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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,235 per month in Noord vs $1,960 in Oranjestad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,096 per month in Noord vs $3,168 in Oranjestad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,958 per month in Noord vs $4,376 in Oranjestad, rent included.

Noord is about 37% cheaper than Oranjestad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Noord sits 8% below the global median, while Oranjestad is 46% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.66 AWG 24.45

$19.09 AWG 34.16

-28.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.5 AWG 117

$81.0 AWG 145

-19.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 AWG 17.56

$10.11 AWG 18.09

-2.97%

Cappuccino

$5.05 AWG 9.04

$3.74 AWG 6.69

35.03%

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

$0.98 AWG 1.75

$1.43 AWG 2.55

-31.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 AWG 2.67

$1.59 AWG 2.85

-6.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 AWG 9.46

$2.93 AWG 5.25

80.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.77 AWG 12.11

$4.02 AWG 7.20

68.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 AWG 3.31

White Bread (500g)

$2.93 AWG 5.25

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.84 AWG 5.08

Eggs

$5.36 AWG 9.60

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 AWG 22.31

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.18 AWG 16.42

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.28 AWG 21.98

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 AWG 8.35

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 AWG 4.00

Oranges (1kg)

$4.89 AWG 8.75

Tomato (1kg)

$3.41 AWG 6.10

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 AWG 4.09

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 AWG 3.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 AWG 4.73

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 AWG 2.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.82 AWG 17.58

Wine (Bottle)

$10.23 AWG 18.31

$9.80 AWG 17.55

4.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.04 AWG 7.23

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 AWG 8.01

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 AWG 5.27

$2.21 AWG 3.96

33.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.90 AWG 53.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 AWG 10.70

$17.09 AWG 30.58

-65.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$6.06 AWG 10.85

$3.81 AWG 6.82

59.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.78 AWG 89.1

$24.91 AWG 44.59

99.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 AWG 2.63

$1.53 AWG 2.74

-3.92%

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

$26.2K AWG 46.8K

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)

$153 AWG 274

$249 AWG 446

-38.61%

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

$48.19 AWG 86.2

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$100 AWG 179

$105 AWG 187

-4.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.11 AWG 87.9

$108 AWG 193

-54.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.44 AWG 45.52

Cinema Ticket

$7.80 AWG 13.97

$12.16 AWG 21.76

-35.86%

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

$246 AWG 440

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,439 AWG 15.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 AWG 108

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 AWG 90.6

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 AWG 198

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 AWG 182

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 AWG 1,449

$686 AWG 1,227

18.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$610 AWG 1,092

$561 AWG 1,005

8.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,758 AWG 3,146

$1,458 AWG 2,610

20.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,602 AWG 2,868

$1,353 AWG 2,422

18.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,256 AWG 4,037

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,704 AWG 3,049

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,749 AWG 3,131

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

-4.00%

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

Last update for Noord: June 9, 2026

Last update for Oranjestad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $809 in Noord versus $686 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 $65.0 in Noord versus $81.0 in Oranjestad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $20.00 vs $362 – making Noord 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 59% more than Noord, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,853 per month in Noord and $2,940 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 $1,235 in Noord and $1,960 in Oranjestad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1671% more in Oranjestad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Noord, where all-in costs run around $1,235, than in Oranjestad at $1,960. 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.