Emigrating from Netherlands to Aruba: tax and cost of living

Compared by dimension

On an average Netherlands income of €54,000 gross per year, you keep €45,913 net in Aruba: a difference of €4,791 per year compared with Netherlands.

• Tax: on this income Aruba lands at an effective rate of about 15%, against 24% in Netherlands.
• Passport and mobility: from Aruba you travel visa-free to 185 countries.
• Residency: on our accessibility scale Aruba scores 80 out of 100 for obtaining residency.
• Living environment: banking, internet, safety and healthcare together give Aruba a living-environment score of 73 out of 100.

The tax regime in Aruba

Income tax is progressive with bands of 0, 21, 42 and 52 percent on table income. Employee premiums AOV/AWW (5 percent) and AZV (1.6 percent) are deducted from gross salary first, both up to a premium income of AWG 85,000, then the AWG 30,000 personal allowance. Profit tax is 22 percent and the stacked turnover tax (BBO, BAZV and BAVP) is 7 percent in total. There is no wealth or capital gains tax, but inheritance and gift tax still apply.

Residency and visas in Aruba

Residency runs through the Admission and Expulsion Ordinance; even Dutch nationals from Europe need admission. Permits exist for work, family reunification, retirees and investors. Naturalisation to Dutch citizenship generally requires five years of legal residence.

Frequently asked questions

What is the financial difference between Netherlands and Aruba?

On an average Netherlands income it differs by roughly €4,791 net per year. Your own figure depends on your income and situation; calculate it with the free freedom check.

Is this tax advice?

No. Libaros compares on the basis of primary government sources and provides information. For personal decisions, consult a qualified adviser.

What sources is this based on?

The Freedom Score uses the OECD Tax Database, IATA Timatic, the Henley Visa Index and Eurostat, with direct links to primary government sources.