Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aruba and the United States

For one person, living is cheaper in Aruba: $2,527 a month against $2,785 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in the United States outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

🇦🇼 Aruba
$2,527
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aruba and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aruba and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,527 in Aruba versus $2,784 in the United States.

  • Aruba $2,527
  • United States $2,784

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,245 in Aruba versus $3,982 in the United States.

  • Aruba $4,245
  • United States $3,982

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,964 in Aruba versus $5,179 in the United States.

  • Aruba $5,964
  • United States $5,179

Living in Aruba costs about 9% less than in the United States on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Aruba 89% above, the United States 108% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aruba
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.46 AWG 33.04
$20.22 $20.22
-8.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.9 AWG 161
$81.1 $81.1
10.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.12 AWG 18.11
$12.12 $12.12
-16.50%
Cappuccino
$4.98 AWG 8.91
$5.36 $5.36
-7.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 AWG 3.74
$2.77 $2.77
-24.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 AWG 3.24
$2.09 $2.09
-13.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.56 AWG 9.95
$5.84 $5.84
-4.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.80 AWG 13.96
$7.92 $7.92
-1.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aruba
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 AWG 3.20
$1.04 $1.04
72.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.84 AWG 5.08
$3.56 $3.56
-20.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.24 AWG 5.81
$4.69 $4.69
-30.92%
Eggs
$4.95 AWG 8.86
$4.43 $4.43
11.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.99 AWG 23.25
$12.91 $12.91
0.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.67 AWG 13.72
$12.20 $12.20
-37.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.37 AWG 22.14
$17.00 $17.00
-27.24%
Apples (1kg)
$4.79 AWG 8.57
$5.31 $5.31
-9.79%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 AWG 5.06
$1.67 $1.67
69.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.41 AWG 11.47
$4.49 $4.49
42.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.11 AWG 9.14
$5.05 $5.05
1.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.47 AWG 6.21
$2.83 $2.83
22.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 AWG 3.56
$3.00 $3.00
-33.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.85 AWG 5.11
$2.28 $2.28
25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 AWG 4.30
$2.27 $2.27
5.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.84 AWG 17.62
$10.33 $10.33
-4.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.93 AWG 17.77
$14.72 $14.72
-32.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.68 AWG 8.37
$2.05 $2.05
128.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 AWG 7.91
$3.66 $3.66
20.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Aruba
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.47 AWG 4.42
$2.33 $2.33
6.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.1 AWG 168
$65.1 $65.1
44.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$19.04 AWG 34.08
$3.60 $3.60
428.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.93 AWG 7.04
$1.90 $1.90
106.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.12 AWG 39.60
$29.81 $29.81
-25.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.48 AWG 4.44
$1.03 $1.03
140.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K AWG 46.1K
$35.1K $35.1K
-26.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K AWG 63.4K
$26.3K $26.3K
34.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aruba
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 AWG 414
$216 $216
7.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$88.1 AWG 158
$62.3 $62.3
41.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$102 AWG 182
$74.6 $74.6
36.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aruba
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 AWG 137
$44.70 $44.70
71.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.26 AWG 70.3
$22.55 $22.55
74.10%
Cinema Ticket
$9.90 AWG 17.72
$15.19 $15.19
-34.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aruba
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$230 AWG 412
$1,440 $1,440
-84.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K AWG 21.3K
$25.2K $25.2K
-52.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aruba
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 AWG 121
$53.7 $53.7
26.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.3 AWG 137
$42.44 $42.44
79.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 AWG 226
$93.4 $93.4
35.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 AWG 223
$115 $115
8.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aruba
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$983 AWG 1,760
$1,622 $1,622
-39.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,001 AWG 1,792
$1,357 $1,357
-26.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,660 AWG 4,762
$2,681 $2,681
-0.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,574 AWG 4,607
$2,170 $2,170
18.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,272 AWG 4,067
$3,294 $3,294
-31.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,759 AWG 3,149
$2,674 $2,674
-34.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aruba
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,442 AWG 4,372
$4,242 $4,242
-42.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.25
6.55
-4.58%

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

Last update for Aruba: October 5, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aruba
$1K
United States
$1.4K 35.5% $356
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aruba
$421
United States
$353 16.2% $68
Groceries & Markets
Aruba
$392
United States
$411 4.8% $19
Eating Out
Aruba
$297
United States
$327 10.2% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Aruba
$178
United States
$137 23% $41
Getting Around
Aruba
$143
United States
$87 38.7% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Aruba
$96
United States
$75 22.2% $21

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $546 in Aruba, $1,605 in the United States. Capital cities: $935 in Oranjestad vs $2,726 in Washington, DC.

National salary averages: $2,390 in Aruba, $4,534 in the United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 194% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 97% more in the United States.

Public transport is 17% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are 90% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know
🇦🇼 Aruba
🇺🇸 United States
🕒 Local time
22:35 10:35 PM
22:35 10:35 PM
Same time as Aruba
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
106,739
340,110,988
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AWG – Aruban Florin Converter

Aruban Florin exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.79 AWG (1 AWG = 0.559 USD). 1 EUR = 2.01 AWG (1 AWG = 0.498 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aruba United States 3,080 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Aruba
  • United States

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Aruba and the United States?
At $2,527 per month in Aruba and $2,784 in the United States, there's a 10% 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 cheaper in Aruba: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $1,605 in the United States and $546 in Aruba. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Aruba or in the United States?
In Aruba, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in the United States 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 the United States?
It depends on what you're after: Aruba wins on affordability; the United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Aruba vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?