Moving to Trinidad and Tobago from Costa Rica
What to Expect
Considering a move from Costa Rica to Trinidad and Tobago? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Costa Rica to Trinidad and Tobago, you would find that Trinidad and Tobago is 13.7% cheaper than Costa Rica overall. A CRC34,152,674 salary in Costa Rica would need to be roughly TTD453,056 in Trinidad and Tobago to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Of Spain averages 89°F vs 77°F in San Jose, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago.
What does your salary buy?
CRC34,152,674 → TTD453,056
To maintain the same standard of living in Trinidad and Tobago
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 30.1% less
Groceries
pay 12.4% more
Transportation
pay 7.7% less
Housing
pay 14.7% less
Childcare
pay 42.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 9.2% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Trinidad and Tobago compared to Costa Rica.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Costa Rica generally does better on safety, though Trinidad and Tobago leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Trinidad and Tobago leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Costa Rica performs better than Trinidad and Tobago across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Costa Rica generally does better on infrastructure, though Trinidad and Tobago leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Trinidad and Tobago generally does better on employment & economy, though Costa Rica leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Costa Rica generally does better on family life, though Trinidad and Tobago leads in literacy rate.
Data: Directorate General of Taxation of Costa Rica, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | San Jose | Port Of Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) | 89°/68°F (32°/20°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) | 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) | 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) |
View all months
| Month | San Jose | Port Of Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) | 88°/68°F (31.0°/20.0°C) |
| Feb | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) | 89°/68°F (31.5°/20.2°C) |
| Mar | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) | 90°/69°F (32.3°/20.7°C) |
| Apr | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) | 91°/72°F (33.0°/22.0°C) |
| May | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) | 92°/73°F (33.1°/23.0°C) |
| Jun | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) | 89°/74°F (31.5°/23.3°C) |
| Jul | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) | 88°/73°F (31.3°/23.0°C) |
| Aug | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) | 89°/73°F (31.7°/23.0°C) |
| Sep | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) | 90°/74°F (32.2°/23.1°C) |
| Oct | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) | 90°/73°F (32.2°/22.6°C) |
| Nov | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) | 89°/72°F (31.5°/22.3°C) |
| Dec | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) | 88°/70°F (31.1°/21.0°C) |
Data:
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional,
Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago. To live, work, or study long-term in Trinidad and Tobago, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Trinidad and Tobago's immigration authority.
Costa Rica passport holder visiting Trinidad and Tobago
Visa Free
Trinidad and Tobago passport holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Trinidad and Tobago than Costa Rica?
On average Trinidad and Tobago is about 11% less expensive than Costa Rica, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Trinidad and Tobago?
Budget about TTD113,264 for 3 months in Trinidad and Tobago (based on a CRC34,152,674 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Trinidad and Tobago?
Connectivity is usually fine (Trinidad and Tobago: 25.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Trinidad and Tobago offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Trinidad and Tobago safe for expats?
Costa Rica generally does better on safety, though Trinidad and Tobago leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Trinidad and Tobago is 39.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.
How is healthcare in Trinidad and Tobago compared to Costa Rica?
Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Trinidad and Tobago leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 41.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Trinidad and Tobago, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Trinidad and Tobago scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).
What's the weather like in Trinidad and Tobago compared to Costa Rica?
The average high temperature in Port Of Spain is 89°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Port Of Spain receives around 55.4 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.
What language do they speak in Trinidad and Tobago?
The official language in Trinidad and Tobago is English. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.
