You can save a serious chunk of change on an Aruba vacation by cooking a few meals yourself. Grocery prices on the island run 30–60% higher than in the US for most items, with a dozen eggs costing between $4.50 and $6.00 and a gallon of milk hitting $6.50 to $8.00. That markup adds up fast when you’re feeding a family of four for a week.
This guide covers the major grocery stores on the island, what to buy where, and how to build a simple cooking routine that frees up your budget for the beach bars and seafood dinners you actually came for. It’s written for anyone staying in a rental with a kitchen — couples, groups, and families who’d rather spend on experiences than on three restaurant meals a day.
Grocery prices in Aruba run 30–60% higher than US averages, but cooking breakfast and lunch at home can save a family of four hundreds of dollars over a week-long trip.
Yes, you can eat well in Aruba without eating out every meal — but you need a two-store strategy and realistic expectations about what’s expensive (imported cereal, dairy) and what’s a deal (local fish, produce from the markets).
Travelers with kitchen access
Budget-conscious families
Long-stay visitors
Below is a quick-reference table of the main grocery stores covered in this article, so you can match each stop to your shopping list before you head out.
| Store | Best For | Standout Feature | Time Needed | Key Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Food | One-stop shopping | Live stroopwafel station, bakery, deli | 45–60 min | Check weekly specials on social media before you go |
| Ling & Sons | Gourmet & specialty items | Cheese counter, wine $8–$200+, prepared dinners $12–20 | 45–60 min | Santa Cruz location is less crowded than Oranjestad |
| Kong Hing Supermarket | Budget staples & Asian ingredients | Best prices on rice, beans, noodles | 20–30 min | Cash preferred; closed on Sundays |
| Hilo Supermarket | Neighborhood convenience | Multiple locations (Noord, Santa Cruz, San Nicolas) | 20–30 min | Good for quick restocks near resort areas |
| Oranjestad Market | Fresh local produce & snacks | Pastechi, bacalao, local fruit | 30–45 min | Go early morning for the best selection |
Super Food: The One-Stop Shop Near the Cruise Terminal
Super Food sits on L.G. Smith Boulevard in Oranjestad, just a few minutes from the cruise terminal. It’s the closest thing Aruba has to a full-service American supermarket, with a large parking lot and hours from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. The produce section is solid, the bakery turns out fresh bread daily, and the deli counter offers prepared foods that can save you from cooking one night. The live stroopwafel station is a fun touch — grab a warm one for the kids while you shop.
Prices here sit in the mid-to-high range, but the weekly specials — posted on their social media and in local newspapers — can bring costs down on meat and dairy. If you’re doing a single big shop, this is the most efficient stop. For a family, the prepared food counter is a practical fallback on nights when nobody feels like cooking after a day at the beach.
Ling & Sons: Gourmet Finds and a Serious Cheese Counter
Ling & Sons is the island’s go-to for specialty and organic items, with locations on Italiestraat in Oranjestad and in Santa Cruz. The Oranjestad store is open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., but parking is limited — expect to circle a bit. The Santa Cruz branch is roomier and less crowded, making it the better choice if you’re staying on that side of the island.
The cheese counter at Keshi di Hulanda, located inside the store, stocks over 150 kinds of Dutch cheese and offers deli platters. The wine selection ranges from $8 bottles to bottles over $200, so you can find something for a casual dinner or a special occasion. Prepared dinners run $12 to $20 and include rotisserie chicken, sushi, and hot meals — a solid option when you want a restaurant-quality meal without the restaurant markup.
Hit Ling & Sons on a weekday morning before 10 a.m. — the Oranjestad lot fills fast, and the prepared food counter restocks early for the lunch crowd.
Kong Hing Supermarket: Budget Basics and Asian Ingredients
Kong Hing Supermarket sits on Caya Betico Croes in downtown Oranjestad and is the best place on the island for budget-friendly staples. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and closed on Sundays. Street parking is available but tight. Cash is preferred here, so bring small bills.
