Cost of Living Comparison Between Aruba and SpainCost of Living Comparison Between Aruba and Spain
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,079 in Aruba versus $1,642 in Spain.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,759 in Aruba versus $2,392 in Spain.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,438 in Aruba versus $3,142 in Spain.
🌍Living in Aruba costs about 34% less than in Spain on average.
📊Aruba (19% below) and Spain (23% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78AWG 28.29
$16.06€14.00
-1.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.7AWG 164
$56.9€49.57
61.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.13AWG 18.16
$10.30€8.98
-1.65%
Cappuccino
$4.31AWG 7.72
$2.32€2.02
85.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81AWG 3.24
$2.60€2.27
-30.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77AWG 3.17
$1.84€1.60
-3.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59AWG 6.44
$3.43€2.99
4.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27AWG 9.45
$3.97€3.46
32.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85AWG 3.32
$1.19€1.04
55.46%
White Bread(500g)
$3.01AWG 5.39
$1.52€1.33
98.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.83AWG 6.87
$1.67€1.46
129.34%
Eggs
$4.91AWG 8.80
$2.98€2.60
64.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.84AWG 39.16
$14.42€12.58
51.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.40AWG 13.26
$8.59€7.49
-13.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.13AWG 23.54
$15.95€13.91
-17.68%
Apples(1kg)
$5.03AWG 9.02
$2.51€2.19
100.40%
Banana(1kg)
$3.18AWG 5.70
$2.07€1.81
53.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.97AWG 12.49
$2.04€1.78
241.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.44AWG 11.55
$2.64€2.30
143.94%
Potato(1kg)
$3.89AWG 6.97
$1.76€1.53
121.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.59AWG 4.65
$1.98€1.73
30.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.13AWG 7.40
$1.35€1.17
205.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.04AWG 5.46
$0.74€0.65
310.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.31AWG 18.47
$6.27€5.46
64.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.91AWG 17.76
$5.75€5.01
72.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.42AWG 6.12
$1.30€1.14
163.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81AWG 8.62
$2.06€1.80
133.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Aruba
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93AWG 5.26
$1.77€1.54
65.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.7AWG 164
$34.49€30.07
165.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$19.68AWG 35.27
$4.49€3.91
338.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.91AWG 8.80
$1.32€1.15
271.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.56AWG 44.03
$27.12€23.64
-9.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47AWG 2.63
$1.80€1.57
-18.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6KAWG 45.9K
$38.2K€33.3K
-33.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6KAWG 63.8K
$30.8K€26.9K
15.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$222AWG 398
$149€130
49.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$86.1AWG 154
$20.14€17.56
327.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$94.3AWG 169
$33.50€29.21
181.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$76.6AWG 137
$46.30€40.37
65.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.23AWG 70.3
$15.61€13.61
151.31%
Cinema Ticket
$9.88AWG 17.71
$9.40€8.20
5.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$229AWG 410
$522€455
-56.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5KAWG 20.6K
$9,880€8,613
16.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4AWG 112
$88.1€76.8
-29.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.2AWG 138
$35.98€31.36
114.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128AWG 230
$89.0€77.6
44.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123AWG 221
$108€94.2
14.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aruba
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$796AWG 1,427
$1,039€906
-23.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$582AWG 1,043
$820€715
-29.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,582AWG 2,836
$1,689€1,472
-6.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,472AWG 2,638
$1,214€1,058
21.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,292AWG 4,109
$4,301€3,750
-46.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,743AWG 3,124
$2,604€2,270
-33.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,467AWG 4,422
$1,982€1,728
24.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
3.51
85.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aruba: July 28, 2026
Last update for Spain: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $540 in Aruba, $898 in Spain. Capital cities: $669 in Oranjestad vs $1,561 in Madrid.
💰National salary averages: $2,436 in Aruba, $1,989 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 66% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 51% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 43% more expensive in Spain.
⭐Salaries are 22% higher in Aruba, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Aruba.
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 Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Aruba and Spain?
At $1,416 per month in Aruba and $2,188 in Spain, there's a 55% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Aruba: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Spain is consistently higher than in Aruba across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Aruba or in Spain?
In Aruba, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in Spain it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Aruba or to Spain?
It depends on what you're after: Aruba wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.