North America · Oranjestad
Cost of living in Aruba
Aruba is 21% cheaper than the US, ranking #32 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Aruba, communication is the priciest category relative to the world (186), while restaurants & hotels is the most affordable (104).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $79,000 in Aruba.
Quality of life
Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Aruba
Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. Three main industries have since dominated the island's economy: gold mining, oil refining, and tourism. A 19th-century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening of an oil refinery in 1924. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, semi-autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Aruba expensive to live in?
Aruba is 21% cheaper than the US, ranking #32 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is communication; restaurants & hotels costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Aruba?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $79,000 in Aruba, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Aruba cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 79.2, against 100 for the United States.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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