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: $2,808 in Aruba versus $3,304 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,043 in Aruba versus $4,982 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,279 in Aruba versus $6,660 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Living in Aruba costs roughly 15% less than in Fort Lauderdale, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aruba 110% above, Fort Lauderdale, FL 147% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.22 AWG 23.65

$21.26 $21.26

-37.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.2 AWG 158

$112 $112

-20.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.87 AWG 17.67

$10.33 $10.33

-4.45%

Cappuccino

$4.68 AWG 8.38

$5.12 $5.12

-8.59%

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

$2.31 AWG 4.13

$2.79 $2.79

-17.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 AWG 3.74

$2.07 $2.07

0.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 AWG 7.47

$5.83 $5.83

-28.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 AWG 10.81

$6.43 $6.43

-6.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.41 AWG 4.32

$0.96 $0.96

151.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 AWG 6.67

$4.08 $4.08

-8.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.92 AWG 7.02

$3.34 $3.34

17.37%

Eggs

$5.40 AWG 9.67

$3.75 $3.75

44.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.12 AWG 57.5

$11.76 $11.76

173.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 AWG 11.89

$9.21 $9.21

-27.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.12 AWG 30.65

$19.54 $19.54

-12.38%

Apples (1kg)

$6.13 AWG 10.98

$5.44 $5.44

12.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 AWG 5.01

$1.56 $1.56

79.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.90 AWG 12.34

$4.52 $4.52

52.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.79 AWG 13.95

$5.40 $5.40

44.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 AWG 7.02

$3.63 $3.63

7.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.77 AWG 6.74

$3.52 $3.52

7.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.85 AWG 10.47

$2.22 $2.22

163.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 AWG 6.87

$2.07 $2.07

85.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.45 AWG 31.24

$9.84 $9.84

77.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.70 AWG 31.69

$11.81 $11.81

49.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 AWG 9.07

$2.76 $2.76

83.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 $2.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.1 $71.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.48 $4.48

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.21 $22.21

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 AWG 2.55

$0.86 $0.86

66.28%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

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

$24.4K $24.4K

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

$254 AWG 455

$173 $173

46.84%

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

$130 AWG 232

$59.9 $59.9

116.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.8 AWG 121

$69.3 $69.3

-2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.8 AWG 105

$77.1 $77.1

-23.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 $13.24

Cinema Ticket

$12.96 AWG 23.20

$15.22 $15.22

-14.85%

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

$295 AWG 527

$804 $804

-63.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K AWG 31.6K

$16.2K $16.2K

9.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.40 AWG 88.4

$46.86 $46.86

5.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.9 AWG 118

$45.33 $45.33

45.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 AWG 218

$88.2 $88.2

37.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.6 $95.6

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$744 AWG 1,331

$2,283 $2,283

-67.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 AWG 2,494

$1,922 $1,922

-27.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,158 AWG 5,653

$3,751 $3,751

-15.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,064 AWG 7,274

$3,681 $3,681

10.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,497 $5,497

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,226 $4,226

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,900 AWG 3,401

$4,653 $4,653

-59.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

7.20%

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

Last update for Aruba: July 21, 2026

Last update for Fort Lauderdale, FL: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $744 in Aruba and $2,283 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Lauderdale, FL pays 145% 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: $88.0 in Aruba vs $112 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Groceries flip the comparison at $528 vs $390, with Fort Lauderdale, FL cheaper for home cooking.

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 18% in total monthly costs ($2,808 vs $3,304 including rent). Aruba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 145% 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: $744 in Aruba versus $2,283 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Fort Lauderdale, FL pay roughly 35% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,808 per month in Aruba versus $3,304 in Fort Lauderdale, FL – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,808 in Aruba versus $3,304 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 18% less than in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.