Cost of Living Comparison Between Upper Marlboro, MD and Aruba Cost of Living Comparison Between Upper Marlboro, MD and Aruba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,607 in Upper Marlboro, MD versus $2,375 in Aruba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,018 in Upper Marlboro, MD versus $4,239 in Aruba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,430 in Upper Marlboro, MD versus $6,104 in Aruba.

Living in Upper Marlboro, MD is roughly 10% more expensive than in Aruba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Upper Marlboro, MD 89% above, Aruba 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.39 $22.39

$14.47 AWG 25.89

54.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.7 $88.7

$89.3 AWG 160

-0.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.52 AWG 18.82

-3.71%

Cappuccino

$6.05 $6.05

$5.13 AWG 9.19

17.93%

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

$2.82 $2.82

$2.35 AWG 4.20

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.18 AWG 3.91

16.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.05 $10.05

$5.16 AWG 9.23

94.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.85 $9.85

$7.01 AWG 12.55

40.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.61 AWG 2.87

-18.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.52 $4.52

$2.86 AWG 5.12

58.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.93 $6.93

$3.02 AWG 5.41

129.47%

Eggs

$5.92 $5.92

$3.75 AWG 6.72

57.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.63 $16.63

$13.72 AWG 24.56

21.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.29 $16.29

$4.23 AWG 7.56

285.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.69 $18.69

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.99 AWG 3.56

-17.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

Tomato (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

Potato (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.14 $14.14

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.98 $4.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.54 AWG 4.55

-19.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 $3.89

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.35 $25.35

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$2.46 AWG 4.40

-57.32%

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

$36.6K $36.6K

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

$27.0K $27.0K

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

$161 $161

$234 AWG 418

-31.01%

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

$80.6 $80.6

$130 AWG 233

-38.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.3 $77.3

$84.0 AWG 150

-7.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.77 $41.77

Cinema Ticket

$17.08 $17.08

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

$2,277 $2,277

$305 AWG 545

647.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.7K $41.7K

$17.6K AWG 31.5K

136.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.74 $47.74

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.77 $35.77

$65.1 AWG 117

-45.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 $106

$119 AWG 212

-10.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 $1,416

$660 AWG 1,182

114.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,165 $1,165

$1,372 AWG 2,456

-15.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,476 $2,476

$3,200 AWG 5,728

-22.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,135 $2,135

$4,004 AWG 7,167

-46.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,801 $2,801

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,065 $2,065

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,125 $8,125

$1,932 AWG 3,458

320.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Upper Marlboro, MD: September 7, 2026

Last update for Aruba: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,416 in Upper Marlboro, MD and $660 in Aruba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Upper Marlboro, MD pays 321% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $89.0 in Upper Marlboro, MD vs $89.0 in Aruba. Groceries flip the comparison at $481 vs $146, with Aruba cheaper for home cooking.

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

Upper Marlboro, MD vs Aruba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Upper Marlboro, MD and Aruba differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,607 vs $2,375 including rent). Aruba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 321% higher in Upper Marlboro, MD, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,416 in Upper Marlboro, MD versus $660 in Aruba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 230% higher in Upper Marlboro, MD. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,607 per month in Upper Marlboro, MD versus $2,375 in Aruba – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,375 in Aruba versus $2,607 in Upper Marlboro, MD, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Aruba but tight or insufficient in Upper Marlboro, MD. The gap between the two cities makes Aruba 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, Upper Marlboro, MD and Aruba 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 Aruba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Upper Marlboro, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.