Moving to Trinidad and Tobago from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to Trinidad and Tobago? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to Trinidad and Tobago, you would find that Trinidad and Tobago is 21.9% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$125,240 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly TTD438,304 in Trinidad and Tobago to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Of Spain averages 89°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$125,240 → TTD438,304
To maintain the same standard of living in Trinidad and Tobago
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 40.6% less
Groceries
pay 13.9% more
Transportation
pay 11.2% less
Housing
pay 31.0% less
Childcare
pay 56.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 26.2% 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 New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Trinidad and Tobago generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand 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
New Zealand performs better than Trinidad and Tobago across all infrastructure metrics.
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
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Trinidad and Tobago 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
New Zealand performs better than Trinidad and Tobago across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, 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 | Wellington | Port Of Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 89°/68°F (32°/20°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Port Of Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 88°/68°F (31.0°/20.0°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 89°/68°F (31.5°/20.2°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 90°/69°F (32.3°/20.7°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 91°/72°F (33.0°/22.0°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 92°/73°F (33.1°/23.0°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 89°/74°F (31.5°/23.3°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 88°/73°F (31.3°/23.0°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 89°/73°F (31.7°/23.0°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 90°/74°F (32.2°/23.1°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 90°/73°F (32.2°/22.6°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 89°/72°F (31.5°/22.3°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 88°/70°F (31.1°/21.0°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Trinidad and Tobago
Visa on Arrival
Trinidad and Tobago passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa RequiredData: 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 New Zealand?
On average Trinidad and Tobago is about 14% less expensive than New Zealand, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Trinidad and Tobago?
Budget about TTD109,576 for 3 months in Trinidad and Tobago (based on a NZ$125,240 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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?
New Zealand 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 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Trinidad and Tobago compared to New Zealand?
Trinidad and Tobago generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in health coverage index. There are 41.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Trinidad and Tobago, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Trinidad and Tobago scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Trinidad and Tobago compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Port Of Spain is 89°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Port Of Spain receives around 55.4 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Trinidad and Tobago?
The official language in Trinidad and Tobago is English. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