The store specializes in rice, beans, canned goods, and Asian products like soy sauce and noodles. If you’re planning to cook stir-fries or rice-based meals, this is where you stock up. Prices on these staples are the lowest you’ll find on the island, making it a smart first stop before heading to a pricier store for fresh items.
Kong Hing closes on Sundays, and the street parking fills by mid-morning. If you’re staying in a resort area, factor in a 15-minute drive each way — it’s not worth the trip for a single item.
Hilo Supermarket: Convenient Locations for Quick Restocks
Hilo Supermarket operates multiple locations across Aruba — in San Nicolas, Santa Cruz, and Noord — making it the most convenient chain for visitors staying outside Oranjestad. Hours are generally Monday through Saturday from around 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., though individual store times vary. It’s a mid-range option with a decent selection of produce, dairy, and household items.
Hilo won’t wow you with specialty finds, but it’s reliable for a quick restock of milk, eggs, bread, and snacks. The Noord location is particularly handy for visitors staying in the Palm Beach area. Both cash and cards are accepted.
Oranjestad Market: Fresh Produce and Local Snacks
The Oranjestad Market is an open-air market in the city center where local vendors sell fresh produce, snacks, and souvenirs. It’s the best place to find tropical fruits like guava and soursop, as well as local specialties like pastechi (fried pastry pockets filled with cheese, meat, or seafood) and bacalao (salted cod).
Go early in the morning for the best selection and to avoid the midday heat. Prices here are generally lower than at the supermarkets for produce, and the quality is high. It’s also a good spot to pick up snacks for the beach — grab some fruit and a few pastechis and you’re set for the afternoon.
Practical Section: Saving Money and Time at Aruba’s Grocery Stores
Grocery shopping in Aruba requires a little strategy to avoid overpaying. The biggest savings come from knowing which stores to visit for which items, and from planning your meals around what’s affordable locally.
The Two-Store Strategy
The most efficient approach is a two-store strategy: hit Kong Hing for dry staples (rice, beans, pasta, canned goods, soy sauce) and then go to Super Food or Ling & Sons for fresh produce, dairy, meat, and specialty items. This saves both time and money — you avoid paying premium prices at the big stores for items you can get cheaper elsewhere.
If you’re only doing one shop, Super Food is the best all-around choice. It has the widest selection and the most consistent hours, and its prepared food counter gives you a backup plan for nights when cooking feels like a chore.
What to Buy and What to Skip
Local fish — red snapper, mahi-mahi — is competitively priced and often cheaper than imported protein. Fresh fish at the docks or at stores like Super Food runs $8 to $12 per pound, roughly the same as in the US. Breakfast supplies (eggs, bread, butter, jam, coffee, milk, yogurt, cereal) cost $30 to $45 per week for two people, compared to $200 to $400 for hotel breakfasts. That’s the biggest single savings opportunity.
The items with the steepest markups are processed and packaged goods. A box of cereal can cost 50–100% more than in the US. A loaf of bread runs 15–55% higher. Imported beer is 20–60% more expensive. If you have room in your suitcase, bring non-perishables like granola bars, coffee, and your favorite cereal from home.
| Item | US Price (approx.) | Aruba Price (approx.) | Markup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallon of milk | $4.00 | $6.50–8.00 | 60–100% |
| Dozen eggs | $3.50 | $4.50–6.00 | 30–70% |
| Loaf of bread | $4.00–5.50 | — | 15–55% |
| Chicken breast (per lb) | $5.50–7.00 | $7.00–9.00 | 35–75% |
| Ground beef (per lb) | $5.50 | $7.00–9.00 | 25–65% |
| Fresh fish (per lb) | $8–12 | $8–12 | 0–20% |
| Imported beer (6-pack) | $10 | $12–16 | 20–60% |
Meal Planning for a Week
The most cost-effective routine is to cook breakfast and lunch at home and eat out for dinner. Breakfast is the easiest meal to cover — eggs, toast, fruit, and coffee cost very little and take minimal time. For lunch, pack sandwiches, salads, or leftovers from the night before. A cooler bag is useful for beach days; most supermarkets sell them, or you can bring one from home.
