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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Noord vs $1,985 in Oranjestad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,085 per month in Noord vs $3,132 in Oranjestad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,923 per month in Noord vs $4,279 in Oranjestad, rent included.

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

Noord sits 6% below the global median, while Oranjestad is 49% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.55 AWG 24.25

$18.90 AWG 33.83

-28.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.3 AWG 115

$80.3 AWG 144

-19.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 AWG 18.17

$10.45 AWG 18.70

-2.87%

Cappuccino

$5.03 AWG 9.01

$3.74 AWG 6.70

34.49%

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

$0.99 AWG 1.77

$1.41 AWG 2.52

-29.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 AWG 2.73

$1.61 AWG 2.89

-5.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 AWG 9.29

$2.94 AWG 5.27

76.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 AWG 12.40

$3.95 AWG 7.07

75.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 AWG 3.40

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 AWG 5.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.89 AWG 5.17

Eggs

$5.31 AWG 9.50

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.56 AWG 22.48

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.06 AWG 16.22

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.32 AWG 22.05

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 AWG 8.24

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 AWG 4.12

Oranges (1kg)

$4.94 AWG 8.84

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 AWG 6.34

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 AWG 4.00

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 AWG 3.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 AWG 4.78

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 AWG 2.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.95 AWG 17.80

Wine (Bottle)

$9.79 AWG 17.51

$10.25 AWG 18.34

-4.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.91 AWG 6.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 AWG 7.94

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.98 AWG 5.32

$2.21 AWG 3.95

34.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.60 AWG 53.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 AWG 10.66

$17.15 AWG 30.70

-65.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.96 AWG 10.67

$3.79 AWG 6.78

57.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.40 AWG 88.4

$24.63 AWG 44.07

100.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 AWG 2.63

$1.53 AWG 2.73

-3.92%

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

$26.4K AWG 47.3K

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

$35.5K AWG 63.6K

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

$149 AWG 267

$250 AWG 447

-40.26%

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

$48.78 AWG 87.3

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 AWG 180

$105 AWG 189

-4.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.97 AWG 89.4

$105 AWG 189

-52.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.32 AWG 47.09

Cinema Ticket

$7.99 AWG 14.29

$11.85 AWG 21.21

-32.57%

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

$246 AWG 441

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,679 AWG 15.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 AWG 107

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.1 AWG 89.6

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 AWG 194

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 AWG 183

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 AWG 1,440

$669 AWG 1,198

20.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 AWG 1,078

$577 AWG 1,033

4.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,756 AWG 3,142

$1,451 AWG 2,596

21.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,626 AWG 2,909

$1,361 AWG 2,436

19.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,204 AWG 3,944

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,736 AWG 3,107

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,737 AWG 3,108

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Oranjestad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $805 in Noord versus $669 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 $64.0 in Noord versus $80.0 in Oranjestad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $20.00 vs $365 – 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 $1,871 per month in Noord and $2,978 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 $1,247 in Noord and $1,985 in Oranjestad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1768% 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 $1,247, than in Oranjestad at $1,985. 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.