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 $1,115 per month in Tobago vs $924 in St.James, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,875 per month in Tobago vs $1,635 in St.James, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,634 per month in Tobago vs $2,346 in St.James, rent included.

Tobago costs about 21% more than St.James, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tobago and St.James are more affordable than the global median – Tobago 17% lower, St.James 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.99 TTD 60.2

$10.25 TTD 68.7

-12.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 TTD 439

$89.9 TTD 602

-27.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 TTD 48.47

$7.45 TTD 49.93

-2.95%

Cappuccino

$3.63 TTD 24.32

$3.64 TTD 24.39

-0.27%

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

$0.92 TTD 6.13

$1.10 TTD 7.36

-16.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 TTD 5.42

$0.83 TTD 5.57

-2.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.67 TTD 24.58

$1.90 TTD 12.72

93.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 TTD 19.30

$3.16 TTD 21.17

-8.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 TTD 15.15

$2.77 TTD 18.54

-18.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 TTD 15.42

$2.70 TTD 18.09

-14.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.90 TTD 19.46

$2.66 TTD 17.83

9.02%

Eggs

$4.48 TTD 30.01

$5.04 TTD 33.76

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 TTD 48.75

$7.89 TTD 52.9

-7.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.35 TTD 49.25

$10.25 TTD 68.7

-28.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.46 TTD 49.98

$14.52 TTD 97.3

-48.62%

Apples (1kg)

$6.97 TTD 46.69

$5.97 TTD 40.00

16.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 TTD 15.83

$2.60 TTD 17.43

-9.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 TTD 19.58

$4.28 TTD 28.70

-31.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 TTD 19.41

$4.82 TTD 32.31

-39.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 TTD 8.11

$1.50 TTD 10.02

-19.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 TTD 8.04

$1.66 TTD 11.10

-27.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 TTD 10.67

$1.88 TTD 12.56

-15.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 TTD 8.76

$1.39 TTD 9.34

-5.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.83 TTD 32.35

$5.74 TTD 38.47

-15.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.73 TTD 146

$18.50 TTD 124

17.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.42 TTD 22.91

$2.14 TTD 14.31

59.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 TTD 22.59

$2.83 TTD 18.97

19.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 TTD 5.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 TTD 5.06

$1.00 TTD 6.70

-24.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 TTD 5.18

$1.21 TTD 8.13

-36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.24 TTD 102

$14.61 TTD 97.9

4.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 TTD 6.94

$1.13 TTD 7.59

-7.96%

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

$26.7K TTD 178.8K

$33.4K TTD 223.5K

-20.03%

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

$40.4K TTD 271.0K

$37.9K TTD 253.6K

6.85%

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

$79.8 TTD 534

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

$46.23 TTD 310

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 TTD 404

$60.7 TTD 407

-0.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 TTD 366

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.05 TTD 101

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 TTD 49.79

$9.72 TTD 65.1

-23.56%

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

$96.9 TTD 649

$328 TTD 2,200

-70.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,315 TTD 49.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 TTD 346

$58.5 TTD 392

-11.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.21 TTD 310

$38.84 TTD 260

18.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$154 TTD 1,029

$146 TTD 978

5.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 TTD 469

$126 TTD 842

-44.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$413 TTD 2,767

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 TTD 2,283

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 TTD 5,394

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 TTD 4,420

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 TTD 4,908

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for St.James: May 31, 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: $327 vs $376 – 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: $1,115 in Tobago, $924 in St.James – roughly 21% apart. Tobago costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,673 per month in Tobago and $1,385 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 $1,115 in Tobago and $924 in St.James. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $96.9 per month in Tobago and $328 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 $924, than in Tobago at $1,115. 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.