Cost of Living Comparison Between Aruba and Fort Lauderdale, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Aruba and Fort Lauderdale, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,375 in Aruba versus $3,540 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,239 in Aruba versus $5,258 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,104 in Aruba versus $6,975 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Living in Aruba costs roughly 33% less than in Fort Lauderdale, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aruba 72% above, Fort Lauderdale, FL 157% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.47 AWG 25.89

$30.57 $30.57

-52.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.3 AWG 160

$100 $100

-10.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.52 AWG 18.82

$14.56 $14.56

-27.75%

Cappuccino

$5.13 AWG 9.19

$5.26 $5.26

-2.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 AWG 4.20

$3.02 $3.02

-22.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 AWG 3.91

$1.98 $1.98

10.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.16 AWG 9.23

$5.56 $5.56

-7.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.01 AWG 12.55

$6.55 $6.55

7.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 AWG 2.87

$1.08 $1.08

49.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 AWG 5.12

$4.97 $4.97

-42.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 AWG 5.41

$3.26 $3.26

-7.36%

Eggs

$3.75 AWG 6.72

$5.04 $5.04

-25.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.72 AWG 24.56

$17.11 $17.11

-19.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 AWG 7.56

$10.31 $10.31

-58.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.42 $26.42

Apples (1kg)

$6.50 $6.50

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 AWG 3.56

$2.04 $2.04

-2.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

Tomato (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.54 $2.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.57 $11.57

Wine (Bottle)

$11.81 $11.81

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 AWG 4.55

$2.58 $2.58

-1.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.4 $79.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 $3.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.17 $24.17

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.46 AWG 4.40

$0.97 $0.97

153.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.4K $33.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.9K $26.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$234 AWG 418

$212 $212

10.27%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$130 AWG 233

$61.1 $61.1

112.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.0 AWG 150

$81.1 $81.1

3.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.9 $68.9

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.17 $14.17

Cinema Ticket

$18.16 $18.16

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 AWG 545

$990 $990

-69.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K AWG 31.5K

$41.2K $41.2K

-57.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.22 $47.22

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.1 AWG 117

$40.15 $40.15

62.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 AWG 212

$90.5 $90.5

31.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 AWG 1,182

$2,502 $2,502

-73.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,372 AWG 2,456

$1,999 $1,999

-31.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,200 AWG 5,728

$4,742 $4,742

-32.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,004 AWG 7,167

$3,510 $3,510

14.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,616 $5,616

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,159 $4,159

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,932 AWG 3,458

$4,538 $4,538

-57.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.11

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

Last update for Aruba: September 7, 2026

Last update for Fort Lauderdale, FL: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Aruba and $2,502 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Lauderdale, FL pays 135% 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: $89.0 in Aruba vs $100 in Fort Lauderdale, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $146 vs $455 per month, with Aruba cheaper across the board.

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 Fort Lauderdale, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aruba and Fort Lauderdale, FL differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($2,375 vs $3,540 including rent). Aruba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 135% lower in Fort Lauderdale, FL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $660 in Aruba versus $2,502 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 212% higher in Fort Lauderdale, FL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,375 per month in Aruba versus $3,540 in Fort Lauderdale, FL – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,375 in Aruba versus $3,540 in Fort Lauderdale, FL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Aruba but tight or insufficient in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Aruba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Aruba and Fort Lauderdale, FL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Aruba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.