Which place is cheaper, Oranjestad or Amsterdam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Amsterdam or Oranjestad?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Amsterdam or Oranjestad, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Amsterdam or Oranjestad?
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that cross and weave around the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The historical architecture, scenic bridges, and energetic cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
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Amsterdam Prices
Netherlands PricesOranjestad Prices
Aruba Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmsterdam €211Oranjestad €287
The average daily cost (per person) in Amsterdam is €211, while the average daily cost in Oranjestad is €287. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Amsterdam and Oranjestad in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmsterdam €102Oranjestad €160
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmsterdam €204Oranjestad €320
Compare Hotels in Amsterdam and Oranjestad
Looking for a hotel in Amsterdam or Oranjestad? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Amsterdam Hotel Prices and Oranjestad Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amsterdam €20Oranjestad €30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
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Ride on Tram€3.20
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Renting a Bike€15
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One Hour Canal Cruise€10
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Single Day Transit Pass€2.60
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Transit Pass to Amsterdam Airport€3.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Airport Amsterdam to Amsterdam : $150
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Noordwijk: $140
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Utrecht: $271
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Zaandam: $116
- AMS Schiphol Airport VIP Meet and Assist Pickup (with Hotel Private Transfer): $210
- Airport Private Transfer: Schiphol Airport ↔ Amsterdam City: $150
- Airport Transfer Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam City: $138
- Airport Transfer: Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport AMS by Luxury Car: $131
- Airport Transfer: Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport AMS by Luxury Van: $107
- Airport Transfer: Schiphol Airport AMS to Amsterdam by Luxury Van: $107
- Airport or Port transfer Business Class (private car service) : $186
- Airport or Port transfer First Class (private car service) : $271
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Oranjestad
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Oranjestad:
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Round-trip Bus Ticket€1.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad:
- Aruba (AUA) : Airport Private Transfer to Aruba City: $38
- Aruba Oranjestad Queen Airport (AUA): Transfer to island: $131
- Aruba: Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $22
- Private Round-Trip Transfer from Aruba Airport to Hotel: $68
- Reina Beatrix Airport: Round-Trip Shared Transfer: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Amsterdam or Oranjestad?
Prices for flights to both Oranjestad and Amsterdam change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAmsterdam €80Oranjestad €93
Typical Food Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
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Afternoon Tea€6.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood : $11
- Stroopwafel & Secrets: Amsterdam Street Food Tour de Pijp : $42
- Bike Rental and Dinner or Lunch: $52
- Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket & VIP Dinner at Hard Rock Café: $61
- 3-course Dinner in the Dark Amsterdam: $63
- 3-course dinner party at a secret pop-up restaurant: $72
- Bens Local Food Tour - 8 Tastings: $78
- Amsterdam Music Tour with Dinner: $86
- Small-Group Guided Sunset Canoe Tour in Waterland with Dinner: $94
- Dutch Food Tour with local guide: $94
- Amsterdam-West Food Tour with local guide: $102
- Dinner Canal Cruise 4-Courses Including Drinks: $107
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oranjestad
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Oranjestad.
- Aruba: Sip and Savor Local Food Tour: $95
- Oranjesta: Sunset Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amsterdam €37Oranjestad €78
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two tickets to the Houseboat Museum€6.00
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Entry for two to the Anne Frank House€17
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- The Anne Frank Tour Amsterdam: $3.59
- The Classic Walking Tour of Amsterdam | 2 Hours with a Local: $3.59
- Bill's Bike Tour - Rent a Flower Bike in Amsterdam: $5.00
- Amsterdam Tour through its most famous Icons: $6.01
- Amsterdam Center Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $6.45
- Amsterdam (Museum Quarter) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $6.45
- Red Light District Amsterdam Tour with Audioguide: $8.40
- Amsterdam Interactive City Tour: $8.42
- WW2 Jewish & Anne Frank Amsterdam Smartphone Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Amsterdam's Red Light District: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Old A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Volendam Marken Express Boat Cruise: $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Oranjestad
Here are a few typical costs in Oranjestad for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Full Day Bike Rental€21
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Horseback Riding Tour€59
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Golf€106
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Kayak & Snorkeling Tour€84
Tours and Activities in Oranjestad
Here are a few actual costs in Oranjestad for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Aruba: Guided Countryside Exploration Tour: $45
- 3-Hour Aruba Highlights Guided Tour: $49
- Half-Day Aruba Island Tour with Top Attractions: $55
- Meet the Animals of Aruba Tour: $57
- Aruba: Beach Hopping Snorkeling Tour: $57
- Aruba Arikok National Park Hiking Tour: $57
- Discover the Island of Aruba: 4-Hour Bus Tour & Snorkel: $59
- Full-Day Aruba History and Landmarks Tour: $69
- Aruba Downtown Historic And Cultural Walking Tour: $75
- Latin/Caribbean Party Bus Night Tour & Karaoke: $85
- Aruba: Natural Pool, Caves & Baby Beach Jeep Adventure: $89
- Aruba: Northcoast UTV Afternoon Adventure: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmsterdam €24Oranjestad €26
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Original Amsterdam Pub Crawl: $29
- City Centre Bar Crawl and Nightlife Experience: $30
- Amsterdam Craft Beer Brewery Tour by Bus with Tastings : $78
- New Year's Eve Pub Crawl With Optional Club Entrance: $84
- Dutch Wine Tasting Experience: $141
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amsterdam and Oranjestad, we can see that Oranjestad is more expensive. And not only is Amsterdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amsterdam is in Europe and Oranjestad is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Amsterdam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Amsterdam and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Oranjestad would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oranjestad than you might in Amsterdam.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amsterdam Expensive? and Is Oranjestad Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amsterdam or Oranjestad?
Amsterdam has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Oranjestad. When comparing the sizes of Amsterdam and Oranjestad, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.