😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,363 in United Kingdom versus $1,070 in Aruba.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,474 in United Kingdom versus $1,775 in Aruba.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,585 in United Kingdom versus $2,479 in Aruba.
😐Living in United Kingdom is roughly 121% more expensive than Aruba on average.
📊United Kingdom (76% above) and Aruba (20% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
Aruba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.41£15.17
$15.56AWG 27.85
31.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.0£64.7
$91.8AWG 164
-5.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.13£7.53
$9.86AWG 17.65
2.74%
Cappuccino
$4.70£3.49
$4.32AWG 7.73
8.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36£1.75
$1.86AWG 3.33
26.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76£1.30
$1.69AWG 3.03
4.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.66£4.95
$3.57AWG 6.38
86.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.43£4.78
$5.19AWG 9.29
23.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
Aruba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70£1.27
$1.84AWG 3.29
-7.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63£1.21
$3.01AWG 5.38
-45.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29£1.70
$3.75AWG 6.71
-38.93%
Eggs
$4.03£2.99
$4.91AWG 8.80
-17.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.77£7.26
$22.57AWG 40.39
-56.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92£6.63
$7.32AWG 13.11
21.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.31£10.64
$13.23AWG 23.67
8.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05£2.26
$5.13AWG 9.18
-40.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61£1.19
$3.19AWG 5.70
-49.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84£2.11
$7.01AWG 12.54
-59.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.53£2.62
$6.60AWG 11.80
-46.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61£1.19
$4.01AWG 7.17
-59.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57£1.17
$2.51AWG 4.49
-37.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17£0.87
$4.09AWG 7.32
-71.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56£1.16
$2.90AWG 5.18
-46.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.03£14.89
$10.41AWG 18.64
92.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.90£8.10
$9.96AWG 17.82
9.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90£2.16
$3.44AWG 6.16
-15.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38£2.51
$4.82AWG 8.62
-29.88%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
Aruba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.17£2.35
$3.06AWG 5.47
3.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.2£70.8
$94.2AWG 169
1.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45£4.05
$19.59AWG 35.05
-72.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59£1.18
$5.10AWG 9.12
-68.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.31£20.30
$24.96AWG 44.67
9.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99£1.48
$1.46AWG 2.61
36.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K£28.1K
$25.9KAWG 46.3K
45.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K£29.9K
$34.7KAWG 62.2K
15.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
Aruba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$323£240
$220AWG 393
46.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.22£12.80
$86.0AWG 154
-79.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.23£31.39
$96.0AWG 172
-56.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
Aruba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.03£34.21
$74.3AWG 133
-38.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.67£11.65
$38.47AWG 68.8
-59.27%
Cinema Ticket
$13.48£10.02
$10.16AWG 18.19
32.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
Aruba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,713£1,274
$229AWG 410
647.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.8K£15.5K
$11.7KAWG 20.9K
78.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
Aruba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.3£67.8
$62.2AWG 111
46.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.88£33.36
$75.9AWG 136
-40.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102£75.9
$127AWG 227
-19.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104£77.3
$122AWG 218
-14.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
Aruba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,417£1,053
$811AWG 1,452
74.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,132£841
$579AWG 1,037
95.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,308£1,715
$1,556AWG 2,784
48.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,839£1,367
$1,441AWG 2,578
27.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,727£4,257
$2,233AWG 3,996
156.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,523£3,362
$1,757AWG 3,145
157.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
Aruba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,333£2,477
$2,469AWG 4,419
34.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.75
6.5
-11.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for United Kingdom: May 30, 2026
Last update for Aruba: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,265 in United Kingdom, $537 in Aruba. Capital cities: $3,019 in London vs $670 in Oranjestad.
💰National salary averages: $3,219 in United Kingdom, $2,419 in Aruba. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 136% higher in United Kingdom.
⭐Dining out costs 140% more in United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 288% more expensive in United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 33% higher in United Kingdom, giving Aruba stronger purchasing power.
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
United Kingdom vs Aruba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Aruba and United Kingdom?
At $1,400 per month in Aruba and $2,785 in United Kingdom, there's a 99% 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?
Aruba is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 United Kingdom beats 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 United Kingdom?
In Aruba, $2,500 covers most cities easily. In United Kingdom, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Aruba or United Kingdom?
It depends on what you're after. Aruba wins on affordability; United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
United Kingdom vs other spots: cost of living compared