🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,343 in Oranjestad versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,189 in Oranjestad versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,035 in Oranjestad versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Oranjestad costs roughly 5% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oranjestad71% above, Barcelona81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.82AWG 39.05
$18.74€16.33
16.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9AWG 143
$69.5€60.6
14.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.07AWG 18.02
$13.77€12.00
-26.87%
Cappuccino
$4.29AWG 7.67
$3.10€2.70
38.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41AWG 2.52
$2.83€2.47
-50.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59AWG 2.84
$1.88€1.64
-15.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.08AWG 5.52
$3.98€3.47
-22.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02AWG 7.19
$4.53€3.95
-11.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81AWG 3.24
$1.27€1.11
42.52%
White Bread(500g)
$3.03AWG 5.41
$2.16€1.88
40.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92AWG 5.23
$1.76€1.53
65.91%
Eggs
$5.46AWG 9.77
$5.13€4.47
6.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.64AWG 22.62
$17.88€15.59
-29.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49AWG 16.98
$9.65€8.41
-1.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.01AWG 21.49
$20.15€17.56
-40.40%
Apples(1kg)
$4.76AWG 8.52
$3.25€2.84
46.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20AWG 3.94
$2.23€1.94
-1.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.94AWG 8.84
$2.60€2.27
90.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.41AWG 6.11
$2.76€2.40
23.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20AWG 3.93
$2.21€1.93
-0.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96AWG 3.51
$2.12€1.85
-7.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.58AWG 4.62
$1.55€1.35
66.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56AWG 2.80
$0.95€0.83
64.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.85AWG 17.62
$7.34€6.40
34.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.84AWG 17.61
$8.05€7.01
22.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.89AWG 6.96
$1.54€1.35
152.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36AWG 7.80
$2.79€2.43
56.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.14AWG 3.83
$3.11€2.71
-31.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.96AWG 53.6
$25.86€22.54
15.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$17.19AWG 30.76
$3.27€2.85
425.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.83AWG 6.86
$1.48€1.29
158.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.50AWG 43.84
$34.27€29.88
-28.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04AWG 3.64
$1.73€1.51
17.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5KAWG 47.4K
$36.4K€31.7K
-27.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9KAWG 64.3K
$30.5K€26.6K
17.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$250AWG 448
$187€163
33.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.21AWG 86.3
$15.14€13.20
218.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$107AWG 191
$37.69€32.85
182.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.5AWG 112
$55.9€48.76
11.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.95AWG 46.43
$17.08€14.89
51.93%
Cinema Ticket
$11.87AWG 21.24
$11.41€9.95
4.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$251AWG 449
$997€869
-74.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,523AWG 15.3K
$16.5K€14.4K
-48.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.9AWG 109
$92.6€80.8
-34.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1AWG 89.7
$41.22€35.93
21.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111AWG 198
$111€96.9
-0.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102AWG 182
$125€109
-18.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$935AWG 1,673
$1,707€1,488
-45.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$936AWG 1,676
$1,286€1,121
-27.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,698AWG 4,828
$2,565€2,236
5.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,088AWG 5,526
$1,942€1,693
59.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,288AWG 4,094
$7,647€6,666
-70.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,710AWG 3,060
$5,167€4,504
-66.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oranjestad
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,708AWG 3,056
$2,348€2,047
-27.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.25
3.16
97.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oranjestad: September 14, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $935 in Oranjestad and $1,707 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 $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $336 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 6% in total monthly costs ($2,343 vs $2,476 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: $935 in Oranjestad versus $1,707 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 $251 in Oranjestad versus $997 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 9% 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 $2,343 in Oranjestad versus $2,476 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 6% 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