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: $2,375 in Aruba versus $1,869 in Noord.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,239 in Aruba versus $3,080 in Noord.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,104 in Aruba versus $4,292 in Noord.

Living in Aruba is roughly 27% more expensive than in Noord, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aruba 72% above, Noord 36% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.47 AWG 25.89

$23.39 AWG 41.86

-38.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.3 AWG 160

$87.0 AWG 156

2.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.52 AWG 18.82

Cappuccino

$5.13 AWG 9.19

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

$2.35 AWG 4.20

$2.96 AWG 5.30

-20.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 AWG 3.91

$2.03 AWG 3.63

7.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.16 AWG 9.23

$8.79 AWG 15.74

-41.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.01 AWG 12.55

$8.94 AWG 16.01

-21.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 AWG 2.87

$1.85 AWG 3.30

-12.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 AWG 5.12

$3.06 AWG 5.47

-6.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 AWG 5.41

$2.90 AWG 5.19

4.14%

Eggs

$3.75 AWG 6.72

$6.59 AWG 11.80

-43.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.72 AWG 24.56

$12.73 AWG 22.78

7.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 AWG 7.56

$9.06 AWG 16.22

-53.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.25 AWG 21.92

Apples (1kg)

$4.58 AWG 8.19

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 AWG 3.56

$2.30 AWG 4.11

-13.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.13 AWG 9.18

Tomato (1kg)

$3.43 AWG 6.14

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 AWG 4.03

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 AWG 3.66

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 AWG 4.75

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 AWG 2.71

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 AWG 17.65

Wine (Bottle)

$9.77 AWG 17.48

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.74 AWG 10.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 AWG 7.69

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 AWG 4.55

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.46 AWG 4.40

$2.84 AWG 5.08

-13.38%

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

$234 AWG 418

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

$130 AWG 233

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.0 AWG 150

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

$305 AWG 545

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K AWG 31.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.1 AWG 117

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 AWG 212

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 AWG 1,182

$1,473 AWG 2,637

-55.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,372 AWG 2,456

$1,191 AWG 2,132

15.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,200 AWG 5,728

$2,831 AWG 5,066

13.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,004 AWG 7,167

$2,459 AWG 4,401

62.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,932 AWG 3,458

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

Last update for Aruba: September 7, 2026

Last update for Noord: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Aruba and $1,473 in Noord. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $89.0 in Aruba vs $87.0 in Noord. Groceries flip the comparison at $146 vs $378, with Aruba 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 Noord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aruba and Noord differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($2,375 vs $1,869 including rent). Noord is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,563 in Aruba and $2,803 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $660 in Aruba versus $1,473 in Noord. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Noord – a meal for two runs $87.0 versus $89.0 in Aruba. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,375 per month in Aruba versus $1,869 in Noord – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,869 in Noord versus $2,375 in Aruba, a $2,000 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.

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 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.

Expats usually find Noord gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.