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: $2,854 in Aruba versus $1,249 in Noord.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,992 in Aruba versus $2,110 in Noord.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,129 in Aruba versus $2,971 in Noord.

Living in Aruba is roughly 128% more expensive than Noord, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aruba is 113% above, Noord is 7% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.80 AWG 22.91

$13.37 AWG 23.93

-4.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 AWG 158

$65.0 AWG 116

36.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.87 AWG 17.67

$10.11 AWG 18.10

-2.37%

Cappuccino

$4.74 AWG 8.49

$4.91 AWG 8.78

-3.46%

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

$2.31 AWG 4.13

$1.02 AWG 1.83

126.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 AWG 3.70

$1.47 AWG 2.63

40.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 AWG 7.47

$5.13 AWG 9.18

-18.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.22 AWG 11.13

$6.92 AWG 12.40

-10.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.40 AWG 4.30

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 AWG 6.80

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.78 AWG 6.77

Eggs

$5.34 AWG 9.56

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.12 AWG 57.5

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 AWG 11.48

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.03 AWG 30.48

Apples (1kg)

$5.94 AWG 10.63

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 AWG 5.08

Oranges (1kg)

$6.86 AWG 12.28

Tomato (1kg)

$7.85 AWG 14.06

Potato (1kg)

$4.08 AWG 7.31

Onion (1kg)

$3.66 AWG 6.55

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.88 AWG 10.52

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.78 AWG 6.77

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.39 AWG 31.14

Wine (Bottle)

$18.24 AWG 32.66

$9.83 AWG 17.59

85.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.08 AWG 9.09

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 AWG 5.41

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 AWG 10.84

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.94 AWG 10.62

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.33 AWG 88.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 AWG 2.44

$1.52 AWG 2.73

-10.53%

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

$261 AWG 467

$152 AWG 272

71.69%

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

$134 AWG 239

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.7 AWG 121

$100 AWG 180

-32.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.2 AWG 106

$49.55 AWG 88.7

19.39%

Cinema Ticket

$12.75 AWG 22.82

$7.93 AWG 14.19

60.78%

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

$304 AWG 544

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.2K AWG 32.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.50 AWG 88.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.3 AWG 117

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 AWG 217

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 AWG 1,307

$805 AWG 1,441

-9.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,394 AWG 2,496

$610 AWG 1,092

128.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,237 AWG 5,794

$1,782 AWG 3,190

81.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,971 AWG 7,108

$1,637 AWG 2,931

142.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,946 AWG 3,482

$983 AWG 1,759

97.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.67%

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

Last update for Aruba: April 26, 2026

Last update for Noord: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Aruba and $805 in Noord. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aruba pays 98% 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 $65.0 in Noord for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $527 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

Aruba and Noord differ by about 128% in total monthly costs ($2,854 vs $1,249 including rent). Noord is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Aruba pays 98% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Aruba versus $805 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 $65.0 versus $88.0 in Aruba. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,854 per month in Aruba versus $1,249 in Noord – a 128% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,249 in Noord versus $2,854 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.

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 128% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.