What is daily life like as a medical student in Oranjestad, Aruba, cost, safety, and social scene?

valuemd (Admin)

Aruba is a tourist island with a higher cost of living than most Caribbean islands. Students want honest information about what it actually costs to live there as a student, what the social life is like outside of studying, and how safe the island feels day to day.

gracew554 (Student)

hey everyone, i've been doing a lot of research on UMHS and the Aruba campus and i can't find honest day to day info anywhere. all the school's marketing shows beaches and sunshine but like what does it actually cost to live there month to month as a student? is the island safe to move around? and is there any kind of social life or is it just studying 24/7 on a tiny island? would really appreciate hearing from people who actually lived there.

ameliaharris6655 (Aspiring student)

i lived in oranjestad for two semesters so i can give you a pretty real picture. rent is the biggest shock. a decent one bedroom or a shared apartment near the school runs you anywhere from 900 to 1400 usd a month depending on how close you are to eagle beach or the city center. groceries are expensive because almost everything is imported. i was spending around 300 to 400 a month just on food if i cooked most meals at home. eating out adds up fast because aruba is priced for tourists not students. all in i was budgeting around 2200 to 2500 a month just to live comfortably, not lavishly.

gracew554 (Student)

ameliaharris6655 (Aspiring student) wow 2200 to 2500 is more than i expected honestly. Is that on top of tuition or does the school help with any housing subsidies? and did you find roommates through the school or on your own?

ameliaharris6655 (Aspiring student)

gracew554 (Student) yeah that's completely separate from tuition. the school does have a housing list and some partnerships with landlords but there's no subsidy. i found my roommates through the UMHS facebook group before i even arrived on the island. honestly that group is how everyone figures out housing. landlords near the campus know students are coming every semester and some of them are really opportunistic about pricing so get there early and connect with other incoming students beforehand.