD 19.07

21.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 TTD 5.23

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 TTD 4.82

$1.01 TTD 6.81

-28.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 TTD 4.87

$1.24 TTD 8.35

-41.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.48 TTD 104

$14.80 TTD 99.8

4.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 TTD 6.88

$1.14 TTD 7.66

-10.53%

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

$26.7K TTD 179.8K

$34.6K TTD 233.2K

-22.89%

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

$39.7K TTD 267.6K

$39.0K TTD 262.9K

1.77%

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

$81.5 TTD 549

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

$46.77 TTD 315

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 TTD 393

$62.6 TTD 422

-6.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 TTD 367

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 TTD 97.9

Cinema Ticket

$7.41 TTD 49.94

$10.19 TTD 68.7

-27.28%

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

$95.7 TTD 645

$333 TTD 2,241

-71.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,185 TTD 48.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 TTD 342

$60.3 TTD 407

-15.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 TTD 317

$38.23 TTD 258

22.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$153 TTD 1,029

$145 TTD 979

5.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.8 TTD 457

$129 TTD 866

-47.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 TTD 2,714

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 TTD 2,357

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$800 TTD 5,395

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$677 TTD 4,564

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 TTD 4,943

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 12, 2026

Last update for St.James: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Tobago versus $90.0 in St.James. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $329 vs $372 – 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: $1,133 in Tobago, $945 in St.James – roughly 20% apart. Tobago costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,699 per month in Tobago and $1,417 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 $1,133 in Tobago and $945 in St.James. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $95.7 per month in Tobago and $333 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 $945, than in Tobago at $1,133. 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.