The cost of living in Aruba continues to climb, and price hikes are felt everywhere. Dangui Oduber pointed out that the very government that promised to lower the cost of living and improve purchasing power is doing exactly the opposite.
Cost of Living in Aruba: A merciless increase MP Oduber noted that since this government took office, the cost of living has been rising month after month. Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) figures do not lie: the bestaansminimum (subsistence level) rises every time it is measured. This indicator represents the minimum income necessary for an individual or household to function with dignity in our society. It is calculated based on the cost of essential goods and services such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, and other basic needs. This serves as the most palpable proof that the cost of living is in constant increase, directly affecting every citizen’s wallet.
The impact in figures – March 2026: For a family of two adults and two children (ages 0-14), the minimum income needed to cover the basic level of living reached Afl. 5,602 per month. This is an increase of Afl. 95 compared to March 2025. This rise was driven primarily by higher costs in essential categories: food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by Afl. 71 over the course of a year, while housing increased by Afl. 14 in the same period.
The situation becomes more critical when comparing basic needs to the reality of wages. For a single adult, the subsistence level is calculated at Afl. 2,636 per month. The minimum wage is approximately Afl. 1,900. This means the minimum wage is not enough to cover an individual’s living expenses, leaving a deficit of more than Afl. 700 monthly. This confirms the Central Bank’s warning: the middle class in Aruba is disappearing.
Empty Wallets and High Prices People enter supermarkets with fear because 100 florins no longer has any value. MP Oduber emphasized that despite the promises of the AVP-Futuro government to bring relief and “refill the refrigerators,” the reality today is the total opposite. Both the Central Bank and CBS have confirmed that grocery prices have seen drastic increases. Water and electricity prices have not gone down, while the rise in gas prices and daily increases in food and drink continue to strangle the people’s wallets.
80,000 Forgotten People Nothing is being done to improve the purchasing power for those earning minimum wage or the middle class. Oduber emphasized that the Government has forgotten 80,000 people! Meanwhile, Minister Wever tells the public that there is no inflation and that no prices in Aruba have risen. MP Oduber severely criticized this position, indicating that a minister who refuses to acknowledge the “price blow” is a mandate holder totally disconnected from reality.
Surplus for the Government, Blows for the People! The subsistence level rose again in March 2026, meaning it has become even harder for families in Aruba to survive while the Government stands by with folded arms. “In a country where the Government has more than 500 million florins in surplus, it is unacceptable that so many people suffer! Prosperity has not been shared as promised!” Oduber concluded.