Cost of Living Comparison Between Oranjestad and Aruba Cost of Living Comparison Between Oranjestad and Aruba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,960 in Oranjestad versus $2,848 in Aruba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,168 in Oranjestad versus $5,042 in Aruba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,376 in Oranjestad versus $7,236 in Aruba.

Living in Oranjestad costs roughly 31% less than in Aruba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oranjestad 46% above, Aruba 112% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.09 AWG 34.16

$13.10 AWG 23.44

45.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 AWG 145

$89.6 AWG 160

-9.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.11 AWG 18.09

$10.07 AWG 18.02

0.40%

Cappuccino

$3.74 AWG 6.69

$4.82 AWG 8.63

-22.41%

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

$1.43 AWG 2.55

$2.29 AWG 4.10

-37.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 AWG 2.85

$1.99 AWG 3.56

-20.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 AWG 5.25

$4.28 AWG 7.66

-31.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 AWG 7.20

$6.21 AWG 11.12

-35.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 AWG 3.31

$2.36 AWG 4.23

-21.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.93 AWG 5.25

$3.91 AWG 7.00

-25.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.84 AWG 5.08

$3.92 AWG 7.01

-27.55%

Eggs

$5.36 AWG 9.60

$5.42 AWG 9.69

-1.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 AWG 22.31

$32.06 AWG 57.4

-61.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.18 AWG 16.42

$6.61 AWG 11.83

38.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.28 AWG 21.98

$16.67 AWG 29.83

-26.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 AWG 8.35

$5.93 AWG 10.61

-21.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 AWG 4.00

$2.83 AWG 5.07

-21.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.89 AWG 8.75

$6.96 AWG 12.46

-29.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.41 AWG 6.10

$7.92 AWG 14.18

-56.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 AWG 4.09

$3.90 AWG 6.98

-41.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 AWG 3.49

$3.80 AWG 6.80

-48.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 AWG 4.73

$6.15 AWG 11.01

-57.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 AWG 2.74

$3.71 AWG 6.63

-58.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.82 AWG 17.58

$17.60 AWG 31.49

-44.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.80 AWG 17.55

$18.15 AWG 32.49

-46.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.04 AWG 7.23

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 AWG 8.01

$4.95 AWG 8.87

-9.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.21 AWG 3.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.90 AWG 53.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 AWG 30.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.81 AWG 6.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.91 AWG 44.59

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 AWG 2.74

$1.42 AWG 2.54

7.75%

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)

$249 AWG 446

$257 AWG 461

-3.20%

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

$48.19 AWG 86.2

$133 AWG 238

-63.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$105 AWG 187

$67.0 AWG 120

56.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 AWG 193

$59.5 AWG 106

81.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.44 AWG 45.52

Cinema Ticket

$12.16 AWG 21.76

$12.97 AWG 23.22

-6.25%

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

$246 AWG 440

$303 AWG 542

-18.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,439 AWG 15.1K

$17.6K AWG 31.6K

-52.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 AWG 108

$50.9 AWG 91.1

18.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 AWG 90.6

$66.2 AWG 118

-23.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 AWG 198

$121 AWG 216

-8.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 AWG 182

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$686 AWG 1,227

$724 AWG 1,295

-5.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$561 AWG 1,005

$1,382 AWG 2,473

-59.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,458 AWG 2,610

$3,200 AWG 5,727

-54.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 AWG 2,422

$4,041 AWG 7,233

-66.51%

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

$1,943 AWG 3,477

-9.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

-10.71%

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

Last update for Oranjestad: June 7, 2026

Last update for Aruba: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $686 in Oranjestad and $724 in Aruba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aruba pays 11% 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: $81.0 in Oranjestad vs $90.0 in Aruba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $362 vs $528 per month, with Oranjestad 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

Oranjestad vs Aruba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Oranjestad and Aruba differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($1,960 vs $2,848 including rent). Oranjestad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Aruba earns 11% 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: $686 in Oranjestad versus $724 in Aruba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Aruba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,960 per month in Oranjestad versus $2,848 in Aruba – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,960 in Oranjestad versus $2,848 in Aruba, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Oranjestad but tight or insufficient in Aruba. The gap between the two cities makes Oranjestad 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, Oranjestad 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 Oranjestad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.