Freedom Score
Emigrating from Serbia to Aruba: tax and cost of living
How does Aruba score against Serbia? The Freedom Score weighs six dimensions, built on primary government sources.
AWG 30,000 tax-free allowance · Dutch Caribbean · No capital gains tax
Tax
81/100
Residency
80/100
Cost of living
9/100
Living environment
73/100
Mobility
79/100
Ownership
85/100
Compared by dimension
On an average Serbia income of €36,000 gross per year, you keep €33,173 net in Aruba: a difference of €7,588 per year compared with Serbia.
- Tax: on this income Aruba lands at an effective rate of about 8%, against 29% in Serbia.
- 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 Serbia and Aruba?
- On an average Serbia income it differs by roughly €7,588 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.
Figures from primary government sources. Information, not advice.
Sources
- Government of Aruba - Income tax and payroll tax rate change from 1 January 2025
- Departamento di Impuesto - Tarief inkomstenbelasting en loonbelasting
- Departamento di Impuesto - Premiegrenzen AZV
- SVb Aruba - Overzicht van tarieven 2025
- Invest in Aruba - Incentives & Taxes (corporate 22%, turnover 7%)
- Global Property Guide - Aruba inheritance tax