Moving to Curaçao is exciting, and finding a place to live is one of the first big jobs on your list. This guide takes you through it step by step: rent first or buy straight away, where to live, what buying costs and what to check before you sign. Along the way we use the live numbers from our map, which brings together the listings of 45+ realtors on the island.
Step 1: rent first, then buy
Unless you already know the island well, renting for the first months is the safest start. You get to know the neighbourhoods, the traffic and the distances to work, school and the beach before you commit to a purchase, and you can still change your mind about where you want to live. Right now our map shows around 350 long-term rentals; our long-term rentals page shows a selection. Before you sign a lease, ask the realtor whether the place is furnished, how much deposit you pay and which utilities are included in the rent.
Step 2: choose where you want to live
Every part of Curaçao has its own character, so it pays to look around before you choose. Willemstad, the capital, has a historic centre that has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997: the districts Punda, Otrobanda, Scharloo and part of Pietermaai. Living there means old town houses, restaurants and short distances, with city life all around you.
About 8 km south-east of Willemstad lies Jan Thiel, a lively spot around a bay with beach clubs, restaurants and many resorts: see homes for sale in Jan Thiel. About 10 km north-west of the city centre, Blue Bay combines a beach with a golf course: see homes for sale in Blue Bay. The quickest way to compare areas is the map itself: zoom in on a neighbourhood and you see every listing there, with its price.
Step 3: buy when you're ready
Foreigners can buy property on Curaçao with the same ownership rights as residents: no special licence or government approval is needed. On top of the price, expect one-time costs of typically 5-7%: transfer tax (usually 4%), notary fees and a land registry fee. Our guide to buying a house in Curaçao walks you through the whole process.
To get a feel for prices: the median asking price of a house for sale on our map is $805,000 today. Browse a selection of homes, apartments or building lots for sale.
Dollars and guilders
Curaçao's own currency is the Caribbean guilder (XCG), which replaced the Antillean guilder in 2025 and is fixed at 1.79 guilders to the US dollar. The prices on our pages are in US dollars, so you can compare all listings in one currency.
Before you sign: a short checklist
- Find out which residence rules apply to you, before you sign a lease or a purchase agreement.
- View the property in person, or ask someone you trust to do it for you.
- In a resort or gated complex, ask about the monthly service costs and the house rules, for example whether you may rent the property out.
- Ask whether the land is sold as full ownership (eigendom) or as a long lease (erfpacht), and let a notary check it.
- Compare a few similar listings on the map before you make an offer.
Listings on One Map.
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Find your new homeThis article is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules and prices change, so check the details with the realtor, a local notary and the Curaçao authorities before you decide.