Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Aruba Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Aruba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Canada versus $1,070 in Aruba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Canada versus $1,775 in Aruba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,436 in Canada versus $2,479 in Aruba.

Living in Canada is roughly 116% more expensive than Aruba on average.

Canada (73% above) and Aruba (20% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Aruba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.44 CA$25.53
$15.56 AWG 27.85
18.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5 CA$103
$91.8 AWG 164
-18.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.88 CA$15.07
$9.86 AWG 17.65
10.34%
Cappuccino
$3.90 CA$5.39
$4.32 AWG 7.73
-9.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 CA$2.99
$1.86 AWG 3.33
16.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 CA$2.40
$1.69 AWG 3.03
2.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 CA$7.94
$3.57 AWG 6.38
60.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.05 CA$8.37
$5.19 AWG 9.29
16.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Aruba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 CA$3.05
$1.84 AWG 3.29
19.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 CA$3.81
$3.01 AWG 5.38
-8.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.66 CA$5.07
$3.75 AWG 6.71
-2.40%
Eggs
$3.63 CA$5.03
$4.91 AWG 8.80
-26.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.72 CA$16.22
$22.57 AWG 40.39
-48.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.28 CA$17.01
$7.32 AWG 13.11
67.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.88 CA$20.60
$13.23 AWG 23.67
12.47%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 CA$5.73
$5.13 AWG 9.18
-19.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.01
$3.19 AWG 5.70
-54.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.79 CA$5.25
$7.01 AWG 12.54
-45.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.09 CA$5.66
$6.60 AWG 11.80
-38.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 CA$3.78
$4.01 AWG 7.17
-31.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 CA$3.83
$2.51 AWG 4.49
10.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.62 CA$3.62
$4.09 AWG 7.32
-35.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 CA$2.59
$2.90 AWG 5.18
-35.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.79 CA$20.48
$10.41 AWG 18.64
42.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.08 CA$18.11
$9.96 AWG 17.82
31.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.03 CA$4.19
$3.44 AWG 6.16
-11.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 CA$4.72
$4.82 AWG 8.62
-29.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Aruba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 CA$3.49
$3.06 AWG 5.47
-17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 CA$108
$94.2 AWG 169
-17.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 CA$4.83
$19.59 AWG 35.05
-82.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.04
$5.10 AWG 9.12
-70.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.25 CA$39.12
$24.96 AWG 44.67
13.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 CA$1.59
$1.46 AWG 2.61
-21.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$35.2K
$25.9K AWG 46.3K
-1.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K CA$28.6K
$34.7K AWG 62.2K
-40.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Aruba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 CA$214
$220 AWG 393
-29.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.76 CA$63.4
$86.0 AWG 154
-46.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.2 CA$86.1
$96.0 AWG 172
-35.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Aruba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.67 CA$60.5
$74.3 AWG 133
-41.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14 CA$25.11
$38.47 AWG 68.8
-52.85%
Cinema Ticket
$11.38 CA$15.76
$10.16 AWG 18.19
12.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Aruba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$798 CA$1,104
$229 AWG 410
248.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K CA$16.8K
$11.7K AWG 20.9K
3.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Aruba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 CA$78.7
$62.2 AWG 111
-8.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.19 CA$58.4
$75.9 AWG 136
-44.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.9 CA$122
$127 AWG 227
-30.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$147
$122 AWG 218
-12.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Aruba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,359 CA$1,882
$811 AWG 1,452
67.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,204 CA$1,667
$579 AWG 1,037
107.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 CA$2,957
$1,556 AWG 2,784
37.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,860 CA$2,575
$1,441 AWG 2,578
29.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,642 CA$6,427
$2,233 AWG 3,996
107.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,852 CA$5,333
$1,757 AWG 3,145
119.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Aruba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,029 CA$4,194
$2,469 AWG 4,419
22.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.33
6.5
-2.62%

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

Last update for Canada: May 31, 2026

Last update for Aruba: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,281 in Canada, $537 in Aruba. Capital cities: $1,500 in Ottawa vs $670 in Oranjestad.

National salary averages: $2,972 in Canada, $2,419 in Aruba. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 139% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 94% more in Canada.

Public transport is 171% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 23% higher in Canada, 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
Canada vs Aruba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Aruba and Canada?
At $1,400 per month in Aruba and $2,205 in Canada, there's a 58% 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 Canada 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 Canada?
In Aruba, $2,500 covers most cities easily. In Canada, 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 Canada?
It depends on what you're after. Aruba wins on affordability; Canada may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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