Cost of Living Comparison Between Noord and Oranjestad Cost of Living Comparison Between Noord and Oranjestad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,831 per month in Noord vs $2,343 in Oranjestad, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,105 per month in Noord vs $4,189 in Oranjestad, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,378 per month in Noord vs $6,035 in Oranjestad, rent included.

Noord is about 22% cheaper than Oranjestad, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Noord and Oranjestad sit above the global median – Noord by 34%, Oranjestad by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.38 AWG 41.84

$21.82 AWG 39.05

7.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.0 AWG 156

$79.9 AWG 143

8.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 AWG 18.02

Cappuccino

$4.29 AWG 7.67

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

$2.94 AWG 5.25

$1.41 AWG 2.52

108.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 AWG 3.51

$1.59 AWG 2.84

23.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.69 AWG 15.56

$3.08 AWG 5.52

182.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.26 AWG 16.56

$4.02 AWG 7.19

130.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 AWG 3.43

$1.81 AWG 3.24

5.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.98 AWG 5.34

$3.03 AWG 5.41

-1.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.84 AWG 5.08

$2.92 AWG 5.23

-2.74%

Eggs

$6.32 AWG 11.30

$5.46 AWG 9.77

15.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.43 AWG 22.24

$12.64 AWG 22.62

-1.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.36 AWG 16.76

$9.49 AWG 16.98

-1.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.03 AWG 21.53

$12.01 AWG 21.49

0.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.76 AWG 8.51

$4.76 AWG 8.52

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 AWG 4.13

$2.20 AWG 3.94

5.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.05 AWG 9.03

$4.94 AWG 8.84

2.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.56 AWG 6.37

$3.41 AWG 6.11

4.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 AWG 4.03

$2.20 AWG 3.93

2.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 AWG 3.62

$1.96 AWG 3.51

3.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 AWG 4.71

$2.58 AWG 4.62

1.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 AWG 2.80

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.11 AWG 18.08

$9.85 AWG 17.62

2.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.19 AWG 18.23

$9.84 AWG 17.61

3.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.82 AWG 10.42

$3.89 AWG 6.96

49.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 AWG 7.79

$4.36 AWG 7.80

-0.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.14 AWG 3.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.96 AWG 53.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$17.19 AWG 30.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.83 AWG 6.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.50 AWG 43.84

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.73 AWG 4.89

$2.04 AWG 3.64

33.82%

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

$26.5K AWG 47.4K

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

$35.9K AWG 64.3K

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

$250 AWG 448

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

$48.21 AWG 86.3

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$107 AWG 191

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.5 AWG 112

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.95 AWG 46.43

Cinema Ticket

$11.87 AWG 21.24

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

$251 AWG 449

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,523 AWG 15.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 AWG 109

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.1 AWG 89.7

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 AWG 198

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 AWG 182

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,490 AWG 2,667

$935 AWG 1,673

59.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 AWG 2,134

$936 AWG 1,676

27.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,848 AWG 5,096

$2,698 AWG 4,828

5.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 AWG 4,488

$3,088 AWG 5,526

-18.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,288 AWG 4,094

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,710 AWG 3,060

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,708 AWG 3,056

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

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

Last update for Noord: September 14, 2026

Last update for Oranjestad: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,490 in Noord versus $935 in Oranjestad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Noord versus $80.0 in Oranjestad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $380 vs $365 – making Oranjestad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Oranjestad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Oranjestad costs about 28% more than Noord, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,747 per month in Noord and $3,515 in Oranjestad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Noord, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,831 in Noord and $2,343 in Oranjestad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Oranjestad – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Noord, where all-in costs run around $1,831, than in Oranjestad at $2,343. In Noord it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oranjestad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Noord – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Noord. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oranjestad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.