Retiring in Curaçao: where to live and what a home costs

Thinking of retiring in Curaçao? It's warm all year, storms rarely reach it, and there are flights to Europe and to North and South America (Wikipedia). This article is about the home: which part of the island suits the life you want, how far you'll be from the hospital, and what a house, an apartment or a rental costs on our map today. The rules on residence, tax and health insurance are left out on purpose: they depend on your situation, so check them with the authorities and an adviser (see the end of this article). Our numbers come from the listings of 45+ realtors on our map and are recalculated every time we update the site.

Warm all year, few storms

The average temperature runs from about 26.6 °C (80 °F) in January to 29.1 °C (84 °F) in September (Wikipedia). The hurricane season runs from June to November, but storms rarely reach the island: according to the Meteorological Department Curaçao, a tropical cyclone passes within 100 nautical miles of Curaçao only once every 11 years on average. Rarely isn't never, though: in 2022 Tropical Storm Bonnie brought heavy rain and coastal flooding. So when you look at a home, ask how it handles heavy rain and what the insurance covers.

Close to town, or out in nature?

For many people who retire here, the big choice is how far from town they want to live. The island's main hospital, the Curaçao Medical Center, is in Otrobanda, the part of Willemstad across the harbour (Wikipedia). Our area pages describe each part of the island:

Tip: drive the route from a home to the hospital and the supermarket before you make an offer, at the time of day you'd really make that trip.

What a home costs

The median asking price of a house on our map is $780,000 today, and of an apartment $475,000. On top of the price come buying costs of about 6-7% (Moret Real Estate). Many retirees look at an apartment or a home in a gated complex: less garden to keep up, and the shared parts are looked after for you. That comes with monthly service costs and house rules, so ask about both before you make an offer. For a home you'll live in for years, also check the practical things: stairs, a lift, shade and parking. Prices per type and area are in how much does a house cost in Curaçao, and a selection by budget on our affordable homes and luxury homes pages. Need a mortgage? Banks in Curaçao lend less to buyers who don't live on the island: see a mortgage for a house in Curaçao.

Rent first, then buy

Not sure yet which area suits you? Many people rent first. The median rent of a long-term rental on our map is $1,850 a month, across around 350 rentals. A few months of renting show you what daily life is like in an area, how long the drives take and whether you'd like to stay, before you commit to buying. See a selection on our long-term rentals page, and the other monthly costs in cost of living in Curaçao. How to find a place when you move is in moving to Curaçao: how to find a home.

Language and money

The official languages are Papiamentu, Dutch and English, and most people speak at least two of the island's main languages. Dutch is the language of the government and the law (Wikipedia), so ask for a translation of official papers if you need one. The currency is the Caribbean guilder (XCG), fixed at 1.79 guilders to the US dollar (Wikipedia). The listings on our site are in US dollars.

The rules: check them first

Whether you need a residence permit, and which one, depends on your nationality and your situation. Applications go to the Admission Office Curaçao (Toelatingsorganisatie), part of the Government of Curaçao. Ask an adviser about tax on your pension and about health insurance before you buy. Once that's sorted, see what's on offer: every apartment for sale on the map, every house, or every rental.