Cost of Living Comparison Between Aruba and Upper Marlboro, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Aruba and Upper Marlboro, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,799 in Aruba versus $2,507 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,039 in Aruba versus $3,890 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,279 in Aruba versus $5,273 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Living in Aruba is roughly 12% more expensive than Upper Marlboro, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aruba 109% above, Upper Marlboro, MD 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 AWG 23.60

$19.87 $19.87

-33.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 AWG 160

$81.1 $81.1

9.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.04 AWG 17.96

$12.01 $12.01

-16.40%

Cappuccino

$4.90 AWG 8.77

$5.62 $5.62

-12.81%

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

$2.31 AWG 4.13

$2.76 $2.76

-16.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 AWG 3.74

$2.32 $2.32

-9.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.19 AWG 7.50

$6.05 $6.05

-30.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.26 AWG 11.20

$8.12 $8.12

-22.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 AWG 4.27

$0.99 $0.99

141.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 AWG 6.66

$4.43 $4.43

-16.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.92 AWG 7.02

$6.07 $6.07

-35.42%

Eggs

$5.61 AWG 10.04

$4.95 $4.95

13.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.39 AWG 58.0

$17.59 $17.59

84.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 AWG 11.66

$10.22 $10.22

-36.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.71 AWG 29.91

$16.39 $16.39

1.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.92 AWG 10.60

$5.19 $5.19

14.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 AWG 5.23

$1.83 $1.83

59.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.95 AWG 12.44

$5.08 $5.08

36.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.23 AWG 14.73

$6.59 $6.59

24.89%

Potato (1kg)

$4.08 AWG 7.31

$3.49 $3.49

16.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.76 AWG 6.74

$2.71 $2.71

38.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.09 AWG 10.90

$2.23 $2.23

173.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.85 AWG 6.89

$2.49 $2.49

54.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.75 AWG 31.76

$10.92 $10.92

62.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.08 AWG 32.36

$14.02 $14.02

28.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 AWG 9.07

$4.63 $4.63

9.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 $3.88

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.86 $29.86

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 AWG 2.53

$0.96 $0.96

46.87%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

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

$25.3K $25.3K

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

$257 AWG 460

$205 $205

25.63%

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

$131 AWG 234

$63.9 $63.9

104.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 AWG 119

$73.7 $73.7

-9.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 AWG 108

$43.26 $43.26

39.37%

Cinema Ticket

$12.87 AWG 23.03

$15.17 $15.17

-15.16%

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

$304 AWG 544

$1,747 $1,747

-82.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K AWG 31.7K

$23.8K $23.8K

-25.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.48 AWG 88.6

$52.9 $52.9

-6.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.5 AWG 117

$49.78 $49.78

31.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 AWG 219

$97.0 $97.0

26.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 AWG 1,312

$1,408 $1,408

-47.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,390 AWG 2,487

$1,155 $1,155

20.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,140 AWG 5,621

$2,677 $2,677

17.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,018 AWG 7,191

$2,253 $2,253

78.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,319 $2,319

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,027 $2,027

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,895 AWG 3,391

$8,058 $8,058

-76.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

8.02%

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

Last update for Aruba: June 2, 2026

Last update for Upper Marlboro, MD: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Aruba and $1,408 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Upper Marlboro, MD pays 325% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $89.0 in Aruba vs $81.0 in Upper Marlboro, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $532 vs $447 per month, with Upper Marlboro, MD 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 Upper Marlboro, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aruba and Upper Marlboro, MD differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,799 vs $2,507 including rent). Upper Marlboro, MD is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Upper Marlboro, MD earns 325% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Aruba versus $1,408 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Aruba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,799 per month in Aruba versus $2,507 in Upper Marlboro, MD – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,507 in Upper Marlboro, MD versus $2,799 in Aruba, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Upper Marlboro, MD but tight or insufficient in Aruba. The gap between the two cities makes Upper Marlboro, MD 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 Upper Marlboro, MD 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 Upper Marlboro, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.