Essentials
- City
- Noord, Aruba
- Population
- Approx. 21,500
- Internet Speed
- Average 100 Mbps (Fiber available via SETAR)
- Currency & Banking
- Aruban Florin (AWG), fixed to USD at 1.79. 1 USD ≈ 1.79 AWG. USD accepted everywhere.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (World-class quality from Balashi desalination plant)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B (North American standard)
- SIM Card
- SETAR or Digicel (Approx. $35 for 10GB data)
- Banking for Expats
- Aruba Bank, RBC Royal Bank; Cards widely accepted (Visa/Mastercard)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, VRBO, and local property managers like Aruba Happy Rentals
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards accepted widely; cash only needed for small local buses
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Casibari Properties (Starting at $1,500/month for studios)
- Budget Accommodation
- Aruba Harmony Apartments (Approx. $85/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Palm Beach (High-rise hotel area, walking distance to everything)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Alto Vista or Bubali (Quieter, more residential, better value)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Green Zone Coworking (Palm Beach Plaza, $25/day or $300/month)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Island Yoga Cafe ($5-15 for bowls/coffee, excellent Wi-Fi and power outlets)
- Networking Events
- ATECH Conference (Annual tech event); Aruba Chamber of Commerce seminars
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Aruba Facebook Group; Friday night mixers at Moomba Beach
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Aruba Taxi (Official app); No Uber/Bolt. Minimum fare approx. $10
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Green Bike Aruba ($15 for 24 hours); Wheels 2 Go (Scooters approx. $45/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Palm Beach (Walking distance); Arashi Beach (5 min drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Aruba Airlines
- Top International Airline
- American Airlines, JetBlue, KLM
- Highway Access
- Route 1 (Main highway connecting Noord to Oranjestad and San Nicolas)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Arubus Terminal Oranjestad (10 min from Noord)
- Public Transport Passes
- Arubus Smart Card ($10-20 top-up; single ride approx. $2.50)
- Regional Travel
- Arubus (Lines 10, 10A, 10B connect Noord to the capital)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Dr. Horacio E. Oduber Hospital (Located in Oranjestad, 8 min from Noord)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Island Yoga (Founded by Rachel Brathen, $20 per class)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Next Level Gym (Palm Beach, $60/month); Body Zone ($15 day pass)
- Laundry Services
- Quickie Lickie Laundromat (Bubali, $15 for wash/dry/fold service)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Food-Aruba.com or Thuisbezorgd.aw
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Keshi Yena (Stuffed cheese ball, approx. $22 at local eateries)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Eduardo’s Beach Shack (Palm Beach, $12 Acai bowls)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Gelatissimo (Palm Beach, $6 for handmade gelato)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Super Food Plaza (Bubali) - massive selection and fair prices
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Bol.com (via forwarders) or Boolchand's for electronics
- Grocery Delivery
- Super Food Plaza Online Ordering; Groceries To Go Aruba
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Lazy Turtle and Gusto Nightclub (Palm Beach area)
- Local Brewery
- Balashi Brewery (Tours available for approx. $20)
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Room (near Noord, over 80 wines by the glass)
- Street Food Stalls
- Chalo's Grill (Noord, $10-15 BBQ platters)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Gianni's Ristorante Italiano (Palm Beach, high-end pasta)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- California Lighthouse (Entry $5)
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Archaeological Museum (Oranjestad, free admission)
- Historical Sites
- Alto Vista Chapel (Historic pilgrimage site, free)
- Religious Sites
- St. Anna's Church (Noord, historic 18th-century structure)
- Annual Events
- Aruba Carnival (February/March); Hi-Winds Windsurfing Event (July)
- Cultural Districts
- San Nicolas Mural District (30 min drive from Noord)
- Theater Venues
- Cas di Cultura (Aruba's National Theater in Oranjestad)
- Local Markets
- Local Market Noord (Next to Courtyard by Marriott)
- Music Scene
- Sopranos Piano Bar (Palm Beach, nightly live music)
- Street Art
- Palm Beach Village murals
- Cooking Classes
- Aruba Local Cooking Classes (organized via private chefs in Noord)
- Art Galleries
- Etnia Nativa (Art and heritage tour/gallery by appointment)
- Historic Buildings
- Old Dutch Windmill (De Olde Molen, relocated from NL)
- Local Heritage
- Papiamento language and colonial Dutch architectural influences
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bubali Bird Sanctuary (Free, overlooks wetlands)
- National Parks Nearby
- Arikok National Park ($15 entrance fee, 20 min drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Palm Beach Boardwalk (Fitness trail along the coastline)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Casibari Rock Formations (Panaromic island views, free)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Bubali Plas (Observation tower available)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Prohibited on beaches without a specific permit from DOW
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Post Aruba; DHL Noord Office
- Tech Repair Services
- Boolchand’s (Technical support for Apple/Windows)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Centro Deportivo Betico Croes (Local sports hall)
- Language Classes
- Enseñansa pa Trabao (Papiamento and Dutch courses)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Nacional Aruba (Oranjestad, 10 min drive)
- Community Centers
- Centro di Bario Noord
- Gaming Lounges
- The Arcade at Palm Beach Plaza
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Stellaris Casino (Marriott Resort, Palm Beach)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $192,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $140,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $270,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $192,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $336,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $240,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 22% (Standard rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% (Can be reduced under tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Resident-based taxation (Worldwide income); non-residents taxed on local income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 52%
- VAT
- 7% (Sales tax known as BBO/BAVP/BAZV)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules, but general anti-abuse provisions apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, ranging from 0.4% to 0.6% of value over $67k deduction
- Property Transaction Tax
- Land transfer tax (Overdrachtsbelasting) of 3% or 6% depending on value
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- One Happy Workation program (90-day visa-free stay for remote workers)