Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Oranjestad Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Oranjestad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,960 in Oranjestad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $3,168 in Oranjestad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $4,376 in Oranjestad.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 15% more expensive than Oranjestad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Oranjestad 46% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Oranjestad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$19.09 AWG 34.16
-16.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$81.0 AWG 145
-21.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$10.11 AWG 18.09
2.67%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$3.74 AWG 6.69
-25.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$1.43 AWG 2.55
63.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.59 AWG 2.85
-1.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$2.93 AWG 5.25
17.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$4.02 AWG 7.20
-2.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Oranjestad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.85 AWG 3.31
-41.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$2.93 AWG 5.25
-39.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$2.84 AWG 5.08
-39.79%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$5.36 AWG 9.60
-41.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$12.47 AWG 22.31
9.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$9.18 AWG 16.42
-12.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$12.28 AWG 21.98
26.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$4.66 AWG 8.35
-50.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$2.23 AWG 4.00
-26.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$4.89 AWG 8.75
-60.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$3.41 AWG 6.10
-26.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$2.28 AWG 4.09
-21.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.95 AWG 3.49
3.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$2.64 AWG 4.73
-25.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$1.53 AWG 2.74
-45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$9.82 AWG 17.58
-30.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$9.80 AWG 17.55
-42.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$4.04 AWG 7.23
-65.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$4.48 AWG 8.01
-32.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Oranjestad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$2.21 AWG 3.96
2.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
$29.90 AWG 53.5
51.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$17.09 AWG 30.58
-74.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$3.81 AWG 6.82
-77.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$24.91 AWG 44.59
-26.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.53 AWG 2.74
30.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$26.2K AWG 46.8K
33.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$35.9K AWG 64.3K
10.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Oranjestad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$249 AWG 446
-41.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$48.19 AWG 86.2
-57.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$105 AWG 187
-62.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Oranjestad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$108 AWG 193
-54.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
$25.44 AWG 45.52
-25.98%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$12.16 AWG 21.76
-21.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Oranjestad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$246 AWG 440
147.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$8,439 AWG 15.1K
95.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Oranjestad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$60.1 AWG 108
72.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$50.6 AWG 90.6
-16.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$111 AWG 198
-16.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$102 AWG 182
18.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Oranjestad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$686 AWG 1,227
136.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$561 AWG 1,005
125.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$1,458 AWG 2,610
109.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$1,353 AWG 2,422
48.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$2,256 AWG 4,037
239.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$1,704 AWG 3,049
154.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Oranjestad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
$1,749 AWG 3,131
-9.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.25
-39.04%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Oranjestad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $686 in Oranjestad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oranjestad pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $81.0 in Oranjestad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $362 per month, with Lisbon 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
Lisbon vs Oranjestad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Oranjestad?
Lisbon and Oranjestad differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,960 including rent). Oranjestad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Oranjestad earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Oranjestad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $686 in Oranjestad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Oranjestad?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $246 in Oranjestad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 35% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,960 in Oranjestad versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Oranjestad but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Oranjestad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Oranjestad?
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.
Is Lisbon or Oranjestad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Oranjestad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Oranjestad?
Expats usually find Oranjestad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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