Cost of Living Comparison Between Noord and Aruba Cost of Living Comparison Between Noord and Aruba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,249 in Noord versus $2,854 in Aruba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,110 in Noord versus $4,992 in Aruba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,971 in Noord versus $7,129 in Aruba.

Living in Noord costs roughly 56% less than in Aruba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Noord is 7% below, Aruba is 113% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.37 AWG 23.93

$12.80 AWG 22.91

4.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.0 AWG 116

$88.5 AWG 158

-26.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.11 AWG 18.10

$9.87 AWG 17.67

2.43%

Cappuccino

$4.91 AWG 8.78

$4.74 AWG 8.49

3.59%

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

$1.02 AWG 1.83

$2.31 AWG 4.13

-55.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 AWG 2.63

$2.07 AWG 3.70

-28.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.13 AWG 9.18

$4.17 AWG 7.47

23.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 AWG 12.40

$6.22 AWG 11.13

11.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.40 AWG 4.30

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 AWG 6.80

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.78 AWG 6.77

Eggs

$5.34 AWG 9.56

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.12 AWG 57.5

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 AWG 11.48

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.03 AWG 30.48

Apples (1kg)

$5.94 AWG 10.63

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 AWG 5.08

Oranges (1kg)

$6.86 AWG 12.28

Tomato (1kg)

$7.85 AWG 14.06

Potato (1kg)

$4.08 AWG 7.31

Onion (1kg)

$3.66 AWG 6.55

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.88 AWG 10.52

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.78 AWG 6.77

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.39 AWG 31.14

Wine (Bottle)

$9.83 AWG 17.59

$18.24 AWG 32.66

-46.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.08 AWG 9.09

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 AWG 5.41

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 AWG 10.84

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.94 AWG 10.62

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.33 AWG 88.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 AWG 2.73

$1.36 AWG 2.44

11.76%

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

$152 AWG 272

$261 AWG 467

-41.76%

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

$134 AWG 239

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$100 AWG 180

$67.7 AWG 121

48.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.55 AWG 88.7

$59.2 AWG 106

-16.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 AWG 14.19

$12.75 AWG 22.82

-37.80%

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

$304 AWG 544

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.2K AWG 32.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.50 AWG 88.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.3 AWG 117

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 AWG 217

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 AWG 1,441

$730 AWG 1,307

10.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$610 AWG 1,092

$1,394 AWG 2,496

-56.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,782 AWG 3,190

$3,237 AWG 5,794

-44.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,637 AWG 2,931

$3,971 AWG 7,108

-58.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$983 AWG 1,759

$1,946 AWG 3,482

-49.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-14.29%

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

Last update for Noord: April 26, 2026

Last update for Aruba: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $805 in Noord and $730 in Aruba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aruba pays 98% 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: $65.0 in Noord vs $88.0 in Aruba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $20.00 vs $527 per month, with Noord 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

Noord vs Aruba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Noord and Aruba differ by about 128% in total monthly costs ($1,249 vs $2,854 including rent). Noord is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Aruba earns 98% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $805 in Noord versus $730 in Aruba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Noord – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $88.0 in Aruba. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,249 per month in Noord versus $2,854 in Aruba – a 128% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,249 in Noord versus $2,854 in Aruba, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Noord but tight or insufficient in Aruba. The gap between the two cities makes Noord 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, Noord 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 Noord gentler on the wallet – expenses run 128% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.