Aruba is a tourist island with a higher cost of living than most Caribbean islands. Students want honest information about what it actually costs to live there as a student, what the social life is like outside of studying, and how safe the island feels day to day.
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hey everyone, i’ve been doing a lot of research on UMHS and the Aruba campus and i can’t find honest day to day info anywhere. all the school’s marketing shows beaches and sunshine but like what does it actually cost to live there month to month as a student? is the island safe to move around? and is there any kind of social life or is it just studying 24/7 on a tiny island? would really appreciate hearing from people who actually lived there.
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i lived in oranjestad for two semesters so i can give you a pretty real picture. rent is the biggest shock. a decent one bedroom or a shared apartment near the school runs you anywhere from 900 to 1400 usd a month depending on how close you are to eagle beach or the city center. groceries are expensive because almost everything is imported. i was spending around 300 to 400 a month just on food if i cooked most meals at home. eating out adds up fast because aruba is priced for tourists not students. all in i was budgeting around 2200 to 2500 a month just to live comfortably, not lavishly.
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wow 2200 to 2500 is more than i expected honestly. Is that on top of tuition or does the school help with any housing subsidies? and did you find roommates through the school or on your own?