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: $135 in Sint Nicolaas versus $1,960 in Oranjestad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $336 in Sint Nicolaas versus $3,168 in Oranjestad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $537 in Sint Nicolaas versus $4,376 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 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.34 AWG 29.25

$19.09 AWG 34.16

-14.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.76 AWG 78.3

$81.0 AWG 145

-45.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.11 AWG 18.09

Cappuccino

$3.74 AWG 6.69

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

$1.43 AWG 2.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 AWG 1.93

$1.59 AWG 2.85

-32.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 AWG 5.25

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 AWG 7.20

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 AWG 3.31

White Bread (500g)

$2.93 AWG 5.25

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.84 AWG 5.08

Eggs

$5.36 AWG 9.60

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 AWG 22.31

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.18 AWG 16.42

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.28 AWG 21.98

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 AWG 8.35

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 AWG 4.00

Oranges (1kg)

$4.89 AWG 8.75

Tomato (1kg)

$3.41 AWG 6.10

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 AWG 4.09

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 AWG 3.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 AWG 4.73

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 AWG 2.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.82 AWG 17.58

Wine (Bottle)

$9.80 AWG 17.55

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.04 AWG 7.23

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 AWG 8.01

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.21 AWG 3.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.90 AWG 53.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 AWG 30.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.81 AWG 6.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.91 AWG 44.59

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 AWG 2.74

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

$26.2K AWG 46.8K

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

$35.9K AWG 64.3K

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

$249 AWG 446

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

$48.19 AWG 86.2

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$105 AWG 187

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 AWG 193

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.44 AWG 45.52

Cinema Ticket

$12.16 AWG 21.76

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

$246 AWG 440

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,439 AWG 15.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 AWG 108

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 AWG 90.6

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 AWG 198

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 AWG 182

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$686 AWG 1,227

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$561 AWG 1,005

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,458 AWG 2,610

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 AWG 2,422

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,256 AWG 4,037

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,704 AWG 3,049

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,749 AWG 3,131

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Oranjestad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $44.00 in Sint Nicolaas vs $81.0 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 1348% in total monthly costs ($135 vs $1,960 including rent). Sint Nicolaas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $203 in Sint Nicolaas and $2,940 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 $81.0 in Oranjestad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $135 per month in Sint Nicolaas versus $1,960 in Oranjestad – a 1348% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $135 in Sint Nicolaas versus $1,960 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 1348% less than in Oranjestad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.