Cost of Living Comparison Between Trinidad and Arima Cost of Living Comparison Between Trinidad and Arima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Trinidad vs $1,184 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,347 per month in Trinidad vs $1,919 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,276 per month in Trinidad vs $2,653 in Arima, rent included.

Trinidad costs about 20% more than Arima, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Trinidad sits 6% above the global median, while Arima is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.19 TTD 68.2

$8.96 TTD 60.0

13.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 TTD 500

$72.5 TTD 486

2.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.47 TTD 50.0

$7.32 TTD 49.03

2.05%

Cappuccino

$3.66 TTD 24.53

$2.42 TTD 16.24

51.24%

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

$1.03 TTD 6.91

$0.96 TTD 6.46

7.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 TTD 5.56

$0.71 TTD 4.73

16.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 TTD 10.18

$1.64 TTD 10.99

-7.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 TTD 19.62

$2.89 TTD 19.38

1.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 TTD 15.07

$2.32 TTD 15.55

-3.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 TTD 16.45

$2.26 TTD 15.17

8.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 TTD 17.23

$2.25 TTD 15.09

14.22%

Eggs

$4.22 TTD 28.28

$4.24 TTD 28.37

-0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 TTD 53.0

$5.91 TTD 39.58

33.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.46 TTD 70.1

$5.82 TTD 38.97

79.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.84 TTD 52.5

$4.41 TTD 29.54

77.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 TTD 29.49

$5.97 TTD 40.00

-26.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 TTD 16.71

$2.03 TTD 13.63

22.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.36 TTD 22.49

$4.26 TTD 28.53

-21.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 TTD 31.41

$4.45 TTD 29.78

5.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 TTD 7.71

$1.04 TTD 6.97

10.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 TTD 9.04

$0.79 TTD 5.27

70.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 TTD 12.11

$1.51 TTD 10.09

19.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 TTD 9.66

$1.20 TTD 8.06

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 TTD 33.89

$4.32 TTD 28.97

17.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.25 TTD 102

$18.50 TTD 124

-17.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 TTD 14.56

$1.96 TTD 13.14

10.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 TTD 18.19

$2.72 TTD 18.21

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 TTD 10.16

$0.80 TTD 5.34

90.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$120 TTD 802

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 TTD 6.15

$0.98 TTD 6.58

-6.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 TTD 5.15

$0.71 TTD 4.76

8.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.66 TTD 98.2

$14.94 TTD 100

-1.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 TTD 7.72

$0.93 TTD 6.20

23.66%

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

$34.0K TTD 227.7K

$26.8K TTD 179.7K

26.69%

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

$37.8K TTD 253.3K

$27.6K TTD 185.1K

36.86%

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

$81.7 TTD 547

$81.4 TTD 545

0.33%

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

$44.31 TTD 297

$44.96 TTD 301

-1.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 TTD 346

$61.4 TTD 411

-15.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.1 TTD 342

$48.83 TTD 327

4.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.58 TTD 124

Cinema Ticket

$8.86 TTD 59.3

$5.11 TTD 34.23

73.39%

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

$330 TTD 2,209

$133 TTD 888

148.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,166 TTD 48.0K

$7,247 TTD 48.6K

-1.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 TTD 395

$52.4 TTD 351

12.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.97 TTD 254

$26.74 TTD 179

42.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.8 TTD 488

$127 TTD 848

-42.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 TTD 546

$75.2 TTD 504

8.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 TTD 4,262

$475 TTD 3,183

33.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 TTD 2,798

$355 TTD 2,376

17.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 TTD 10.2K

$856 TTD 5,736

78.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$891 TTD 5,968

$721 TTD 4,828

23.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$744 TTD 4,985

$1,183 TTD 7,926

-37.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.38

79.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Trinidad: June 2, 2026

Last update for Arima: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $636 in Trinidad versus $475 in Arima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 59% higher in Arima, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Trinidad versus $73.0 in Arima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $291 – making Arima 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

Trinidad vs Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Trinidad costs about 20% more than Arima, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,128 per month in Trinidad and $1,777 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Trinidad and $1,184 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $330 per month in Trinidad and $133 in Arima. 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 Arima, where all-in costs run around $1,184, than in Trinidad at $1,419. In Arima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Trinidad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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