Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Oranjestad

For one person, living is cheaper in Oranjestad: $2,327 a month against $3,744 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $17,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,744
/mo nomad
Oranjestad
🇦🇼 Aruba
$2,327
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Oranjestad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Oranjestad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,744 in Seattle, WA versus $2,327 in Oranjestad.

  • Seattle, WA $3,744
  • Oranjestad $2,327

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,703 in Seattle, WA versus $4,208 in Oranjestad.

  • Seattle, WA $5,703
  • Oranjestad $4,208

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,661 in Seattle, WA versus $6,089 in Oranjestad.

  • Seattle, WA $7,661
  • Oranjestad $6,089

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 61% more expensive than in Oranjestad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 179% above, Oranjestad 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Oranjestad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.56 $24.56
$22.18 AWG 39.71
10.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.5 $99.5
$79.3 AWG 142
25.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.30 $15.30
$10.14 AWG 18.16
50.89%
Cappuccino
$6.62 $6.62
$4.29 AWG 7.68
54.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.41 AWG 2.52
130.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.66 AWG 2.97
87.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.77 $7.77
$2.92 AWG 5.24
166.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93 $7.93
$4.10 AWG 7.33
93.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Oranjestad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.84 AWG 3.30
-34.24%
White Bread (500g)
$4.94 $4.94
$2.93 AWG 5.24
68.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.17 $6.17
$2.91 AWG 5.21
112.03%
Eggs
$4.96 $4.96
$5.40 AWG 9.66
-8.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.00 $19.00
$12.62 AWG 22.59
50.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.69 $18.69
$9.22 AWG 16.50
102.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.14 $23.14
$12.03 AWG 21.54
92.35%
Apples (1kg)
$5.93 $5.93
$4.68 AWG 8.37
26.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.31 AWG 4.13
-16.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$5.11 AWG 9.15
1.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.55 $6.55
$3.56 AWG 6.38
83.99%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$2.19 AWG 3.91
65.30%
Onion (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.05 AWG 3.67
54.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.67 AWG 4.78
8.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.59 AWG 2.84
49.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.36 $12.36
$9.91 AWG 17.75
24.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 $15.02
$9.70 AWG 17.36
54.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.30 $4.30
$3.95 AWG 7.07
8.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.69 $5.69
$4.33 AWG 7.74
31.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Oranjestad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.05 $3.05
$2.14 AWG 3.83
42.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$109 $109
$30.14 AWG 54.0
260.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.64 $2.64
$16.86 AWG 30.18
-84.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 $1.74
$3.83 AWG 6.86
-54.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.02 $30.02
$24.95 AWG 44.67
20.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.04 AWG 3.65
-28.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$25.9K AWG 46.4K
41.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$34.7K AWG 62.2K
-26.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Oranjestad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$299 $299
$252 AWG 451
18.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.7 $69.7
$48.35 AWG 86.6
44.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$90.1 $90.1
$104 AWG 187
-13.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Oranjestad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.0 $80.0
$62.3 AWG 111
28.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.62 $35.62
$26.38 AWG 47.22
35.03%
Cinema Ticket
$17.33 $17.33
$12.02 AWG 21.52
44.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Oranjestad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,986 $2,986
$254 AWG 455
1075.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.3K $31.3K
$8,657 AWG 15.5K
261.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Oranjestad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 $77.7
$59.1 AWG 106
31.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9 $54.9
$51.3 AWG 91.9
6.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 $126
$109 AWG 195
15.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165 $165
$104 AWG 186
59.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Oranjestad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,407 $2,407
$935 AWG 1,673
157.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 $1,963
$936 AWG 1,676
109.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,788 $4,788
$2,703 AWG 4,839
77.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,561 $3,561
$3,031 AWG 5,426
17.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,430 $7,430
$2,210 AWG 3,956
236.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,010 $5,010
$1,744 AWG 3,121
187.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Oranjestad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,280 $6,280
$1,706 AWG 3,053
268.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.85
6.25
9.60%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 6, 2026

Last update for Oranjestad: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
$2K
Oranjestad
$936 52.3% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
$541
Oranjestad
$365 32.6% $176
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
$459
Oranjestad
$405 11.9% $55
Eating Out
Seattle, WA
$402
Oranjestad
$294 26.7% $107
Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
$191
Oranjestad
$145 23.8% $45
Getting Around
Seattle, WA
$132
Oranjestad
$75 43.4% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
$115
Oranjestad
$86 24.7% $28

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,407 in Seattle, WA and $935 in Oranjestad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 268% 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: $99.0 in Seattle, WA vs $79.0 in Oranjestad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $541 vs $365 per month, with Oranjestad cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🇦🇼 Oranjestad
🕒 Local time
07:14 7:14 AM
10:14 10:14 AM
3 h ahead of Seattle, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
737,015
35,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AWG, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Aruban Florin exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.79 AWG (1 AWG = 0.559 USD). 1 EUR = 2.01 AWG (1 AWG = 0.499 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seattle, WA Oranjestad 6,200 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Seattle, WA
  • Oranjestad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Seattle, WA vs Oranjestad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Seattle, WA and in Oranjestad?
Seattle, WA and Oranjestad differ by about 61% in total monthly costs ($3,744 vs $2,327 including rent). Oranjestad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Seattle, WA or Oranjestad?
Average pay runs 268% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Seattle, WA and in Oranjestad?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,407 in Seattle, WA versus $935 in Oranjestad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Seattle, WA and in Oranjestad?
A monthly transit pass in Oranjestad runs roughly 260% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Seattle, WA and Oranjestad?
Childcare runs $2,986 in Seattle, WA versus $254 in Oranjestad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,327 in Oranjestad versus $3,744 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Oranjestad but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Oranjestad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Seattle, WA and Oranjestad?
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 Seattle, WA or Oranjestad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Seattle, WA and Oranjestad 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: Seattle, WA or Oranjestad?
Expats usually find Oranjestad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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