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: $139 in Sint Nicolaas versus $1,989 in Oranjestad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $338 in Sint Nicolaas versus $3,152 in Oranjestad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $537 in Sint Nicolaas versus $4,315 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

$16.53 AWG 29.58

$19.34 AWG 34.62

-14.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.04 AWG 78.8

$81.6 AWG 146

-46.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.34 AWG 18.50

Cappuccino

$3.63 AWG 6.49

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

$1.47 AWG 2.63

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 AWG 1.94

$1.59 AWG 2.84

-32.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 AWG 5.40

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 AWG 7.18

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

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

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.45 AWG 54.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$17.12 AWG 30.64

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 AWG 7.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 AWG 44.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 AWG 2.63

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

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

$49.05 AWG 87.8

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$105 AWG 187

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$107 AWG 192

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.58 AWG 45.79

Cinema Ticket

$12.11 AWG 21.67

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

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$571 AWG 1,021

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,473 AWG 2,636

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,356 AWG 2,428

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

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Oranjestad: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $44.00 in Sint Nicolaas vs $82.0 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 1330% in total monthly costs ($139 vs $1,989 including rent). Sint Nicolaas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $209 in Sint Nicolaas and $2,983 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 $82.0 in Oranjestad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $139 per month in Sint Nicolaas versus $1,989 in Oranjestad – a 1330% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $139 in Sint Nicolaas versus $1,989 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 1330% less than in Oranjestad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.