🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,985 in Oranjestad versus $2,359 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,132 in Oranjestad versus $3,498 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,279 in Oranjestad versus $4,638 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Oranjestad costs roughly 16% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oranjestad49% above, Barcelona77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.90AWG 33.83
$17.15€14.86
10.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3AWG 144
$68.1€58.9
18.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45AWG 18.70
$13.64€11.82
-23.39%
Cappuccino
$3.74AWG 6.70
$2.78€2.41
34.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41AWG 2.52
$2.82€2.44
-50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61AWG 2.89
$1.96€1.70
-17.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.94AWG 5.27
$4.43€3.84
-33.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95AWG 7.07
$4.61€3.99
-14.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90AWG 3.40
$1.27€1.10
49.61%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02AWG 5.40
$2.13€1.85
41.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.89AWG 5.17
$1.99€1.72
45.23%
Eggs
$5.31AWG 9.50
$3.37€2.92
57.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.56AWG 22.48
$18.96€16.42
-33.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.06AWG 16.22
$9.53€8.26
-4.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.32AWG 22.05
$18.73€16.22
-34.22%
Apples(1kg)
$4.61AWG 8.24
$2.65€2.29
73.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30AWG 4.12
$2.35€2.04
-2.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.94AWG 8.84
$2.09€1.81
136.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.54AWG 6.34
$2.73€2.37
29.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23AWG 4.00
$1.96€1.70
13.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95AWG 3.48
$1.81€1.56
7.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.67AWG 4.78
$1.51€1.31
76.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58AWG 2.83
$0.89€0.77
77.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.95AWG 17.80
$6.78€5.87
46.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.25AWG 18.34
$7.92€6.86
29.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.91AWG 6.99
$1.37€1.19
185.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44AWG 7.94
$2.40€2.08
85.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.21AWG 3.95
$2.91€2.52
-24.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.60AWG 53.0
$28.66€24.82
3.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$17.15AWG 30.70
$4.58€3.96
274.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.79AWG 6.78
$2.04€1.77
85.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.63AWG 44.07
$28.72€24.87
-14.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53AWG 2.73
$1.82€1.58
-15.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4KAWG 47.3K
$39.3K€34.0K
-32.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KAWG 63.6K
$32.5K€28.1K
9.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$250AWG 447
$187€162
33.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.78AWG 87.3
$22.29€19.30
118.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$105AWG 189
$36.37€31.50
189.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$105AWG 189
$57.5€49.82
83.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.32AWG 47.09
$20.74€17.96
26.90%
Cinema Ticket
$11.85AWG 21.21
$10.77€9.33
10.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$246AWG 441
$725€628
-66.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,679AWG 15.5K
$15.2K€13.1K
-42.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0AWG 107
$87.9€76.1
-31.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1AWG 89.6
$36.81€31.88
35.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108AWG 194
$103€89.6
4.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102AWG 183
$119€103
-13.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$669AWG 1,198
$1,524€1,319
-56.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$577AWG 1,033
$1,227€1,062
-52.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,451AWG 2,596
$2,727€2,362
-46.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,361AWG 2,436
$1,984€1,718
-31.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,204AWG 3,944
$7,469€6,468
-70.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,736AWG 3,107
$5,243€4,541
-66.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,737AWG 3,108
$2,393€2,072
-27.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.25
3.39
84.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oranjestad: July 27, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $669 in Oranjestad and $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 38% 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 $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $319 per month, with Barcelona 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 Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Oranjestad and in Barcelona?
Oranjestad and Barcelona differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($1,985 vs $2,359 including rent). Oranjestad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 38% lower in Barcelona. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Oranjestad and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $669 in Oranjestad versus $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Oranjestad and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $246 in Oranjestad versus $725 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,985 in Oranjestad versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Oranjestad but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Oranjestad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Oranjestad and Barcelona?
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.
Is Oranjestad or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Oranjestad and Barcelona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Oranjestad or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Oranjestad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Oranjestad vs other spots: cost of living compared