Cost of Living Comparison Between Azua and Higuey Cost of Living Comparison Between Azua and Higuey

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $894 in Azua versus $666 in Higuey.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,248 in Azua versus $1,063 in Higuey.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,602 in Azua versus $1,461 in Higuey.

Living in Azua is roughly 34% more expensive than Higuey, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Azua 34% lower, Higuey 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.24 DOP 483

$4.60 DOP 270

79.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 DOP 2,979

$28.81 DOP 1,687

76.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 DOP 442

$5.00 DOP 293

50.80%

Cappuccino

$1.37 DOP 80.3

$2.24 DOP 131

-38.84%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 DOP 58.4

$0.49 DOP 28.71

104.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 DOP 48.14

$0.43 DOP 25.31

90.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 DOP 149

$1.89 DOP 110

34.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.23 DOP 306

$2.92 DOP 171

79.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 DOP 70.3

$1.05 DOP 61.2

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 DOP 106

$1.06 DOP 61.8

70.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 DOP 64.4

$0.81 DOP 47.48

35.80%

Eggs

$1.65 DOP 96.6

$1.51 DOP 88.5

9.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.12 DOP 417

$2.51 DOP 147

183.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 DOP 368

$3.34 DOP 196

88.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.08 DOP 649

$4.98 DOP 292

122.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 DOP 194

$3.18 DOP 186

4.09%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 DOP 54.6

$0.85 DOP 49.76

9.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 DOP 178

$3.02 DOP 177

0.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 DOP 113

$1.93 DOP 113

-0.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 DOP 143

$0.90 DOP 52.8

170.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 DOP 138

$2.38 DOP 139

-1.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 DOP 65.9

$1.09 DOP 63.6

2.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 DOP 56.0

$0.87 DOP 51.1

10.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.70 DOP 334

$4.20 DOP 246

35.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.88 DOP 989

$10.75 DOP 630

57.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 DOP 161

$1.74 DOP 102

57.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 DOP 190

$2.62 DOP 154

24.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 DOP 60.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 DOP 198

$3.45 DOP 202

-1.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 DOP 123

$2.19 DOP 128

-4.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 DOP 354

$5.80 DOP 340

4.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 DOP 74.1

$1.28 DOP 74.8

-1.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.5K DOP 1.6M

$27.0K DOP 1.6M

-1.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.6K DOP 1.7M

$31.5K DOP 1.8M

-6.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$76.1 DOP 4,459

$51.2 DOP 2,996

48.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.36 DOP 1,485

$25.39 DOP 1,487

-0.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.76 DOP 2,095

$26.20 DOP 1,535

36.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.60 DOP 855

Cinema Ticket

$6.99 DOP 409

$4.22 DOP 247

65.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$264 DOP 15.5K

$268 DOP 15.7K

-1.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,141 DOP 476.9K

$8,089 DOP 473.9K

0.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.7 DOP 3,554

$59.9 DOP 3,507

1.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 DOP 3,059

$51.0 DOP 2,986

2.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 DOP 5,526

$96.4 DOP 5,650

-2.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 DOP 6,730

$116 DOP 6,809

-1.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 DOP 9,295

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 DOP 12.0K

$109 DOP 6,370

89.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 DOP 16.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 DOP 12.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,671 DOP 215.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.9

12.25

5.31%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Azua: June 9, 2026

Last update for Higuey: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $51.0 in Azua vs $29.00 in Higuey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $170 per month, with Higuey cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Azua vs Higuey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Higuey is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,341 in Azua and $999 in Higuey to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $894 per month in Azua versus $666 in Higuey – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Higuey gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Azua and Higuey are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Higuey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.