Cost Of Living For a Student in Trinidad and Tobago 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: TTD
Average monthly spending for students in Trinidad and Tobago
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Trinidad and Tobago?
Students in Trinidad and Tobago spend around 3,400 TTD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 510 TTD or as high as 22,000 TTD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
How do students spend their money in Trinidad and Tobago?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost20%
20% of total expenses on average (15% to 26%)
| LOW | $18 120 TTD |
| AVERAGE | $120 810 TTD |
| HIGH | $790 5,400 TTD |
| Per Month |
Students in Trinidad and Tobago typically spend from 15% to 26% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 20% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 810 TTD with expenditure ranging from 120 TTD to 5,400 TTD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $3 20 TTD |
| AVERAGE | $20 130 TTD |
| HIGH | $130 900 TTD |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Trinidad and Tobago ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 130 TTD with 20 TTD and 900 TTD being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel5%
5% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $5.3 36 TTD |
| AVERAGE | $35 240 TTD |
| HIGH | $230 1,600 TTD |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 36 TTD to 1,600 TTD in a month on commuting with 240 TTD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost22%
22% of total expenses on average (16% to 26%)
| LOW | $15 100 TTD |
| AVERAGE | $99 670 TTD |
| HIGH | $660 4,500 TTD |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Trinidad and Tobago is 670 TTD. The cost of groceries can range between 100 TTD to 4,500 TTD. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare8%
8% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $4.5 31 TTD |
| AVERAGE | $30 200 TTD |
| HIGH | $200 1,300 TTD |
| Per Month |
Students in Trinidad and Tobago allocate 5% to 11% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 31 TTD to 1,300 TTD with 200 TTD being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $3.8 26 TTD |
| AVERAGE | $25 170 TTD |
| HIGH | $170 1,100 TTD |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 26 TTD to 1,100 TTD with 170 TTD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $14 97 TTD |
| AVERAGE | $94 640 TTD |
| HIGH | $630 4,300 TTD |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 640 TTD per month with 97 TTD being the minimum spent amount and 4,300 TTD being the maximum.
Other Expenses17%
17% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $11 77 TTD |
| AVERAGE | $74 500 TTD |
| HIGH | $500 3,400 TTD |
| Per Month |
Prices and cost of goods and services in Trinidad and Tobago
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 17,000 TTD | 34,000 TTD | 45,000 TTD |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 570 TTD | 850 TTD | 2,300 TTD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 850 TTD | 1,400 TTD | 3,400 TTD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 1,100 TTD | 1,700 TTD | 4,500 TTD |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 110,000 TTD | 170,000 TTD | 340,000 TTD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 140,000 TTD | 230,000 TTD | 850,000 TTD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 230,000 TTD | 680,000 TTD | 1.4M TTD |
| $33,000 | $100,000 | $200,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 680 TTD | 850 TTD | 1,100 TTD |
Double Bed
Single Bed
Living Room
| 760 TTD | 970 TTD | 3,400 TTD |
Dining Table
Sofa or Couch
| 450 TTD | 620 TTD | 1,400 TTD |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 450 TTD | 680 TTD | 1,400 TTD |
Fridge or Freezer
Washing Machine
| 520 TTD | 760 TTD | 1,400 TTD |
Stove or Cooker
Mobile Phone
Laptop or Computer
| 620 TTD | 760 TTD | 1,400 TTD |
Affordable living in Trinidad and Tobago
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Trinidad and Tobago?
Around 57% of surveyed students think that living in Trinidad and Tobago is affordable with proper budgeting while 43% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Trinidad and Tobago
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Trinidad and Tobago
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Trinidad and Tobago is approximatly 14 TTD with meal cost ranging from 6.8 TTD to 23 TTD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 23 TTD and 68 TTD with 34 TTD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Trinidad and Tobago.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 45 TTD to 270 TTD with the average cost being 68 TTD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Trinidad and Tobago.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Trinidad and Tobago is around 9.1 TTD. Price ranges between 5.7 TTD and 14 TTD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Trinidad and Tobago is 5.4 TTD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 6.8 TTD and the minimum being 4.5 TTD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 4.5 TTD on average with 3.4 TTD and 6.8 TTD being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Trinidad and Tobago is between 7.7 TTD and 14 TTD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 10 TTD.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 14 TTD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Trinidad and Tobago costs around 5 TTD on average with prices rangeing between 3.7 TTD and 7.1 TTD depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1.4 TTD to 3.4 TTD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 3.2 TTD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 100 TTD to 4,500 TTD with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
Low-cost alternatives in Trinidad and Tobago
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options56%
Few low-cost options44%
Based on the survey, 56% of the students living in Trinidad and Tobago have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 44% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes54%
No46%
Based on the survey, 46% of the students living in Trinidad and Tobago said that they don't have an emergency fund while 54% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy52%
We asked student guardians and parents in Trinidad and Tobago whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 48% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 52% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 47% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 53% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance47%
Easily manages finances53%
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Trinidad and Tobago
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Trinidad and Tobago
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 130 TTD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 34 TTD to 91 TTD with 68 TTD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 45 TTD but can range between 27 TTD and 140 TTD depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Trinidad and Tobago is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Trinidad and Tobago
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Trinidad and Tobago
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 570 TTD | 850 TTD | 2,300 TTD |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 850 TTD | 1,400 TTD | 3,400 TTD |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,100 TTD | 1,700 TTD | 4,500 TTD |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,400 TTD | 2,300 TTD | 6,200 TTD |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,700 TTD | 6,800 TTD | 14,000 TTD |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 2,300 TTD | 3,400 TTD | 9,700 TTD |
House monthly rent cost
| 2,700 TTD | 6,800 TTD | 14,000 TTD |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 3,400 TTD | 8,500 TTD | 14,000 TTD |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Trinidad and Tobago ranges between 570 TTD and 2,300 TTD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 850 TTD to 3,400 TTD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,100 TTD and 4,500 TTD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 1,400 TTD to 6,200 TTD. The average rent of a townhouse in Trinidad and Tobago is around 3,400 TTD while house rental costs can be as high as 6,800 TTD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 3,400 TTD to 14,000 TTD per month.
Apartment and house prices in Trinidad and Tobago
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 110,000 TTD | 170,000 TTD | 340,000 TTD |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 140,000 TTD | 230,000 TTD | 850,000 TTD |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 230,000 TTD | 680,000 TTD | 1.4M TTD |
| $33,000 | $100,000 | $200,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 760,000 TTD | 1.1M TTD | 3.4M TTD |
| $110,000 | $170,000 | $500,000 |
Townhouse price
| 970,000 TTD | 2.3M TTD | 8.5M TTD |
House price
| 1.1M TTD | 6.8M TTD | 9.7M TTD |
Villa price
| 1.4M TTD | 7.6M TTD | 11M TTD |
The average price of a studio apartment in Trinidad and Tobago can range from 110,000 TTD to 340,000 TTD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 140,000 TTD to 850,000 TTD. A villa can cost you 7.6M TTD on average with prices ranging from 1.4M TTD to 11M TTD.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Trinidad and Tobago will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 38 | x109 monthly income | 206 |
Property prices in Trinidad and Tobago can be x109 to x206 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x109 multiples of the average monthly salary in Trinidad and Tobago.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Trinidad and Tobago is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 41% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
29% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
