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: $2,848 in Aruba versus $1,235 in Noord.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,042 in Aruba versus $2,096 in Noord.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,236 in Aruba versus $2,958 in Noord.

Living in Aruba is roughly 131% more expensive than Noord, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aruba is 112% above, Noord is 8% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.10 AWG 23.44

$13.66 AWG 24.45

-4.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.6 AWG 160

$65.5 AWG 117

36.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 AWG 18.02

$9.81 AWG 17.56

2.65%

Cappuccino

$4.82 AWG 8.63

$5.05 AWG 9.04

-4.55%

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

$2.29 AWG 4.10

$0.98 AWG 1.75

133.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 AWG 3.56

$1.49 AWG 2.67

33.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.28 AWG 7.66

$5.29 AWG 9.46

-19.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.21 AWG 11.12

$6.77 AWG 12.11

-8.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 AWG 4.23

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 AWG 7.00

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.92 AWG 7.01

Eggs

$5.42 AWG 9.69

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.06 AWG 57.4

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 AWG 11.83

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.67 AWG 29.83

Apples (1kg)

$5.93 AWG 10.61

Banana (1kg)

$2.83 AWG 5.07

Oranges (1kg)

$6.96 AWG 12.46

Tomato (1kg)

$7.92 AWG 14.18

Potato (1kg)

$3.90 AWG 6.98

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 AWG 6.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.15 AWG 11.01

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.71 AWG 6.63

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.60 AWG 31.49

Wine (Bottle)

$18.15 AWG 32.49

$10.23 AWG 18.31

77.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.95 AWG 8.87

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 AWG 5.27

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 AWG 10.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$6.06 AWG 10.85

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.78 AWG 89.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 AWG 2.54

$1.47 AWG 2.63

-3.40%

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

$257 AWG 461

$153 AWG 274

68.27%

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

$133 AWG 238

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 AWG 120

$100 AWG 179

-33.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.5 AWG 106

$49.11 AWG 87.9

21.08%

Cinema Ticket

$12.97 AWG 23.22

$7.80 AWG 13.97

66.28%

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

$303 AWG 542

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K AWG 31.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 AWG 91.1

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.2 AWG 118

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 AWG 216

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$724 AWG 1,295

$809 AWG 1,449

-10.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,382 AWG 2,473

$610 AWG 1,092

126.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,200 AWG 5,727

$1,758 AWG 3,146

82.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,041 AWG 7,233

$1,602 AWG 2,868

152.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,943 AWG 3,477

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Noord: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $724 in Aruba and $809 in Noord. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $90.0 in Aruba vs $65.0 in Noord for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $528 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 131% in total monthly costs ($2,848 vs $1,235 including rent). Noord is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,272 in Aruba and $1,853 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: $724 in Aruba versus $809 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 $90.0 in Aruba. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,848 per month in Aruba versus $1,235 in Noord – a 131% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,235 in Noord versus $2,848 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 131% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.