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: $1,072 in Aruba versus $1,642 in Spain.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,772 in Aruba versus $2,399 in Spain.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,472 in Aruba versus $3,155 in Spain.
🙂Living in Aruba costs about 35% less than in Spain on average.
📊Aruba (20% below) and Spain (22% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.68AWG 28.07
$15.98€13.77
-1.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.0AWG 161
$57.6€49.63
56.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.04AWG 17.98
$10.27€8.85
-2.24%
Cappuccino
$4.35AWG 7.79
$2.38€2.05
82.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83AWG 3.28
$2.58€2.22
-29.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73AWG 3.09
$1.83€1.58
-5.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48AWG 6.23
$3.54€3.05
-1.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.08AWG 9.09
$4.09€3.52
24.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84AWG 3.29
$1.22€1.05
50.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.94AWG 5.27
$1.53€1.31
92.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.76AWG 6.73
$1.60€1.38
135.00%
Eggs
$4.98AWG 8.91
$2.93€2.53
69.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.28AWG 39.88
$14.33€12.34
55.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.50AWG 13.43
$8.31€7.16
-9.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41AWG 24.00
$15.62€13.46
-14.15%
Apples(1kg)
$4.97AWG 8.89
$2.53€2.18
96.44%
Banana(1kg)
$3.21AWG 5.74
$1.99€1.72
61.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.28AWG 13.04
$2.11€1.82
245.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.74AWG 12.07
$2.54€2.19
165.35%
Potato(1kg)
$4.03AWG 7.22
$1.77€1.52
127.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.61AWG 4.68
$1.98€1.70
31.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.95AWG 7.07
$1.30€1.12
203.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.01AWG 5.39
$0.74€0.64
306.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.28AWG 18.41
$6.19€5.33
66.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.11AWG 18.10
$5.93€5.11
70.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.57AWG 6.39
$1.25€1.07
185.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.72AWG 8.46
$2.07€1.78
128.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Aruba
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.08AWG 5.52
$1.78€1.53
73.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.0AWG 166
$34.91€30.08
166.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$19.35AWG 34.63
$4.48€3.86
331.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.89AWG 8.75
$1.34€1.15
264.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.49AWG 45.62
$26.24€22.61
-2.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42AWG 2.54
$1.76€1.51
-19.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KAWG 47.1K
$38.2K€32.9K
-31.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9KAWG 64.3K
$31.6K€27.3K
13.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219AWG 392
$149€128
47.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$86.5AWG 155
$20.16€17.37
328.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$94.7AWG 170
$34.11€29.39
177.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.8AWG 136
$47.12€40.60
60.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.17AWG 68.3
$15.83€13.64
141.12%
Cinema Ticket
$9.83AWG 17.59
$9.47€8.16
3.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226AWG 404
$517€445
-56.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KAWG 21.0K
$10.2K€8,752
15.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.8AWG 114
$87.2€75.1
-26.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.9AWG 138
$37.36€32.19
105.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128AWG 230
$91.3€78.7
40.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122AWG 218
$106€91.0
15.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aruba
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$807AWG 1,445
$1,074€925
-24.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$596AWG 1,067
$815€702
-26.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579AWG 2,826
$1,691€1,457
-6.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,422AWG 2,546
$1,228€1,058
15.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,282AWG 4,085
$4,338€3,738
-47.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,720AWG 3,079
$2,744€2,364
-37.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aruba
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,521AWG 4,511
$2,031€1,750
24.10%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Spain: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $541 in Aruba, $898 in Spain. Capital cities: $686 in Oranjestad vs $1,609 in Madrid.
💰National salary averages: $2,420 in Aruba, $2,011 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 20% higher in Aruba, giving Aruba stronger purchasing power.
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 $1,424 per month in Aruba and $2,191 in Spain, there's a 54% 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?
Aruba is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 Spain?
In Aruba, $2,500 covers most cities easily. In Spain, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Aruba or 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.