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: $3,304 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $2,808 in Aruba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,982 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $5,043 in Aruba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,660 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $7,279 in Aruba.

Living in Fort Lauderdale, FL is roughly 18% more expensive than in Aruba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Lauderdale, FL 147% above, Aruba 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.26 $21.26

$13.22 AWG 23.65

60.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$112 $112

$88.2 AWG 158

26.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.33 $10.33

$9.87 AWG 17.67

4.66%

Cappuccino

$5.12 $5.12

$4.68 AWG 8.38

9.40%

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

$2.79 $2.79

$2.31 AWG 4.13

20.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.09 AWG 3.74

-0.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.17 AWG 7.47

39.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.43 $6.43

$6.04 AWG 10.81

6.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$2.41 AWG 4.32

-60.17%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.73 AWG 6.67

9.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.92 AWG 7.02

-14.80%

Eggs

$3.75 $3.75

$5.40 AWG 9.67

-30.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.76 $11.76

$32.12 AWG 57.5

-63.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.21 $9.21

$6.65 AWG 11.89

38.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.54 $19.54

$17.12 AWG 30.65

14.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$6.13 AWG 10.98

-11.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.80 AWG 5.01

-44.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$6.90 AWG 12.34

-34.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.40 $5.40

$7.79 AWG 13.95

-30.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$3.92 AWG 7.02

-7.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.77 AWG 6.74

-6.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$5.85 AWG 10.47

-62.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$3.84 AWG 6.87

-46.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.84 $9.84

$17.45 AWG 31.24

-43.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.81 $11.81

$17.70 AWG 31.69

-33.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$5.07 AWG 9.07

-45.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 $2.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.1 $71.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.48 $4.48

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.21 $22.21

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.43 AWG 2.55

-39.86%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

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

$24.4K $24.4K

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

$173 $173

$254 AWG 455

-31.90%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$130 AWG 232

-53.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$67.8 AWG 121

2.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.1 $77.1

$58.8 AWG 105

31.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 $13.24

Cinema Ticket

$15.22 $15.22

$12.96 AWG 23.20

17.44%

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

$804 $804

$295 AWG 527

173.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K $16.2K

$17.7K AWG 31.6K

-8.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.86 $46.86

$49.40 AWG 88.4

-5.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.33 $45.33

$65.9 AWG 118

-31.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 $88.2

$122 AWG 218

-27.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.6 $95.6

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,283 $2,283

$744 AWG 1,331

207.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,922 $1,922

$1,393 AWG 2,494

37.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,751 $3,751

$3,158 AWG 5,653

18.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,681 $3,681

$4,064 AWG 7,274

-9.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,497 $5,497

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,226 $4,226

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,653 $4,653

$1,900 AWG 3,401

144.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

-6.71%

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

Last update for Fort Lauderdale, FL: July 22, 2026

Last update for Aruba: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,283 in Fort Lauderdale, FL and $744 in Aruba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Lauderdale, FL pays 145% 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: $112 in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $88.0 in Aruba. Groceries flip the comparison at $390 vs $528, with Fort Lauderdale, FL cheaper for home cooking.

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 18% in total monthly costs ($3,304 vs $2,808 including rent). Aruba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 145% 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: $2,283 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $744 in Aruba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Fort Lauderdale, FL pay roughly 35% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,304 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $2,808 in Aruba – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,808 in Aruba versus $3,304 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 18% less than in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.