Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Aruba Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Aruba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,540 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $2,375 in Aruba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,258 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $4,239 in Aruba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,975 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $6,104 in Aruba.

Living in Fort Lauderdale, FL is roughly 49% more expensive than in Aruba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Lauderdale, FL 157% above, Aruba 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.57 $30.57

$14.47 AWG 25.89

111.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$89.3 AWG 160

12.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.56 $14.56

$10.52 AWG 18.82

38.40%

Cappuccino

$5.26 $5.26

$5.13 AWG 9.19

2.53%

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

$3.02 $3.02

$2.35 AWG 4.20

28.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.18 AWG 3.91

-9.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.56 $5.56

$5.16 AWG 9.23

7.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.55 $6.55

$7.01 AWG 12.55

-6.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.61 AWG 2.87

-32.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.86 AWG 5.12

73.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.02 AWG 5.41

7.95%

Eggs

$5.04 $5.04

$3.75 AWG 6.72

34.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.11 $17.11

$13.72 AWG 24.56

24.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.31 $10.31

$4.23 AWG 7.56

143.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.42 $26.42

Apples (1kg)

$6.50 $6.50

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.99 AWG 3.56

2.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

Tomato (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.54 $2.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.57 $11.57

Wine (Bottle)

$11.81 $11.81

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.54 AWG 4.55

1.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.4 $79.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 $3.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.17 $24.17

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.46 AWG 4.40

-60.57%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

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

$26.9K $26.9K

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

$212 $212

$234 AWG 418

-9.31%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$130 AWG 233

-53.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.1 $81.1

$84.0 AWG 150

-3.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.9 $68.9

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.17 $14.17

Cinema Ticket

$18.16 $18.16

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

$990 $990

$305 AWG 545

225.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.2K $41.2K

$17.6K AWG 31.5K

133.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.22 $47.22

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 $40.15

$65.1 AWG 117

-38.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.5 $90.5

$119 AWG 212

-23.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,502 $2,502

$660 AWG 1,182

278.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,999 $1,999

$1,372 AWG 2,456

45.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,742 $4,742

$3,200 AWG 5,728

48.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,510 $3,510

$4,004 AWG 7,167

-12.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,616 $5,616

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,159 $4,159

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,538 $4,538

$1,932 AWG 3,458

134.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.11

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

Last update for Fort Lauderdale, FL: September 8, 2026

Last update for Aruba: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,502 in Fort Lauderdale, FL and $660 in Aruba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Lauderdale, FL pays 135% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $100 in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $89.0 in Aruba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $455 vs $146 per month, with Aruba 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

Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Aruba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Lauderdale, FL and Aruba differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($3,540 vs $2,375 including rent). Aruba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 135% higher in Fort Lauderdale, FL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,502 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $660 in Aruba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 212% higher in Fort Lauderdale, FL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,540 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $2,375 in Aruba – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,375 in Aruba versus $3,540 in Fort Lauderdale, FL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Aruba but tight or insufficient in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Aruba 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, Fort Lauderdale, FL and Aruba 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 Aruba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.