For dinners at home, focus on dishes that use local ingredients. Grilled fish with rice and vegetables is simple and affordable. Stir-fries with noodles from Kong Hing and vegetables from the market come together in under 20 minutes. If you’re feeling ambitious, try making keshi yena — a baked cheese dish stuffed with spiced meat — using a recipe from a local cooking class.
Tap water in Aruba is safe to drink, so skip the bottled water. A 1.5-liter bottle costs $1.50–2.50 at the store, but you can fill reusable bottles from the tap for free. This alone can save a family $20–30 over a week.
Before You Go: Aruba Grocery Shopping Questions Answered
Is it worth bringing food from home?
Yes, for non-perishables. Pack granola bars, coffee, cereal, and your favorite snacks in your checked luggage. The markup on packaged goods is 50–100%, so every box you bring saves real money. Just avoid fresh produce, meat, and dairy — customs won’t allow them.
Which store has the best prices overall?
Kong Hing Supermarket has the lowest prices on dry staples like rice, beans, and pasta. For fresh items, the Oranjestad Market beats the supermarkets on produce. For a single-stop shop, Super Food offers the best balance of selection and price.
Are there any grocery stores near the resort areas?
Yes. Hilo Supermarket has locations in Noord (near Palm Beach) and Santa Cruz. Super Food is in Oranjestad, about a 10-minute drive from the high-rise hotel strip. Ling & Sons has a less crowded branch in Santa Cruz that’s convenient for visitors staying on that side of the island.
What’s the one thing not worth buying at an Aruba grocery store?
Imported beer. A six-pack costs $12 to $16 — 20–60% more than in the US. Stick with local Balashi beer, which is cheaper and widely available. Wine is also marked up significantly; a decent bottle that costs $12–18 in the US runs 20–80% more here.
Can I find gluten-free or other dietary-specific items?
Ling & Sons has the best selection of organic, gluten-free, and specialty items. Super Food also carries a decent range. Smaller stores like Hilo and Kong Hing have limited options, so plan your shopping trip around Ling & Sons if you have specific dietary needs.
Why Cooking in Aruba Changes How You Experience the Island
Most visitors treat grocery shopping as a chore — a necessary stop before the real vacation begins. But the act of buying local fish at the market, picking up fresh produce from a roadside vendor, and cooking a meal in your rental kitchen connects you to Aruba in a way that restaurant meals never can. You taste the island’s ingredients, you learn its rhythms, and you save enough money to say yes to that sunset sailing trip or that extra round of Balashi at the beach bar. That’s the trade-off that makes the whole thing worth it.
For more on eating your way through Aruba, check out our guide to Aruba’s food culture and the Dutch, Caribbean, and Latin influences that shape it.
References
Aruba Playbook. “Aruba Grocery Stores Guide.” Aruba Playbook, 2024. ↗
A Taste for Travel. “10 Best Local Restaurants in Aruba Oranjestad.” A Taste for Travel, 2024. ↗
National Geographic Mumble. “10 Best Places to Shop in Aruba, Ranked by Local Shopping Expert.” National Geographic Mumble, 2024. ↗
National Geographic Mumble. “Best Grocery Stores in Aruba.” National Geographic Mumble, 2024. ↗
If you’re still deciding where to eat out on the nights you don’t cook, the late-night dining spots with live music roundup covers the best post-dinner options. For dessert, the guide to Aruba’s best local desserts and pastries is worth a read before you hit the bakery aisle. And if you want to dive deeper into the island’s culinary scene, the chef’s tour of sourcing ingredients and unique techniques offers a behind-the-scenes look at how local chefs work.
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