Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aruba and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Aruba: $2,376 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. The total is higher in Austin, TX despite lower rent and utilities.

Aruba
🇦🇼 Aruba
$2,376
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aruba and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aruba and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,376 in Aruba versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.

  • Aruba $2,376
  • Austin, TX $2,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,248 in Aruba versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Aruba $4,248
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,119 in Aruba versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.

  • Aruba $6,119
  • Austin, TX $5,562

Living in Aruba costs roughly 12% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aruba 77% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aruba
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.50 AWG 25.95
$20.22 $20.22
-28.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.9 AWG 163
$85.0 $85.0
6.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.62 AWG 19.01
$12.35 $12.35
-14.01%
Cappuccino
$5.19 AWG 9.29
$5.47 $5.47
-5.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 AWG 4.21
$3.82 $3.82
-38.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 AWG 4.11
$2.50 $2.50
-8.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.24 AWG 9.38
$8.06 $8.06
-34.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84 AWG 12.25
$8.99 $8.99
-23.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aruba
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 AWG 2.98
$1.13 $1.13
47.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 AWG 5.15
$3.78 $3.78
-23.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.04 AWG 5.44
$3.25 $3.25
-6.46%
Eggs
$3.80 AWG 6.81
$4.14 $4.14
-8.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.97 AWG 25.00
$13.08 $13.08
6.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.22 AWG 7.55
$14.31 $14.31
-70.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$15.96 $15.96
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$4.38 $4.38
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 AWG 3.51
$1.45 $1.45
35.17%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$4.54 $4.54
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$4.19 $4.19
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$2.63 $2.63
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.36 $2.36
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.76 $1.76
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.16 $2.16
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$9.81 $9.81
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.72 $14.72
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.78 $2.78
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.48 $3.48
-
🚌 Getting Around
Aruba
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.49 AWG 4.45
$1.49 $1.49
67.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.51 $40.51
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.67 $2.67
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.58 $1.58
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$35.29 $35.29
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.38 AWG 4.26
$0.99 $0.99
140.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$35.8K $35.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.2K $27.2K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aruba
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$233 AWG 418
$219 $219
6.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$133 AWG 239
$58.0 $58.0
130.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.6 AWG 155
$68.4 $68.4
26.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aruba
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$57.9 $57.9
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.82 $14.82
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$14.13 $14.13
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aruba
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 AWG 541
$1,509 $1,509
-79.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.9K AWG 32.0K
$21.5K $21.5K
-16.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aruba
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$51.7 $51.7
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.9 AWG 116
$44.05 $44.05
47.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 AWG 212
$85.1 $85.1
38.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$105 $105
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aruba
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$652 AWG 1,167
$1,932 $1,932
-66.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 AWG 2,540
$1,272 $1,272
11.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,256 AWG 5,828
$3,670 $3,670
-11.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,034 AWG 7,222
$2,525 $2,525
59.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,617 $7,617
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,199 $3,199
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aruba
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,886 AWG 3,377
$5,105 $5,105
-63.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
6.79
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aruba: October 5, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aruba
$1.4K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 10.3% $147
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aruba
$453
Austin, TX
$346 23.8% $108
Eating Out
Aruba
$269
Austin, TX
$348 29.5% $79
Groceries & Markets
Aruba
$148 *
Austin, TX
$403 173% $255
Clothing & Footwear
Aruba
$82 *
Austin, TX
$129 56.3% $46
Getting Around
Aruba
$10 *
Austin, TX
$57 473% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Aruba
- *
Austin, TX
$86

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $652 in Aruba and $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 171% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $91.0 in Aruba vs $85.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $148 vs $403, with Aruba cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇦🇼 Aruba
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
06:38 6:38 AM
05:38 5:38 AM
1 h behind Aruba
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,236
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AWG – Aruban Florin Converter

Aruban Florin exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.79 AWG (1 AWG = 0.559 USD). 1 EUR = 2.01 AWG (1 AWG = 0.499 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aruba Austin, TX 3,470 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Aruba
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Aruba vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Aruba and in Austin, TX?
Aruba and Austin, TX differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,376 vs $2,704 including rent). Aruba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 171% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Aruba and in Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $652 in Aruba versus $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 173% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Aruba or Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $2,376 per month in Aruba versus $2,704 in Austin, TX – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,376 in Aruba versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Aruba but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Aruba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Aruba and Austin, TX?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Aruba or Austin, TX safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Aruba and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Aruba or Austin, TX?
Expats usually find Aruba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Aruba vs other spots: cost of living compared

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