Which place is cheaper, Oranjestad or Riga?
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 Riga or Oranjestad?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Oranjestad? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Riga or Oranjestad?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
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Riga Prices
Latvia PricesOranjestad Prices
Aruba Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €122Oranjestad €290
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €122, while the average daily cost in Oranjestad is €290. 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 Riga and Oranjestad in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €52Oranjestad €162
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €104Oranjestad €324
Compare Hotels in Riga and Oranjestad
Looking for a hotel in Riga 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: Riga Hotel Prices and Oranjestad Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €9.63Oranjestad €30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga City by Minibus: $124
- Departure Private Transfer Riga City to Riga Airport RIX by Minibus: $124
- Departure Private Transfer Riga City to Riga Airport RIX by Minivan: $53
- Departure Transfer from Riga to Riga Airport RIX by Car or Van: $72
- From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $164
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn: $563
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $503
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $468
- Jurmala Airport Transfer service and Riga - Jurmala transfers: $65
- Private Transfer from Riga Cruise Port to Riga Airport (RIX): $59
- Private Transfer from Riga International Airport RIX to Riga City: $38
- Private Transfer from Riga to Baltics: $266
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€1.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad:
- Aruba: Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $22
- Reina Beatrix Airport: Round-Trip Shared Transfer: $22
- Aruba (AUA) : Airport Private Transfer to Aruba City: $38
- Private Round-Trip Transfer from Aruba Airport to Hotel: $68
- Aruba Oranjestad Queen Airport (AUA): Transfer to island: $131
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Oranjestad?
Prices for flights to both Oranjestad and Riga 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 dayRiga €57Oranjestad €93
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Traditional Food Tour in a Small Group: $41
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $53
- Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $70
- Exclusive Igloo for Lunches, Dinners and Events: $71
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $129
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $129
- Latvian Art Museum, Dinner, and Black Balsam Tasting: $210
- Pizza Making Master Class in Riga: $249
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $252
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.Riga €14Oranjestad €78
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- Canal Boat Tour with Welcome Drink & Audio Guide: $8.21
- Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads: $8.21
- Medieval Quest Experience: $8.27
- Panorama Riga Observation Deck Ticket: $9.38
- Old Town Electrobus Tour + Audio Guide & Drink: $9.38
- Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Welcome Drink: $10
- Rowing boats and Pedal boat rental - River Cruises Latvia: $11
- Riga Panorama trip – Golden Autumn | River Cruises Latvia: $11
- Riga Golden Autumn Canal & River Cruise | River Cruises LV: $11
- Audio Tour of Riga Old Town: $12
- Old Riga Walking Tour: Legends & Hidden Gems, 1 hour: $12
- Canal Boat Sightseeing Tour With Audio guide: $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€60
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Golf€107
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Kayak & Snorkeling Tour€85
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 dayRiga €20Oranjestad €27
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $21
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $36
- Riga Pub Crawl: $41
- Latvian Brewery Visit & 5 Beer tasting: $47
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
- Game Night & Pub Crawl: $52
- Latvian Brewery Visit and Beer Tasting: $53
- Prosecco Bike & Pub Crawl: $65
- Riga Brewery Tour: $76
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $94
- Riga Sip and Paint Experience with Latvian Wine Tasting: $101
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Oranjestad, we can see that Oranjestad is more expensive. And not only is Riga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Riga 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 Riga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Riga 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 Riga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Oranjestad Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Oranjestad?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Oranjestad. When comparing the sizes of Riga 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.