Moving to Aruba from Barbados
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Barbados to Aruba — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Barbados to Aruba, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch and Papiamento. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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Key Indicator Comparison
How Barbados and Aruba stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Aruba performs significantly better than Barbados across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Barbados performs better than Aruba across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
Barbados performs better than Aruba across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Aruba generally does better on employment & economy, though Barbados leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Barbados performs better than Aruba across all family life metrics.
Data: Ministry of Finance, Barbados, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Barbados and Aruba. To live, work, or study long-term in Aruba, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Aruba's immigration authority.
Barbados passport holder visiting Aruba
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Aruba?
With 17.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Aruba can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Barbados and Aruba.
Is Aruba safe for expats?
Aruba performs significantly better than Barbados across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Aruba is 1.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 15.3 in Barbados.
What language do they speak in Aruba?
The official languages in Aruba are Dutch and Papiamento. In Barbados, the official language is English.
