Essentials
- City
- Oranjestad, Aruba
- Population
- 35,000
- Internet Speed
- 60-100 Mbps on SETAR Fiber
- Currency & Banking
- Aruban Florin (AWG), fixed at 1.79 AWG to 1 USD. USD is accepted everywhere.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (World-class desalination plant)
- Power
- 127V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B (US Standard)
- SIM Card
- SETAR or Digicel (approx. $30 for 10GB)
- Banking for Expats
- Aruba Bank, RBC Royal Bank; Revolut/Wise work for ATMs
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, BlueAruba Rentals, Perle d'Or
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards widely accepted; cash needed for small vendors/buses
- Short Term Rentals
- Wacamaya Apartments, Karibu Aruba (starting $1,500/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- Pista Q Hostel ($45/night), Hostel Room Aruba ($35/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Eagle Beach or Palm Beach (high-rise district)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Oranjestad East or Ponton (quieter, more residential, better value)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Hub Aruba (Sasaki Weg), $25/day or $300/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Santos Coffee with Soul (Manchebo), Island Grind
- Networking Events
- Atech Conference (Annual tech summit), Aru-Networking meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Aruba Facebook Group, Happy Hours at Renaissance Marketplace
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Aruba Taxi App (Official rates apply, no Uber/Lyft)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Green Bike Aruba ($15/day), Wheels 2 Go
- Best Beach Nearby
- Surfside Beach (Walking distance from Oranjestad center)
- Top Regional Airline
- Aruba Airlines, Divi Divi Air
- Top International Airline
- American Airlines, JetBlue, KLM
- Highway Access
- Route 1 (Main island artery connecting north to south)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Arubus Terminal (Zoutmanstraat)
- Public Transport Passes
- Arubus Smart Card ($5 for 2 rides, day pass $10)
- Regional Travel
- Arubus (Lines 10, 1, 7) covers the entire west coast
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Dr. Horacio E. Oduber Hospital (Sasaki Weg)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Island Yoga (Noord), Happy Buddha Aruba
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Body & Soul Fitness ($12 day pass), Life Duty Fitness
- Laundry Services
- Quickie Lickie Laundromat (Multiple locations, $2/lb)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Food-Aruba.com, Bento
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Keshi Yena (Stuffed cheese ball)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- One Happy Bowl (Renaissance Marketplace), Eduardo’s Beach Shack
- Best Dessert Spots
- Hopi Bon (Shaved ice), Bright Bakery
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Super Food Plaza, Ling & Sons Food Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Bula Aruba, Amazon (International shipping to freight forwarders)
- Grocery Delivery
- GroceriesToGo Aruba
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Renaissance Marketplace and Weststraat
- Local Brewery
- Balashi Brewery (Behemoth local lager)
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Room (LG Smith Blvd)
- Street Food Stalls
- Lola Taqueria, Local snack trucks near Surfside
- Popular International Cuisine
- Yemanja Woodfired Grill, Barefoot Restaurant
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- California Lighthouse, Bushiribana Ruins
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Archaeological Museum Aruba
- Historical Sites
- Fort Zoutman (Aruba's oldest building)
- Religious Sites
- Alto Vista Chapel
- Annual Events
- Aruba Carnival (February/March), Soul Beach Music Festival
- Cultural Districts
- San Nicolas (Art Capital/Murals district - 20 mins away)
- Theater Venues
- Cas di Cultura
- Local Markets
- Local Market across from Cruise Terminal
- Music Scene
- Live Jazz at The Sopranos Piano Bar
- Street Art
- San Nicolas Mural Walk
- Cooking Classes
- Cosecha Aruba (Workshops)
- Art Galleries
- Etnia Nativa (Appointment only)
- Historic Buildings
- Stadhuis (City Hall)
- Local Heritage
- Papiamento Language
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bubali Bird Sanctuary
- National Parks Nearby
- Arikok National Park (20% of the island)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Linear Park (Coastal trail from Oranjestad to Airport)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Hooiberg (Haystack Mountain) stairs
- Birdwatching Locations
- Bubali Plas
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally discouraged; use designated BBQ pits at Arashi Beach
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Post Aruba, DHL Express
- Tech Repair Services
- SETAR Store, Digicel Center
- Table Tennis Spots
- Aruba Table Tennis Association (Dakota)
- Language Classes
- Enseñansa pa Empleo (Papiamento/Dutch courses)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Nacional Aruba
- Community Centers
- Centro di Bario Playa Pabao
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Luck Aruba
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Wind Creek Crystal Casino, Seaport Casino
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,800/m² ($192,000 for 40m²)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,500/m² ($140,000 for 40m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,500/m² ($270,000 for 60m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,200/m² ($192,000 for 60m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,200/m² ($336,000 for 80m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,000/m² ($240,000 for 80m²)
- Corporate Tax
- 22%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents; One Happy Workation program offers simplified entry
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 52%
- VAT
- 7% BBO/BAVP/BAZV tax
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, standard Dutch-based alignment
- Property Tax
- Annual Land Tax (Grondbelasting) approx 0.4% of value
- Property Transaction Tax
- 3% to 6% Transfer Tax (Overdrachtsbelasting)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- One Happy Workation allows 90-day stays (extendable to 180) with minimal local tax liability for remote workers.