Short answer: Aruba sits in the middle of the pack, not the bargain end of the Caribbean, but not the most expensive either. Here's where that reputation actually comes from.
Almost everything is imported
Aruba is a small desert island with limited agriculture, so most food, drink and retail goods arrive by boat or plane. That pushes grocery and restaurant prices above what you'd pay on a larger, more self-sufficient island.
It's still cheaper than the most exclusive islands
Compared to islands built around ultra-luxury tourism, Aruba is noticeably more accessible. There's a wide range of hotel categories, plenty of free or low-cost beaches, and tour operators (including us) that compete on value rather than assuming guests won't compare prices.
Where the real savings are
Booking activities directly with local operators instead of through resort concierge desks or third-party resellers is usually the single biggest way to save on excursions. It also tends to get you a more accurate answer about what a trip actually includes.
Book direct, skip the markup
See how we price our tours and where the savings actually come from.