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: $2,343 in Oranjestad versus $2,379 in Aruba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,189 in Oranjestad versus $4,202 in Aruba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,035 in Oranjestad versus $6,025 in Aruba.

Living in Oranjestad costs roughly 2% less than in Aruba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oranjestad 71% above, Aruba 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.82 AWG 39.05

$14.56 AWG 26.06

49.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.9 AWG 143

$89.1 AWG 159

-10.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 AWG 18.02

$10.52 AWG 18.83

-4.28%

Cappuccino

$4.29 AWG 7.67

$5.22 AWG 9.33

-17.82%

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

$1.41 AWG 2.52

$2.38 AWG 4.25

-40.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 AWG 2.84

$2.20 AWG 3.93

-27.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.08 AWG 5.52

$5.24 AWG 9.37

-41.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 AWG 7.19

$7.20 AWG 12.88

-44.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 AWG 3.24

$1.65 AWG 2.95

9.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 AWG 5.41

$2.86 AWG 5.11

5.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.92 AWG 5.23

$2.95 AWG 5.29

-1.02%

Eggs

$5.46 AWG 9.77

$3.74 AWG 6.70

45.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.64 AWG 22.62

$13.76 AWG 24.63

-8.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.49 AWG 16.98

$4.08 AWG 7.30

132.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.01 AWG 21.49

Apples (1kg)

$4.76 AWG 8.52

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 AWG 3.94

$2.03 AWG 3.64

8.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.94 AWG 8.84

Tomato (1kg)

$3.41 AWG 6.11

Potato (1kg)

$2.20 AWG 3.93

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 AWG 3.51

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 AWG 4.62

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 AWG 2.80

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.85 AWG 17.62

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 AWG 17.61

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.89 AWG 6.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 AWG 7.80

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.14 AWG 3.83

$2.46 AWG 4.40

-13.01%

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)

$2.04 AWG 3.64

$2.38 AWG 4.26

-14.29%

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

$240 AWG 430

4.19%

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

$48.21 AWG 86.3

$133 AWG 237

-63.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$107 AWG 191

$84.6 AWG 151

25.99%

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

$298 AWG 534

-15.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,523 AWG 15.3K

$17.8K AWG 31.9K

-52.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 AWG 109

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.1 AWG 89.7

$64.5 AWG 115

-22.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 AWG 198

$119 AWG 213

-6.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 AWG 182

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$935 AWG 1,673

$645 AWG 1,155

44.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$936 AWG 1,676

$1,388 AWG 2,483

-32.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 AWG 4,828

$3,213 AWG 5,749

-16.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,088 AWG 5,526

$4,069 AWG 7,281

-24.11%

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

$1,881 AWG 3,366

-9.21%

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 Oranjestad: September 14, 2026

Last update for Aruba: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $935 in Oranjestad and $645 in Aruba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aruba pays 10% 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: $80.0 in Oranjestad vs $89.0 in Aruba. Groceries flip the comparison at $365 vs $146, with Aruba cheaper for home cooking.

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 2% in total monthly costs ($2,343 vs $2,379 including rent). Oranjestad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Aruba. 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: $935 in Oranjestad versus $645 in Aruba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Aruba pay roughly 150% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,343 per month in Oranjestad versus $2,379 in Aruba – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,343 in Oranjestad versus $2,379 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 2% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.