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: $2,848 in Aruba versus $1,960 in Oranjestad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,042 in Aruba versus $3,168 in Oranjestad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,236 in Aruba versus $4,376 in Oranjestad.

Living in Aruba is roughly 45% more expensive than Oranjestad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aruba 112% above, Oranjestad 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.10 AWG 23.44

$19.09 AWG 34.16

-31.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.6 AWG 160

$81.0 AWG 145

10.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 AWG 18.02

$10.11 AWG 18.09

-0.40%

Cappuccino

$4.82 AWG 8.63

$3.74 AWG 6.69

28.88%

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

$2.29 AWG 4.10

$1.43 AWG 2.55

60.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 AWG 3.56

$1.59 AWG 2.85

25.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.28 AWG 7.66

$2.93 AWG 5.25

46.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.21 AWG 11.12

$4.02 AWG 7.20

54.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 AWG 4.23

$1.85 AWG 3.31

27.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 AWG 7.00

$2.93 AWG 5.25

33.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.92 AWG 7.01

$2.84 AWG 5.08

38.03%

Eggs

$5.42 AWG 9.69

$5.36 AWG 9.60

1.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.06 AWG 57.4

$12.47 AWG 22.31

157.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 AWG 11.83

$9.18 AWG 16.42

-28.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.67 AWG 29.83

$12.28 AWG 21.98

35.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.93 AWG 10.61

$4.66 AWG 8.35

27.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.83 AWG 5.07

$2.23 AWG 4.00

26.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.96 AWG 12.46

$4.89 AWG 8.75

42.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.92 AWG 14.18

$3.41 AWG 6.10

132.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.90 AWG 6.98

$2.28 AWG 4.09

71.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 AWG 6.80

$1.95 AWG 3.49

94.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.15 AWG 11.01

$2.64 AWG 4.73

132.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.71 AWG 6.63

$1.53 AWG 2.74

142.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.60 AWG 31.49

$9.82 AWG 17.58

79.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.15 AWG 32.49

$9.80 AWG 17.55

85.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.04 AWG 7.23

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.95 AWG 8.87

$4.48 AWG 8.01

10.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.21 AWG 3.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.90 AWG 53.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 AWG 30.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.81 AWG 6.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.91 AWG 44.59

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 AWG 2.54

$1.53 AWG 2.74

-7.19%

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

$26.2K AWG 46.8K

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

$35.9K AWG 64.3K

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

$257 AWG 461

$249 AWG 446

3.31%

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

$133 AWG 238

$48.19 AWG 86.2

175.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 AWG 120

$105 AWG 187

-35.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.5 AWG 106

$108 AWG 193

-44.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.44 AWG 45.52

Cinema Ticket

$12.97 AWG 23.22

$12.16 AWG 21.76

6.66%

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

$303 AWG 542

$246 AWG 440

23.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K AWG 31.6K

$8,439 AWG 15.1K

109.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 AWG 91.1

$60.1 AWG 108

-15.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.2 AWG 118

$50.6 AWG 90.6

30.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 AWG 216

$111 AWG 198

8.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 AWG 182

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$724 AWG 1,295

$686 AWG 1,227

5.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,382 AWG 2,473

$561 AWG 1,005

146.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,200 AWG 5,727

$1,458 AWG 2,610

119.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,041 AWG 7,233

$1,353 AWG 2,422

198.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,256 AWG 4,037

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,704 AWG 3,049

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,943 AWG 3,477

$1,749 AWG 3,131

11.07%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Oranjestad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $724 in Aruba and $686 in Oranjestad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aruba pays 11% 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: $90.0 in Aruba vs $81.0 in Oranjestad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $528 vs $362 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 45% in total monthly costs ($2,848 vs $1,960 including rent). Oranjestad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Aruba pays 11% 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: $724 in Aruba versus $686 in Oranjestad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Aruba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,848 per month in Aruba versus $1,960 in Oranjestad – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,960 in Oranjestad versus $2,848 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 45% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.