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: $1,989 in Oranjestad versus $2,854 in Aruba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,152 in Oranjestad versus $4,992 in Aruba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,315 in Oranjestad versus $7,129 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

$19.34 AWG 34.62

$12.80 AWG 22.91

51.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.6 AWG 146

$88.5 AWG 158

-7.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.34 AWG 18.50

$9.87 AWG 17.67

4.76%

Cappuccino

$3.63 AWG 6.49

$4.74 AWG 8.49

-23.42%

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

$1.47 AWG 2.63

$2.31 AWG 4.13

-36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 AWG 2.84

$2.07 AWG 3.70

-23.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 AWG 5.40

$4.17 AWG 7.47

-27.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 AWG 7.18

$6.22 AWG 11.13

-35.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 AWG 3.35

$2.40 AWG 4.30

-22.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.98 AWG 5.34

$3.80 AWG 6.80

-21.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.83 AWG 5.06

$3.78 AWG 6.77

-25.13%

Eggs

$5.22 AWG 9.35

$5.34 AWG 9.56

-2.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.70 AWG 22.73

$32.12 AWG 57.5

-60.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.46 AWG 16.93

$6.41 AWG 11.48

47.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.03 AWG 21.53

$17.03 AWG 30.48

-29.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.75 AWG 8.50

$5.94 AWG 10.63

-20.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 AWG 4.13

$2.84 AWG 5.08

-18.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.15 AWG 9.22

$6.86 AWG 12.28

-24.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 AWG 6.21

$7.85 AWG 14.06

-55.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 AWG 4.00

$4.08 AWG 7.31

-45.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 AWG 3.47

$3.66 AWG 6.55

-46.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 AWG 4.62

$5.88 AWG 10.52

-56.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 AWG 2.75

$3.78 AWG 6.77

-59.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.05 AWG 17.98

$17.39 AWG 31.14

-42.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.22 AWG 18.30

$18.24 AWG 32.66

-43.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 AWG 6.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 AWG 7.69

$5.08 AWG 9.09

-15.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 AWG 3.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.45 AWG 54.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$17.12 AWG 30.64

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 AWG 7.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 AWG 44.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 AWG 2.63

$1.36 AWG 2.44

8.09%

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

$26.5K AWG 47.5K

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

$35.0K AWG 62.6K

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

$257 AWG 460

$261 AWG 467

-1.52%

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

$49.05 AWG 87.8

$134 AWG 239

-63.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$105 AWG 187

$67.7 AWG 121

54.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$107 AWG 192

$59.2 AWG 106

81.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.58 AWG 45.79

Cinema Ticket

$12.11 AWG 21.67

$12.75 AWG 22.82

-5.02%

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

$246 AWG 440

$304 AWG 544

-18.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,715 AWG 15.6K

$18.2K AWG 32.5K

-52.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 AWG 105

$49.50 AWG 88.6

19.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.0 AWG 89.5

$65.3 AWG 117

-23.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 AWG 193

$121 AWG 217

-10.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 AWG 184

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 AWG 1,220

$730 AWG 1,307

-6.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$571 AWG 1,021

$1,394 AWG 2,496

-59.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,473 AWG 2,636

$3,237 AWG 5,794

-54.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,356 AWG 2,428

$3,971 AWG 7,108

-65.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,268 AWG 4,059

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,727 AWG 3,092

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,692 AWG 3,029

$1,946 AWG 3,482

-13.03%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Aruba: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Oranjestad and $730 in Aruba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aruba pays 15% 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: $82.0 in Oranjestad vs $88.0 in Aruba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $527 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 44% in total monthly costs ($1,989 vs $2,854 including rent). Oranjestad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Aruba earns 15% 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: $682 in Oranjestad versus $730 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 $1,989 per month in Oranjestad versus $2,854 in Aruba – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,989 in Oranjestad versus $2,854 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 44% less than in Aruba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.