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: $2,808 in Aruba versus $2,557 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,043 in Aruba versus $3,854 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,279 in Aruba versus $5,151 in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Living in Aruba is roughly 10% more expensive than in Upper Marlboro, MD, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aruba 110% above, Upper Marlboro, MD 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.22 AWG 23.65

$19.99 $19.99

-33.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.2 AWG 158

$78.6 $78.6

12.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.87 AWG 17.66

$11.91 $11.91

-17.13%

Cappuccino

$4.68 AWG 8.38

$5.75 $5.75

-18.61%

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

$2.31 AWG 4.13

$2.75 $2.75

-16.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 AWG 3.74

$2.34 $2.34

-10.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 AWG 7.47

$5.93 $5.93

-29.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 AWG 10.81

$7.81 $7.81

-22.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.41 AWG 4.32

$0.99 $0.99

143.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 AWG 6.67

$4.49 $4.49

-16.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.92 AWG 7.02

$5.99 $5.99

-34.56%

Eggs

$5.40 AWG 9.67

$4.96 $4.96

8.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.12 AWG 57.5

$17.92 $17.92

79.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 AWG 11.89

$10.39 $10.39

-36.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.12 AWG 30.64

$16.53 $16.53

3.57%

Apples (1kg)

$6.13 AWG 10.98

$5.06 $5.06

21.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 AWG 5.01

$1.77 $1.77

58.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.90 AWG 12.34

$5.24 $5.24

31.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.79 AWG 13.95

$6.67 $6.67

16.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 AWG 7.02

$3.45 $3.45

13.62%

Onion (1kg)

$3.77 AWG 6.74

$2.80 $2.80

34.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.85 AWG 10.47

$2.26 $2.26

158.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 AWG 6.87

$2.45 $2.45

56.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.45 AWG 31.23

$10.80 $10.80

61.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.70 AWG 31.68

$14.10 $14.10

25.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 AWG 9.07

$4.64 $4.64

9.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 $4.02

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.96 $29.96

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 AWG 2.55

$0.96 $0.96

48.96%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

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

$25.6K $25.6K

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

$254 AWG 455

$206 $206

23.61%

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

$130 AWG 232

$63.6 $63.6

103.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.8 AWG 121

$73.8 $73.8

-8.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.8 AWG 105

$43.09 $43.09

36.53%

Cinema Ticket

$12.96 AWG 23.19

$15.22 $15.22

-14.85%

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

$295 AWG 527

$1,767 $1,767

-83.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.7K AWG 31.6K

$23.6K $23.6K

-25.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.40 AWG 88.4

$54.2 $54.2

-8.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.9 AWG 118

$50.1 $50.1

31.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 AWG 218

$96.7 $96.7

25.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$744 AWG 1,331

$1,425 $1,425

-47.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 AWG 2,493

$1,181 $1,181

17.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,158 AWG 5,652

$2,601 $2,601

21.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,064 AWG 7,272

$2,206 $2,206

84.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,411 $2,411

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,643 $2,643

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,900 AWG 3,400

$7,931 $7,931

-76.04%

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: July 21, 2026

Last update for Upper Marlboro, MD: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $744 in Aruba and $1,425 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Upper Marlboro, MD pays 317% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $88.0 in Aruba vs $79.0 in Upper Marlboro, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $528 vs $449 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 10% in total monthly costs ($2,808 vs $2,557 including rent). Upper Marlboro, MD is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 317% lower in Upper Marlboro, MD. 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: $744 in Aruba versus $1,425 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Aruba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,808 per month in Aruba versus $2,557 in Upper Marlboro, MD – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,557 in Upper Marlboro, MD versus $2,808 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 10% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.