Cost of Living Comparison Between Sint Nicolaas and Oranjestad Cost of Living Comparison Between Sint Nicolaas and Oranjestad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $137 in Sint Nicolaas versus $1,985 in Oranjestad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $337 in Sint Nicolaas versus $3,132 in Oranjestad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $537 in Sint Nicolaas versus $4,279 in Oranjestad.

Living in Sint Nicolaas costs roughly 93% less than in Oranjestad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sint Nicolaas is 90% below, Oranjestad is 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.49 AWG 29.50

$18.90 AWG 33.83

-12.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.20 AWG 79.1

$80.3 AWG 144

-44.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.45 AWG 18.70

Cappuccino

$3.74 AWG 6.70

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

$1.41 AWG 2.52

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 AWG 1.94

$1.61 AWG 2.89

-32.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 AWG 5.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 AWG 7.07

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 AWG 3.40

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 AWG 5.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.89 AWG 5.17

Eggs

$5.31 AWG 9.50

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.56 AWG 22.48

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.06 AWG 16.22

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.32 AWG 22.05

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 AWG 8.24

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 AWG 4.12

Oranges (1kg)

$4.94 AWG 8.84

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 AWG 6.34

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 AWG 4.00

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 AWG 3.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 AWG 4.78

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 AWG 2.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.95 AWG 17.80

Wine (Bottle)

$10.25 AWG 18.34

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.91 AWG 6.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 AWG 7.94

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.21 AWG 3.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.60 AWG 53.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$17.15 AWG 30.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.79 AWG 6.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.63 AWG 44.07

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 AWG 2.73

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

$26.4K AWG 47.3K

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

$35.5K AWG 63.6K

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

$250 AWG 447

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

$48.78 AWG 87.3

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$105 AWG 189

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 AWG 189

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.32 AWG 47.09

Cinema Ticket

$11.85 AWG 21.21

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

$246 AWG 441

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,679 AWG 15.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 AWG 107

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.1 AWG 89.6

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 AWG 194

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 AWG 183

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$669 AWG 1,198

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$577 AWG 1,033

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,451 AWG 2,596

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,361 AWG 2,436

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,204 AWG 3,944

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,736 AWG 3,107

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,737 AWG 3,108

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 Sint Nicolaas: July 26, 2026

Last update for Oranjestad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $44.00 in Sint Nicolaas vs $80.0 in Oranjestad for two.

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

Sint Nicolaas vs Oranjestad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sint Nicolaas and Oranjestad differ by about 1346% in total monthly costs ($137 vs $1,985 including rent). Sint Nicolaas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $206 in Sint Nicolaas and $2,978 in Oranjestad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Sint Nicolaas – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $80.0 in Oranjestad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $137 per month in Sint Nicolaas versus $1,985 in Oranjestad – a 1346% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $137 in Sint Nicolaas versus $1,985 in Oranjestad, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sint Nicolaas but tight or insufficient in Oranjestad. The gap between the two cities makes Sint Nicolaas 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, Sint Nicolaas 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.

Expats usually find Sint Nicolaas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1346% less than in Oranjestad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.