Moving to Jamaica from Aruba

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Aruba to Jamaica — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Aruba to Jamaica, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Jamaican Patois. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Aruba and Jamaica stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

AW
1.9
JM
53.3

Aruba performs better than Jamaica across all safety metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AW
5.1t
JM
2.8t

Jamaica performs significantly better than Aruba across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AW
17.7
JM
15.0
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

AW
97.0%
JM
82.0%

Aruba performs better than Jamaica across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AW
7.7%
JM
4.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AW
$41,300
JM
$10,300

Jamaica generally does better on employment & economy, though Aruba leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AW
78.0 yrs
JM
75.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AW
12.1
JM
11.2

Aruba generally does better on family life, though Jamaica leads in infant mortality.

Data: Ministerio di Finansas, Comunicacion, Utilidad y Energia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Aruba and Jamaica. To live, work, or study long-term in Jamaica, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Jamaica's immigration authority.

Jamaica passport

Jamaica passport holder visiting Aruba

Visa Required
Jamaica passport holders need a visa to enter Aruba.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Jamaica?

With 15.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Jamaica can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Aruba and Jamaica.

Is Jamaica safe for expats?

Aruba performs better than Jamaica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Jamaica is 53.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.9 in Aruba.

What language do they speak in Jamaica?

The official languages in Jamaica are English and Jamaican Patois. In Aruba, the official languages are Dutch and Papiamento.

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At a Glance

AW JM
Population 122,320 2,818,596
Currency Aruban Florin (AWG) Jamaican Dollar (JMD)
Languages Dutch, Papiamento English, Jamaican Patois
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +297 +1
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119