Scarborough Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
Scarborough, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago |
| 👥 Population |
Approximately 17,500 (metropolitan area) |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
Average 50-100 Mbps via Digicel+ or Flow fiber optics |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD); 1 USD ≈ 6.80 TTD |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Generally safe but chlorinated; locals prefer bottled water for taste (approx. 7 TTD per 1.5L) |
| 🔌 Power |
115V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (same as USA/Canada) |
| 📶 SIM Card |
Digicel or Flow; 30-day data plans (approx. 10GB) for ~300 TTD at Lower Scarborough shops |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
Republic Bank, First Citizens Bank, and Scotiabank; ATMs widely available in the city center |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Guesthouses and boutique apartments; average monthly Airbnb $1,200 - $2,500 USD |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Moderate; major supermarkets and hotels accept cards, but local 'maxi-taxis' and markets are cash-only |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb and Booking.com listings centered around Bacolet and Mount St. George |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
Bacolet Heritage Residence or locally managed guest houses (approx. 400-600 TTD per night) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Bacolet (upscale, beach access, close to downtown) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
Mt. Irvine or Buccoo (better community vibe and coworking-friendly cafes, 15 mins from Scarborough) |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
The Port of Scarborough Business Lounge (limited availability) or Regus (located in Port of Spain, Trinidad; none in Tobago yet) |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Shore Things Cafe & Crafts (Milford Road); features reliable Wi-Fi and scenic ocean views |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Tobago Business Chamber meetups at the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
Sunday School Buccoo (weekly street party and cultural gathering, 15 mins drive) |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
TTRS (Trinidad & Tobago Ride Share) or local 'H' cars (unregulated but common) |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
Tobago Mountain Bike Tours in Lambeau (approx. 200 TTD per day) |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Bacolet Bay (walking distance) or Pigeon Point Heritage Park (20 mins drive, 20 TTD entry) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
Caribbean Airlines (daily 'airbridge' flights to Port of Spain for ~$50 USD round trip) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic (direct from London); Condor (from Frankfurt) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
Claude Noel Highway (the main artery connecting Scarborough to the Airport) |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
Scarborough Bus Terminal (Public PTSC buses) and Ferry Terminal (Inter-island ferry) |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
PTSC Bus tickets (approx. 2-5 TTD, must be purchased at terminals before boarding) |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
Fast Ferry to Port of Spain (2.5 hours, 100 TTD one way) |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
Tobago Regional Hospital (Signal Hill, just west of Scarborough city center) |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Kariwak Village Holistic Centre (Crown Point, 15 mins away); approx. 100 TTD per class |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
Body Glow Fitness Centre (Spring Garden); 300 TTD monthly membership |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Suds Laundromat (Wilson Road); approx. 40 TTD per load wash/dry |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
FoodDrop (availability can be limited in Tobago compared to Trinidad) |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Curry Crab and Dumpling (Famous at Store Bay stalls, approx. 80-120 TTD) |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Papillon Chinese Restaurant (Vegetarian options) and many local Roti shops (Channa/Potato roti) |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Shore Things Cafe for coconut tarts and homemade ice cream |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
Scarborough Public Market (Fresh produce) and Pennywise (Toiletries/Cosmetics) |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Amazon (via local couriers like CSF Couriers or WebSource) |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
Viewport Supermarket (limited delivery options via WhatsApp ordering) |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
Milford Road in Crown Point (15 mins drive) for the most active bars |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
Carib Brewery (Brewed in Trinidad; Stag and Carib beers available everywhere for ~12 TTD) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
The Terrace at Magdalena Grand (approx. 15 mins from Scarborough) |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Lower Scarborough waterfront for doubles (chickpea sandwiches) and corn soup (10-20 TTD) |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
La Tartaruga (Italian) in Buccoo; approx. 200-350 TTD per person |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Fort King George (18th-century fort with the best views of the bay) |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Tobago Museum (located within Fort King George); 20 TTD entry |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Court House (colonial architecture) and the Gun Bridge |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
St. Andrew's Anglican Church (built in 1819) |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Tobago Jazz Experience (April) and Tobago Heritage Festival (July/August) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
Buccoo Village (known for the goat races and cultural heritage) |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
Shaw Park Cultural Complex (state-of-the-art facility for concerts/plays) |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Scarborough Fish Market (early morning for fresh catch) |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Steelpan rehearsals at various 'pan yards' across the city |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Murals along the Scarborough Esplanade depicting local history |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute (THTI) occasionally offers workshops |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Kimme Museum (The Castle) in Mt. Irvine (sculptures by Luise Kimme) |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
The Governor’s Mansion at Fort King George |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
The 'Old Donkey Cart' heritage and traditional boat building in Plymouth |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Main Ridge Forest Reserve (Oldest protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere) |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Nylon Pool/Buccoo Reef (Marine park accessible by glass-bottom boat) |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
The Claude Noel Highway shoulder (for cycling) and Fort King George paths |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Top of Fort King George overlooking Rockly Bay |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
Adventure Farm and Nature Reserve (Plymouth); approx. 60 TTD entry |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Grange Bay (The Wall) – local spot for evening gatherings |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
TTPost (National Service) and DHL Express (Crown Point) |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Mobile Stop (Scarborough Mall) for phone and tablet repairs |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Scarborough Secondary School indoor hall (available for local clubs) |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
Occasional Spanish workshops at the University of the Southern Caribbean (Tobago Campus) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Scarborough Library Facility (Modern building on Garden-Side Street) |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Lowlands Community Centre |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
Elite Gaming Zone in Canaan (10 mins from Scarborough) |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Jade Monkey Casino in Crown Point |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $10,000 TTD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $400,000 TTD / ~$59,000 USD) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $7,500 TTD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $300,000 TTD / ~$44,000 USD) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $9,000 TTD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $540,000 TTD / ~$79,000 USD) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $7,000 TTD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $420,000 TTD / ~$62,000 USD) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $8,500 TTD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $680,000 TTD / ~$100,000 USD) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $6,500 TTD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $520,000 TTD / ~$76,000 USD) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
30% (Standard rate for most companies) |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
Up to 15% (subject to double tax treaties) |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Worldwide income basis for residents; territorial for non-residents |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
25% on first $1M TTD, 30% on income exceeding $1M TTD |
| 🧾 VAT |
12.5% |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
None strictly enforced, but anti-avoidance legislation exists |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
Recently reintroduced (3% of annual rental value for residential) |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
Stamp duty ranges from 0% to 7.5% depending on property value (higher for non-nationals) |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
No specific nomad visa yet, but 90-day tourist entries are standard; income earned abroad is generally not taxed for short stays |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING SCARBOROUGH