Budget · Aruba
Aruba on a budget
What a trip to Aruba really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: SIryn, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Aruba is expensive for most international visitors. Budget roughly $100–$160 per person per day on a tight budget, $250–$400 mid-range and $600–$1,300 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in September–October.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $100–$160 a day
- Mid-range
- $250–$400 a day
- Luxury
- $600–$1,300 a day
- Local currency
- AWG
- Free sights
- 9
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $100–$160 | $300–$480 | $500–$800 | $700–$1,120 |
| Mid-range | $250–$400 | $750–$1,200 | $1,250–$2,000 | $1,750–$2,800 |
| Luxury | $600–$1,300 | $1,800–$3,900 | $3,000–$6,500 | $4,200–$9,100 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Aruba, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Arubus single ride | about US$2.50–$3 |
| Pastechi from a snack bar | about US$1.50–$3 |
| Balashi beer at a beach bar | about US$5–$8 |
| Fried fish lunch at Zeerovers | about US$12–$25 per person |
| Mid-range dinner, main course | about US$30–$50 |
| Taxi from the airport to Palm Beach | about US$30–$40 |
| Half-day catamaran snorkel cruise | about US$70–$120 |
Money-saving tips
- Visit from May to September, outside the winter season, for noticeably lower hotel rates.
- Stay in an apartment in Noord or Oranjestad and self-cater with supermarket shopping to cut costs.
- Eat at Zeerovers, snack bars and food trucks rather than hotel restaurants for local prices.
- Use Arubus along the hotel coast instead of taxis; the buses are frequent and inexpensive.
- Beaches are all public and free, so you do not need to pay for a beach club to enjoy the best sand.
- Check bills for an included service charge before adding a tip.
Free things to do
- Eagle Beach — A broad, powder-white beach with gentle surf and plenty of room, Eagle Beach is the island's signature stretch of sand.
- Palm Beach — Palm Beach has calm, shallow water in front of the high-rise hotels, with piers for catamaran and snorkel cruises and stalls renting paddleboards and jet skis.
- Baby Beach — A shallow, almost enclosed lagoon at the island's southeastern tip, Baby Beach has waist-deep turquoise water ideal for small children.
- Boca Catalina and Tres Trapi — These two small coves between Palm Beach and Arashi are the easiest shore-snorkelling spots on the island, with calm water, coral patches and reef fish a few metres from the shore.
- Mangel Halto — Mangrove channels and a shallow lagoon on the south coast near Pos Chiquito give sheltered snorkelling and kayaking, with a reef beyond the drop-off for more experienced swimmers.
- Alto Vista Chapel — A small yellow chapel on a hill above the north coast, rebuilt in 1952 on the site of the island's first Catholic church from the 18th century.
Where to stay on a budget
$$$ · Best for budget, shopping and culture
Oranjestad
The capital's pastel Dutch-style buildings, cruise terminal and harbour-front shops
$$ · Best for budget, families and quiet stays
Noord
Residential district inland from Palm Beach with apartments, supermarkets and local restaurants
$$ · Best for quiet stays, food lovers and couples
Savaneta
Old fishing village on the south coast with mangrove lagoons and the Zeerovers fish shack
Eating well for less
- Pastechi — Snack bars and bakeries across the island, especially in the morning.
- Pan bati — Served with fish dishes at local restaurants and at Zeerovers in Savaneta.
- Pika di papaya — On the table at most local restaurants; bottled versions sell in supermarkets.
- Croquettes and bitterballen — Snack bars, beach bars and Dutch-style cafés in Oranjestad and Palm Beach.
- Late-night food trucks — Truck parks and roadside spots in Oranjestad and near the hotel areas, mostly in the evening.
Getting around for less
Aruba is small: Oranjestad to Palm Beach is about 15 minutes by car and the island's southeastern tip about 40 minutes. Public buses cover the hotel coast well, but a rental car or jeep for a day or two is the easiest way to see Arikok, the north coast and Baby Beach.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Aruba cost?
About $1,250–$2,000 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $500–$800 on a tight budget.
+Is Aruba expensive?
It is expensive for international visitors. Visit from May to September, outside the winter season, for noticeably lower hotel rates.
+How much money do I need per day in Aruba?
Roughly $100–$160 on a budget and $250–$400 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Aruba?
Usually in September–October.