Cost of Living Comparison Between Spain and ArubaCost of Living Comparison Between Spain and Aruba
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,686 in Spain versus $1,068 in Aruba.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,489 in Spain versus $1,835 in Aruba.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,291 in Spain versus $2,602 in Aruba.
🌍Living in Spain is roughly 58% more expensive than in Aruba on average.
📊Spain (23% above) and Aruba (22% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Aruba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.13€14.94
$18.71AWG 33.48
-8.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2€49.89
$89.0AWG 159
-35.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.60€10.11
$9.83AWG 17.58
18.01%
Cappuccino
$2.40€2.09
$4.71AWG 8.43
-49.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73€2.38
$2.14AWG 3.84
27.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89€1.65
$1.81AWG 3.23
4.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.57€3.11
$5.61AWG 10.03
-36.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.45
$7.63AWG 13.65
-48.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Aruba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26€1.09
$1.84AWG 3.29
-31.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54€1.34
$3.01AWG 5.38
-48.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63€1.42
$3.41AWG 6.10
-52.20%
Eggs
$3.44€3.00
$4.81AWG 8.60
-28.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.42€12.57
$12.84AWG 22.98
12.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.89€7.75
$7.42AWG 13.28
19.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.49€14.38
$11.93AWG 21.34
38.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49€2.17
$4.86AWG 8.69
-48.77%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13€1.86
$2.74AWG 4.90
-22.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22€1.94
$6.27AWG 11.21
-64.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.22
$5.18AWG 9.27
-50.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81€1.57
$3.41AWG 6.11
-46.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.74
$2.03AWG 3.63
-1.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.17
$2.88AWG 5.15
-53.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76€0.66
$2.39AWG 4.28
-68.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91€6.02
$9.80AWG 17.54
-29.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.98
$9.91AWG 17.74
-42.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.15
$4.61AWG 8.25
-71.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$4.44AWG 7.95
-52.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Aruba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71€1.49
$2.57AWG 4.59
-33.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.14€30.63
$93.3AWG 167
-62.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.66€4.06
$19.44AWG 34.78
-76.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54€1.35
$3.92AWG 7.01
-60.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.59€22.30
$21.77AWG 38.95
17.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76€1.54
$2.24AWG 4.02
-21.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K€31.6K
$26.0KAWG 46.5K
39.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K€26.3K
$34.7KAWG 62.1K
-12.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Aruba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155€135
$231AWG 413
-32.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.12€15.79
$86.1AWG 154
-78.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.66€28.47
$99.9AWG 179
-67.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Aruba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.15€40.23
$77.8AWG 139
-40.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.65€13.64
$38.00AWG 68.0
-58.82%
Cinema Ticket
$10.01€8.72
$9.89AWG 17.69
1.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Aruba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$560€488
$233AWG 418
140.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K€9,354
$11.6KAWG 20.7K
-7.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Aruba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1€75.9
$67.9AWG 122
28.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.45€33.51
$77.1AWG 138
-50.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.9€80.1
$128AWG 230
-28.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108€94.4
$124AWG 221
-12.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Aruba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,042€908
$976AWG 1,746
6.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$814€709
$1,031AWG 1,845
-21.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,627€1,419
$2,637AWG 4,718
-38.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$2,580AWG 4,617
-51.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,718
$2,211AWG 3,957
92.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,607€2,272
$1,710AWG 3,060
52.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Aruba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,046€1,783
$2,526AWG 4,521
-19.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.29
6.25
-47.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: September 14, 2026
Last update for Aruba: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $932 in Spain, $543 in Aruba. Capital cities: $1,567 in Madrid vs $935 in Oranjestad.
💰National salary averages: $2,029 in Spain, $2,393 in Aruba. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 72% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 55% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 35% more expensive in Spain.
⭐Salaries are 18% higher in Aruba, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Aruba.
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
Spain vs Aruba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Aruba and Spain?
At $1,190 per month in Aruba and $1,821 in Spain, there's a 53% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Aruba: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Spain is consistently higher than in Aruba across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Aruba or in Spain?
In Aruba, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in Spain it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Aruba or to Spain?
It depends on what you're after: Aruba wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.