For one person, living is cheaper in Trinidad And Tobago: $1,469 a month against $1,821 in Costa Rica, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Trinidad And Tobago and in Costa Rica
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Trinidad And Tobago and in Costa Rica actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,469 per month in Trinidad And Tobago vs $1,821 in Costa Rica, rent included.
Trinidad And Tobago $1,469
Costa Rica $1,821
A couple spends around $2,391 per month in Trinidad And Tobago vs $2,773 in Costa Rica, rent included.
Trinidad And Tobago $2,391
Costa Rica $2,773
A family of three spends $3,313 per month in Trinidad And Tobago vs $3,725 in Costa Rica, rent included.
Trinidad And Tobago $3,313
Costa Rica $3,725
📏
Cost ranges are similar: Trinidad And Tobago spans $723–$1,628, Costa Rica $1,004–$2,114. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.
🌍
The cost of living in Trinidad And Tobago is roughly 19% lower than in Costa Rica on average.
📊
Both Trinidad And Tobago and Costa Rica are pricier than the global median – Trinidad And Tobago by 8%, Costa Rica by 34%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Trinidad And Tobago
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.25TTD 69.0
$11.26₡5,069
-8.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8TTD 537
$54.5₡24.5K
46.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.79TTD 59.2
$11.02₡4,960
-20.24%
Cappuccino
$3.81TTD 25.66
$4.43₡1,993
-14.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11TTD 7.49
$2.34₡1,052
-52.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81TTD 5.42
$1.84₡826
-55.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19TTD 14.76
$3.26₡1,469
-32.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89TTD 19.49
$4.55₡2,047
-36.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trinidad And Tobago
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.41TTD 16.22
$2.45₡1,101
-1.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39TTD 16.13
$3.56₡1,603
-32.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.59TTD 17.41
$2.76₡1,241
-6.16%
Eggs
$4.19TTD 28.21
$3.97₡1,789
5.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.81TTD 52.6
$10.47₡4,713
-25.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.19TTD 61.9
$9.98₡4,493
-7.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.99TTD 67.3
$13.91₡6,259
-28.18%
Apples(1kg)
$5.00TTD 33.65
$5.06₡2,276
-1.19%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67TTD 17.99
$1.69₡761
57.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10TTD 20.87
$3.45₡1,553
-10.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.76TTD 32.07
$3.23₡1,455
47.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73TTD 11.65
$3.44₡1,550
-49.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60TTD 10.76
$3.25₡1,461
-50.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71TTD 11.51
$1.09₡490
56.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31TTD 8.79
$2.67₡1,200
-50.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.83TTD 39.24
$5.38₡2,420
8.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.57TTD 118
$15.50₡6,975
13.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96TTD 13.22
$2.75₡1,238
-28.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17TTD 21.34
$3.30₡1,484
-3.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Trinidad And Tobago
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90TTD 6.09
$1.13₡508
-20.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$132TTD 888
$65.5₡29.5K
101.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05TTD 7.05
$2.17₡976
-51.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.93TTD 6.26
$2.02₡910
-53.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.46TTD 97.4
$8.94₡4,023
61.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10TTD 7.39
$1.61₡724
-31.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0KTTD 248.9K
$34.5K₡15.5M
7.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4KTTD 258.8K
$37.4K₡16.8M
2.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trinidad And Tobago
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.6TTD 583
$94.9₡42.7K
-8.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.74TTD 301
$31.42₡14.1K
42.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7TTD 368
$58.6₡26.3K
-6.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trinidad And Tobago
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.8TTD 362
$65.7₡29.6K
-18.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.32TTD 110
$22.20₡9,989
-26.49%
Cinema Ticket
$8.99TTD 60.6
$8.10₡3,645
10.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trinidad And Tobago
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$281TTD 1,895
$722₡324.9K
-61.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3KTTD 76.3K
$12.9K₡5.8M
-12.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trinidad And Tobago
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0TTD 391
$75.5₡34.0K
-23.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.88TTD 309
$56.4₡25.4K
-18.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124TTD 833
$128₡57.7K
-3.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0TTD 606
$108₡48.7K
-16.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trinidad And Tobago
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597TTD 4,019
$960₡432.0K
-37.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$415TTD 2,794
$708₡318.6K
-41.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,171TTD 7,884
$1,749₡786.9K
-33.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$799TTD 5,378
$1,215₡546.8K
-34.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,973TTD 26.8K
$2,656₡1.2M
49.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,925TTD 13.0K
$1,839₡827.5K
4.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trinidad And Tobago
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$884TTD 5,954
$1,058₡476.3K
-16.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.96
9.56
-37.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trinidad And Tobago: October 26, 2026
Last update for Costa Rica: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Trinidad And Tobago
$415 28.2%
Costa Rica
$708 38.9% ↑ 70.6%$293
🛒Groceries & Markets
Trinidad And Tobago
$334 22.7%
Costa Rica
$380 20.9% ↑ 13.8%$46
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trinidad And Tobago
$186 12.7%
Costa Rica
$185 10.2% ↓ 0.6%$1.1
🍽Eating Out
Trinidad And Tobago
$179 12.2%
Costa Rica
$218 12% ↑ 22.3%$40
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Trinidad And Tobago
$143 9.7%
Costa Rica
$166 9.1% ↑ 16%$23
🚌Getting Around
Trinidad And Tobago
$141 9.6%
Costa Rica
$82 4.5% ↓ 41.7%$59
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Trinidad And Tobago
$72 4.9%
Costa Rica
$82 4.5% ↑ 14.1%$10
🏠Accommodation & Living
Trinidad And Tobago
$799 24.1%
Costa Rica
$1.2K 32.6% ↑ 52.1%$416
🛒Groceries & Markets
Trinidad And Tobago
$763 23%
Costa Rica
$866 23.3% ↑ 13.6%$103
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trinidad And Tobago
$231 7%
Costa Rica
$216 5.8% ↓ 6.3%$14
🍽Eating Out
Trinidad And Tobago
$759 22.9%
Costa Rica
$706 19% ↓ 7%$53
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Trinidad And Tobago
$318 9.6%
Costa Rica
$368 9.9% ↑ 16%$51
🚌Getting Around
Trinidad And Tobago
$284 8.6%
Costa Rica
$167 4.5% ↓ 41.3%$117
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Trinidad And Tobago
$160 4.8%
Costa Rica
$186 5% ↑ 16.3%$26
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $566 in Trinidad And Tobago vs $855 in Costa Rica. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,003 in Port of Spain and $1,164 in San Jose.
💰Average salary: $974 in Trinidad And Tobago vs $1,087 in Costa Rica. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 51% higher in Costa Rica.
⭐Dining out costs 26% more in Trinidad And Tobago.
⭐Public transport is 55% more expensive in Trinidad And Tobago.
Trinidad And Tobago→Costa Rica2,470 km≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
Trinidad And Tobago
Costa Rica
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Trinidad And Tobago vs Costa Rica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Costa Rica or Trinidad And Tobago?
Trinidad And Tobago is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 19% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Costa Rica or in Trinidad And Tobago?
Housing costs more in Costa Rica: a central one-bedroom averages $855 versus $566 in Trinidad And Tobago.
Which country is better for expats: Costa Rica or Trinidad And Tobago?
Trinidad And Tobago is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
Trinidad And Tobago vs other spots: cost of living compared