U.S. expat says Trinidad move cut family costs to about $3,000 a month

Chantel Henry, a former Atlanta-based media consultant, says her family of four now spends about $3,000 a month in Trinidad and Tobago, with housing, utilities and some health costs far below what she experienced in the U.S. In an account published by CNBC Make It, Henry said the lower monthly burden has changed how her household thinks about work, family life and financial security.

Henry said she first visited Trinidad after meeting her future husband at a work conference in 2013. He invited her to see his home country before they married so she could assess whether she could build a life there, according to her account.

Before the move, Henry said she was building a career in Atlanta as a media consultant working with NFL and NBA players. She described that period as fast-paced and image-conscious, while the move to Trinidad and Tobago offered a quieter family environment that she later connected to a new business helping others plan overseas moves.

Housing and bills shifted the family budget

Henry said the largest financial change came through housing. In Atlanta, she previously paid $1,500 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. In Trinidad and Tobago, she and her husband bought a three-bedroom home in 2018, and their mortgage payment is now $500 a month, according to CNBC Make It.

The family lives 12 minutes from the beach, Henry said. Their current vehicle, a Chevrolet truck, costs about $400 a month including insurance, compared with the Mercedes-Benz she drove in Atlanta. Monthly electricity runs about $20, while phone and internet service costs about $75, according to Henry.

Healthcare costs have also been lower for the family, she said. Henry cited one medication that would cost $500 without insurance in the U.S. and said she pays $10 for it at a local pharmacy in Trinidad.

Her grocery bill is about $400 a month, according to the account. Henry said food costs allow her to prepare and test local dishes while keeping the household budget within range.

Children’s costs and daily life

Henry homeschools her two children and said everyday errands have become part of their education. She described local market trips as opportunities to teach budgeting, mental math, negotiation and conversation.

The children take part in eight extracurricular activities, including music and sports, at a combined cost of about $477 a month, Henry said. She said she values the family-oriented nature of local life, including the independence she observed among children using maxi taxis, minibuses that operate on set routes.

The couple held their destination wedding in Tobago, which is known for beaches and scenic areas. Henry said they hosted 18 guests and, to the best of her memory, spent less than $4,000. Her bouquet was made by her mother using bougainvillea picked that morning by her husband, she said.

Trade-offs remain

Henry said the move did not remove all difficulties. She had to adapt to a different culture, distance from immediate family and fewer conveniences than she had in the U.S. She also said there have been two crime-related states of emergency since she moved to Trinidad and Tobago.

Some parts of U.S. life remain absent, including easy train trips for sightseeing in Washington, D.C., or New York, Henry said. She also shops for clothing less often, generally updating her wardrobe twice a year rather than every other weekend.

Henry said she does not believe leaving the U.S. is necessary for every family. For her household, she told CNBC Make It, Trinidad and Tobago has provided lower living costs, access to nature, a wider worldview and the flexibility to homeschool.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC Markets.