Cost of Living Comparison Between Aruba and Oranjestad Cost of Living Comparison Between Aruba and Oranjestad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,854 in Aruba versus $1,989 in Oranjestad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,992 in Aruba versus $3,152 in Oranjestad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,129 in Aruba versus $4,315 in Oranjestad.

Living in Aruba is roughly 44% more expensive than Oranjestad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aruba 113% above, Oranjestad 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.80 AWG 22.91

$19.34 AWG 34.62

-33.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 AWG 158

$81.6 AWG 146

8.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.87 AWG 17.67

$10.34 AWG 18.50

-4.55%

Cappuccino

$4.74 AWG 8.49

$3.63 AWG 6.49

30.58%

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

$2.31 AWG 4.13

$1.47 AWG 2.63

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 AWG 3.70

$1.59 AWG 2.84

30.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 AWG 7.47

$3.01 AWG 5.40

38.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.22 AWG 11.13

$4.01 AWG 7.18

55.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.40 AWG 4.30

$1.87 AWG 3.35

28.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 AWG 6.80

$2.98 AWG 5.34

27.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.78 AWG 6.77

$2.83 AWG 5.06

33.57%

Eggs

$5.34 AWG 9.56

$5.22 AWG 9.35

2.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.12 AWG 57.5

$12.70 AWG 22.73

152.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 AWG 11.48

$9.46 AWG 16.93

-32.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.03 AWG 30.48

$12.03 AWG 21.53

41.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.94 AWG 10.63

$4.75 AWG 8.50

25.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 AWG 5.08

$2.31 AWG 4.13

22.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.86 AWG 12.28

$5.15 AWG 9.22

33.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.85 AWG 14.06

$3.47 AWG 6.21

126.22%

Potato (1kg)

$4.08 AWG 7.31

$2.24 AWG 4.00

82.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.66 AWG 6.55

$1.94 AWG 3.47

88.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.88 AWG 10.52

$2.58 AWG 4.62

127.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.78 AWG 6.77

$1.54 AWG 2.75

145.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.39 AWG 31.14

$10.05 AWG 17.98

73.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.24 AWG 32.66

$10.22 AWG 18.30

78.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 AWG 6.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.08 AWG 9.09

$4.30 AWG 7.69

18.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 AWG 3.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.45 AWG 54.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$17.12 AWG 30.64

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 AWG 7.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 AWG 44.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 AWG 2.44

$1.47 AWG 2.63

-7.48%

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

$26.5K AWG 47.5K

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

$35.0K AWG 62.6K

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

$261 AWG 467

$257 AWG 460

1.54%

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

$134 AWG 239

$49.05 AWG 87.8

172.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.7 AWG 121

$105 AWG 187

-35.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.2 AWG 106

$107 AWG 192

-44.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.58 AWG 45.79

Cinema Ticket

$12.75 AWG 22.82

$12.11 AWG 21.67

5.28%

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

$304 AWG 544

$246 AWG 440

23.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.2K AWG 32.5K

$8,715 AWG 15.6K

108.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.50 AWG 88.6

$58.9 AWG 105

-15.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.3 AWG 117

$50.0 AWG 89.5

30.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 AWG 217

$108 AWG 193

12.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 AWG 184

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 AWG 1,307

$682 AWG 1,220

7.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,394 AWG 2,496

$571 AWG 1,021

144.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,237 AWG 5,794

$1,473 AWG 2,636

119.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,971 AWG 7,108

$1,356 AWG 2,428

192.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,268 AWG 4,059

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,727 AWG 3,092

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,946 AWG 3,482

$1,692 AWG 3,029

14.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

12.00%

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

Last update for Aruba: April 26, 2026

Last update for Oranjestad: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Aruba and $682 in Oranjestad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aruba pays 15% 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 $82.0 in Oranjestad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $527 vs $365 per month, with Oranjestad 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 Oranjestad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aruba and Oranjestad differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($2,854 vs $1,989 including rent). Oranjestad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Aruba pays 15% 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 $682 in Oranjestad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Aruba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,854 per month in Aruba versus $1,989 in Oranjestad – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,989 in Oranjestad versus $2,854 in Aruba, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Oranjestad but tight or insufficient in Aruba. The gap between the two cities makes Oranjestad 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 Oranjestad 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 Oranjestad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.