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: $1,985 in Oranjestad versus $2,832 in Aruba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,132 in Oranjestad versus $4,936 in Aruba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,279 in Oranjestad versus $7,041 in Aruba.

Living in Oranjestad costs roughly 30% less than in Aruba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oranjestad 49% above, Aruba 113% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.90 AWG 33.83

$13.13 AWG 23.50

43.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.3 AWG 144

$91.5 AWG 164

-12.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.45 AWG 18.70

$10.19 AWG 18.23

2.55%

Cappuccino

$3.74 AWG 6.70

$4.88 AWG 8.73

-23.36%

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

$1.41 AWG 2.52

$2.30 AWG 4.11

-38.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 AWG 2.89

$2.07 AWG 3.71

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 AWG 5.27

$4.35 AWG 7.79

-32.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 AWG 7.07

$6.02 AWG 10.77

-34.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 AWG 3.40

$2.32 AWG 4.16

-18.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 AWG 5.40

$3.74 AWG 6.69

-19.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.89 AWG 5.17

$3.86 AWG 6.90

-25.13%

Eggs

$5.31 AWG 9.50

$5.54 AWG 9.91

-4.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.56 AWG 22.48

$31.60 AWG 56.5

-60.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.06 AWG 16.22

$6.47 AWG 11.57

40.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.32 AWG 22.05

$17.15 AWG 30.70

-28.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 AWG 8.24

$6.15 AWG 11.01

-25.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 AWG 4.12

$2.85 AWG 5.10

-19.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.94 AWG 8.84

$6.93 AWG 12.41

-28.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 AWG 6.34

$8.03 AWG 14.36

-55.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 AWG 4.00

$4.11 AWG 7.35

-45.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 AWG 3.48

$3.83 AWG 6.86

-49.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 AWG 4.78

$5.86 AWG 10.48

-54.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 AWG 2.83

$3.69 AWG 6.61

-57.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.95 AWG 17.80

$17.43 AWG 31.20

-42.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.25 AWG 18.34

$17.70 AWG 31.68

-42.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.91 AWG 6.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 AWG 7.94

$5.01 AWG 8.97

-11.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.21 AWG 3.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.60 AWG 53.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$17.15 AWG 30.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.79 AWG 6.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.63 AWG 44.07

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 AWG 2.73

$1.43 AWG 2.55

6.99%

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)

$250 AWG 447

$261 AWG 467

-4.17%

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

$48.78 AWG 87.3

$131 AWG 234

-62.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$105 AWG 189

$67.2 AWG 120

56.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 AWG 189

$61.1 AWG 109

72.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.32 AWG 47.09

Cinema Ticket

$11.85 AWG 21.21

$13.11 AWG 23.46

-9.61%

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

$246 AWG 441

$300 AWG 538

-18.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,679 AWG 15.5K

$18.1K AWG 32.4K

-52.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 AWG 107

$49.19 AWG 88.0

22.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.1 AWG 89.6

$65.7 AWG 118

-23.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 AWG 194

$121 AWG 216

-10.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 AWG 183

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$669 AWG 1,198

$738 AWG 1,320

-9.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$577 AWG 1,033

$1,400 AWG 2,506

-58.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,451 AWG 2,596

$3,163 AWG 5,659

-54.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,361 AWG 2,436

$3,952 AWG 7,072

-65.56%

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

$1,909 AWG 3,415

-9.01%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Aruba: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $669 in Oranjestad and $738 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 $91.0 in Aruba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $526 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 43% in total monthly costs ($1,985 vs $2,832 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: $669 in Oranjestad versus $738 in Aruba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Aruba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,985 per month in Oranjestad versus $2,832 in Aruba – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,985 in Oranjestad versus $2,832 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 43% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.