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Trinidad and Tobago on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
A budget trip is possible thanks to cheap, excellent street food and several free sights, but beds and transport keep costs up. A realistic minimum is about TT$660 (roughly US$97) a day per person sharing a room: TT$300 for a bed, TT$200 for food, TT$80 for sights and TT$80 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | TT$300 | TT$600 | TT$1,500 |
| Food & drink | TT$200 | TT$400 | TT$800 |
| Sights & tickets | TT$80 | TT$250 | TT$500 |
| Local transport | TT$80 | TT$250 | TT$500 |
| Per person, per day | TT$660 | TT$1,500 | TT$3,300 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Trinidad and Tobago day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Queen's Park Savannah and the Magnificent Seven mansions
- The Royal Botanic Gardens in Port of Spain
- The National Museum and Art Gallery
- The view from Fort George above the Gulf of Paria
- Maracas Bay beach
- Steelpan rehearsals at panyards in the weeks before Carnival
Cheap eats
- Doubles from a roadside vendor — about TT$7–12
- Roti (chicken, goat or vegetable) — about TT$30–50
- Bake and shark at Maracas Bay — about TT$40–70
- Food stalls along the Savannah at night, including coconut water — about TT$10–50
- Corn soup from a late-night stall — about TT$20–30
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in guesthouses in Woodbrook, near Ariapita Avenue, in Port of Spain, and in Crown Point guesthouses near the airport and Pigeon Point on Tobago. Rooms typically cost about TT$400–700 a night. There are few hostels.
Getting around cheaply
Shared maxi taxis, colour-coded by route, are cheap but take some local knowledge. The fast ferry between Port of Spain and Scarborough costs about TT$50–100 one way. On Tobago, buses run along main roads, and shared taxis are common. Renting a car for a few days can be cheaper than taxis for two people.
A sample budget day
- Morning: doubles breakfast (about TT$20), walk round the Savannah and the Botanic Gardens (free)
- Lunch: roti (about TT$40)
- Afternoon: free National Museum, taxi to Fort George and back (about TT$80)
- Evening: Savannah food stalls and a Carib beer (about TT$80)
- Total: about TT$660 including a guesthouse room shared (about TT$300) and averaged tour costs
More ways to save
- Travel outside Carnival and Christmas for much lower room rates.
- Share tours to Caroni and Asa Wright with other travellers to split driver costs.
- Choose Tobago guesthouses with kitchens and buy fish at local markets.
- Go to Sunday School in Buccoo, Tobago's Sunday night street party, which costs little.
- Ask your guesthouse for trusted drivers at fixed prices.
- Carry small TT notes for street food vendors.
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Common questions
How much money do I need per day in Trinidad and Tobago?
About TT$660 (roughly US$97) per person on a budget, TT$1,500 mid-range and TT$3,300 for comfort, sharing a room.
What is the cheapest food in Trinidad?
Doubles, about TT$7–12 each, sold from roadside vendors in the morning.
Is Maracas Bay free?
Yes, the beach is free. Bake and shark costs about TT$40–70.