Cost of Living Comparison Between Aruba and Noord Cost of Living Comparison Between Aruba and Noord

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,832 in Aruba versus $1,247 in Noord.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,936 in Aruba versus $2,085 in Noord.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,041 in Aruba versus $2,923 in Noord.

Living in Aruba is roughly 127% more expensive than in Noord, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aruba is 113% above, Noord is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aruba
Noord
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.13 AWG 23.54
$13.55 AWG 24.29
-3.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.5 AWG 164
$64.3 AWG 115
42.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 AWG 18.26
$10.15 AWG 18.20
0.39%
Cappuccino
$4.88 AWG 8.75
$5.03 AWG 9.02
-2.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 AWG 4.11
$0.99 AWG 1.77
132.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 AWG 3.71
$1.52 AWG 2.73
36.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.35 AWG 7.80
$5.19 AWG 9.30
-16.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.02 AWG 10.79
$6.93 AWG 12.43
-13.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aruba
Noord
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 AWG 4.17
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.74 AWG 6.70
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.86 AWG 6.91
-
-
Eggs
$5.54 AWG 9.93
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$31.60 AWG 56.6
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.47 AWG 11.59
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.15 AWG 30.75
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$6.15 AWG 11.03
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.85 AWG 5.11
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$6.93 AWG 12.43
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$8.03 AWG 14.39
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$4.11 AWG 7.36
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$3.83 AWG 6.87
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$5.86 AWG 10.50
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.69 AWG 6.62
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.43 AWG 31.25
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$17.70 AWG 31.73
$9.79 AWG 17.54
80.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 AWG 8.98
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Aruba
Noord
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.98 AWG 5.33
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.96 AWG 10.68
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$5.96 AWG 10.69
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$49.40 AWG 88.6
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 AWG 2.55
$1.47 AWG 2.63
-2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aruba
Noord
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$261 AWG 467
$149 AWG 268
74.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$131 AWG 234
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.2 AWG 120
$101 AWG 181
-33.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aruba
Noord
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.1 AWG 109
$49.97 AWG 89.6
22.19%
Cinema Ticket
$13.11 AWG 23.50
$7.99 AWG 14.31
64.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aruba
Noord
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$300 AWG 539
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.1K AWG 32.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aruba
Noord
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.19 AWG 88.2
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.7 AWG 118
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 AWG 217
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aruba
Noord
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 AWG 1,322
$805 AWG 1,442
-8.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 AWG 2,510
$602 AWG 1,080
132.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,163 AWG 5,669
$1,756 AWG 3,147
80.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,952 AWG 7,084
$1,626 AWG 2,914
143.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aruba
Noord
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,909 AWG 3,421
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
6
16.67%

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

Last update for Aruba: July 26, 2026

Last update for Noord: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Aruba and $805 in Noord. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $91.0 in Aruba vs $64.0 in Noord for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $526 vs $20.00 per month, with Noord 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 Noord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Aruba and in Noord?
Aruba and Noord differ by about 127% in total monthly costs ($2,832 vs $1,247 including rent). Noord is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Aruba compared to Noord?
You'd need roughly $4,248 in Aruba and $1,871 in Noord to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Aruba and in Noord?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Aruba versus $805 in Noord. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Noord – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $91.0 in Aruba. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Aruba or Noord?
All in, you'll spend $2,832 per month in Aruba versus $1,247 in Noord – a 127% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,247 in Noord versus $2,832 in Aruba, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Noord but tight or insufficient in Aruba. The gap between the two cities makes Noord the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Aruba and Noord?
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 Noord safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Aruba and Noord 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 Noord?
Expats usually find Noord gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Aruba vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities