Cost of Living Comparison Between Oranjestad and Santa Cruz Cost of Living Comparison Between Oranjestad and Santa Cruz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,312 in Oranjestad versus $1,909 in Santa Cruz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,181 in Oranjestad versus $2,918 in Santa Cruz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,050 in Oranjestad versus $3,927 in Santa Cruz.

Living in Oranjestad is roughly 21% more expensive than in Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oranjestad 68% above, Santa Cruz 38% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.78 AWG 38.98

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.4 AWG 142

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 AWG 18.04

Cappuccino

$4.39 AWG 7.86

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

$1.46 AWG 2.62

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 AWG 2.98

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 AWG 5.42

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 AWG 7.13

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 AWG 3.25

$2.18 AWG 3.91

-16.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 AWG 5.43

$2.74 AWG 4.90

10.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.80 AWG 5.00

$4.54 AWG 8.13

-38.33%

Eggs

$5.40 AWG 9.67

$4.76 AWG 8.52

13.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.30 AWG 22.01

$7.84 AWG 14.04

56.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.21 AWG 16.49

$7.66 AWG 13.71

20.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.25 AWG 21.92

$6.57 AWG 11.75

86.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 AWG 8.16

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 AWG 3.92

$4.55 AWG 8.15

-51.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.87 AWG 8.71

$8.53 AWG 15.26

-42.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.56 AWG 6.37

$6.68 AWG 11.95

-46.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 AWG 3.90

$6.67 AWG 11.95

-67.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 AWG 3.61

$1.98 AWG 3.54

2.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 AWG 4.61

$2.98 AWG 5.32

-13.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 AWG 2.74

$4.57 AWG 8.17

-66.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.05 AWG 17.99

$10.45 AWG 18.70

-3.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.95 AWG 17.82

$19.35 AWG 34.63

-48.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.99 AWG 7.14

$2.43 AWG 4.35

64.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 AWG 7.73

$3.09 AWG 5.53

39.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.13 AWG 3.81

$1.91 AWG 3.41

11.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.08 AWG 53.8

$157 AWG 280

-80.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$16.76 AWG 30.00

$19.36 AWG 34.65

-13.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 AWG 7.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.51 AWG 43.87

$19.18 AWG 34.34

27.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.04 AWG 3.65

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

$25.7K AWG 46.1K

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

$35.8K AWG 64.0K

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

$257 AWG 460

$141 AWG 253

81.92%

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

$48.50 AWG 86.8

$70.9 AWG 127

-31.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$107 AWG 191

$204 AWG 366

-47.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 AWG 111

$69.7 AWG 125

-11.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.34 AWG 47.14

$46.99 AWG 84.1

-43.95%

Cinema Ticket

$11.76 AWG 21.04

$8.21 AWG 14.69

43.24%

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

$249 AWG 446

$137 AWG 245

82.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,722 AWG 15.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.0 AWG 109

$77.9 AWG 139

-21.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 AWG 92.1

$109 AWG 196

-53.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 AWG 198

$138 AWG 246

-19.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 AWG 181

$138 AWG 246

-26.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$922 AWG 1,651

$1,305 AWG 2,336

-29.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 AWG 1,728

$549 AWG 982

75.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,658 AWG 4,758

$1,534 AWG 2,746

73.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,082 AWG 5,516

$1,375 AWG 2,462

124.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,237 AWG 4,004

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,735 AWG 3,105

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,731 AWG 3,098

$3,647 AWG 6,528

-52.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

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

Last update for Oranjestad: September 6, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $922 in Oranjestad and $1,305 in Santa Cruz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Cruz pays 111% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Santa Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Oranjestad and Santa Cruz differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($2,312 vs $1,909 including rent). Santa Cruz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 111% lower in Santa Cruz. 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: $922 in Oranjestad versus $1,305 in Santa Cruz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Oranjestad pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,312 per month in Oranjestad versus $1,909 in Santa Cruz – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,909 in Santa Cruz versus $2,312 in Oranjestad, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz but tight or insufficient in Oranjestad. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Oranjestad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.