Cost of Living Comparison Between Oranjestad and Noord Cost of Living Comparison Between Oranjestad and Noord

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,989 per month in Oranjestad vs $1,249 in Noord, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,152 per month in Oranjestad vs $2,110 in Noord, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,315 per month in Oranjestad vs $2,971 in Noord, rent included.

Oranjestad costs about 59% more than Noord, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Oranjestad sits 49% above the global median, while Noord is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.34 AWG 34.62

$13.37 AWG 23.93

44.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.6 AWG 146

$65.0 AWG 116

25.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.34 AWG 18.50

$10.11 AWG 18.10

2.27%

Cappuccino

$3.63 AWG 6.49

$4.91 AWG 8.78

-26.07%

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

$1.47 AWG 2.63

$1.02 AWG 1.83

44.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 AWG 2.84

$1.47 AWG 2.63

8.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 AWG 5.40

$5.13 AWG 9.18

-41.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 AWG 7.18

$6.92 AWG 12.40

-42.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 AWG 3.35

White Bread (500g)

$2.98 AWG 5.34

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.83 AWG 5.06

Eggs

$5.22 AWG 9.35

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.70 AWG 22.73

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.46 AWG 16.93

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.03 AWG 21.53

Apples (1kg)

$4.75 AWG 8.50

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 AWG 4.13

Oranges (1kg)

$5.15 AWG 9.22

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 AWG 6.21

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 AWG 4.00

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 AWG 3.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 AWG 4.62

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 AWG 2.75

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.05 AWG 17.98

Wine (Bottle)

$10.22 AWG 18.30

$9.83 AWG 17.59

3.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 AWG 6.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 AWG 7.69

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 AWG 3.98

$3.02 AWG 5.41

-26.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.45 AWG 54.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$17.12 AWG 30.64

$6.05 AWG 10.84

182.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 AWG 7.16

$5.94 AWG 10.62

-32.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 AWG 44.13

$49.33 AWG 88.3

-50.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 AWG 2.63

$1.52 AWG 2.73

-3.29%

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

$152 AWG 272

69.09%

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

$49.05 AWG 87.8

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$105 AWG 187

$100 AWG 180

4.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$107 AWG 192

$49.55 AWG 88.7

116.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.58 AWG 45.79

Cinema Ticket

$12.11 AWG 21.67

$7.93 AWG 14.19

52.71%

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

$246 AWG 440

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,715 AWG 15.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 AWG 105

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.0 AWG 89.5

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 AWG 193

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 AWG 184

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 AWG 1,220

$805 AWG 1,441

-15.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$571 AWG 1,021

$610 AWG 1,092

-6.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,473 AWG 2,636

$1,782 AWG 3,190

-17.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,356 AWG 2,428

$1,637 AWG 2,931

-17.17%

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

$983 AWG 1,759

72.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

4.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Oranjestad: April 28, 2026

Last update for Noord: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $682 in Oranjestad versus $805 in Noord. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 72% higher in Oranjestad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Oranjestad versus $65.0 in Noord. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $365 vs $20.00 – making Noord the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Noord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Oranjestad costs about 59% more than Noord, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,983 per month in Oranjestad and $1,874 in Noord. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Noord, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,989 in Oranjestad and $1,249 in Noord. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1760% more in Oranjestad, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Noord, where all-in costs run around $1,249, than in Oranjestad at $1,989. In Noord it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oranjestad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Noord – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Noord. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oranjestad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.