As of November 12, 2026, the cheaper of the two for travelers is Aruba: a mid-range day costs about $224 there, against $260 in the other (Bahamas), a gap of 16.2%. Over the past year the one that moved more in the US-dollar traveler's favor is Aruba (+1.9% after inflation, against 0.0%). The lower US advisory belongs to Aruba (Level 1, against Level 2).
| Measure | Aruba | Bahamas |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day | $224 | $260 |
| Lean day | $102 | $114 |
| Comfortable day | $508 | $624 |
| Real change, 12 months | +1.9% | 0.0% |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Versus 5-year average | +6.2% | +4.4% |
| US advisory | Level 1 · Normal precautions | Level 2 · Increased caution |
| Ease of travel | 4.5 · Effortless | 4.3 · Well set up |
| Index score | 53 | 46 |
| Best months | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr |
| Shoulder months | Sep, Oct, Nov | May, Jun, Nov |
The better figure in each row is in bold. Costs are modeled estimates per person, excluding international flights.
A dry, breezy island outside the hurricane belt, built for easy beach weeks.
The catchIt is one of the most expensive islands in the southern Caribbean, and most of the coast is high-rise resorts.
Seven hundred islands of clear shallow water, priced for American short breaks.
The catchNassau and Paradise Island are resort-priced and add service charges and VAT to everything. Hurricane season is June to November.
Source: Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026. How this is calculated.