Cost of Living Comparison Between Azua and Puerto Plata Cost of Living Comparison Between Azua and Puerto Plata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $909 in Azua versus $842 in Puerto Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,263 in Azua versus $1,297 in Puerto Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,617 in Azua versus $1,753 in Puerto Plata.

Living in Azua is roughly 8% more expensive than Puerto Plata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Azua 33% lower, Puerto Plata 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.31 DOP 498

$4.96 DOP 297

67.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.4 DOP 3,084

$37.96 DOP 2,276

35.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.19 DOP 431

$7.54 DOP 452

-4.64%

Cappuccino

$1.39 DOP 83.3

$1.30 DOP 77.7

6.92%

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

$1.04 DOP 62.3

$0.90 DOP 54.2

15.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 DOP 46.76

$0.67 DOP 40.39

16.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 DOP 151

$2.44 DOP 146

2.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.20 DOP 312

$3.77 DOP 226

37.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 DOP 74.7

$1.04 DOP 62.3

20.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 DOP 107

$1.74 DOP 104

2.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 DOP 63.4

$0.99 DOP 59.1

7.07%

Eggs

$1.65 DOP 98.7

$1.45 DOP 86.7

13.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 DOP 433

$3.02 DOP 181

139.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 DOP 385

$4.31 DOP 259

48.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.12 DOP 667

$3.64 DOP 218

205.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 DOP 192

$3.23 DOP 194

-0.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 DOP 54.0

$0.86 DOP 51.7

4.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 DOP 173

$2.91 DOP 174

-1.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 DOP 120

$1.99 DOP 119

0.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 DOP 154

$1.84 DOP 111

39.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 DOP 137

$2.38 DOP 142

-4.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 DOP 65.2

$1.10 DOP 65.7

-0.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 DOP 54.6

$0.17 DOP 10.42

435.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.71 DOP 342

$3.42 DOP 205

66.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.47 DOP 688

$8.51 DOP 510

34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 DOP 160

$2.62 DOP 157

1.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 DOP 189

$3.19 DOP 191

-1.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 DOP 29.10

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.72 DOP 1,841

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 DOP 203

$3.46 DOP 207

-2.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 DOP 131

$2.21 DOP 132

-1.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.87 DOP 352

$2.51 DOP 151

133.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 DOP 76.6

$1.26 DOP 75.7

1.59%

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

$26.5K DOP 1.6M

$26.4K DOP 1.6M

0.48%

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

$29.2K DOP 1.8M

$31.1K DOP 1.9M

-6.23%

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

$77.6 DOP 4,651

$51.3 DOP 3,077

51.17%

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

$25.78 DOP 1,546

$25.00 DOP 1,499

3.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.17 DOP 2,169

$35.61 DOP 2,135

1.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.66 DOP 519

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.54 DOP 512

Cinema Ticket

$6.78 DOP 406

$4.84 DOP 290

40.08%

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

$267 DOP 16.0K

$268 DOP 16.1K

-0.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,034 DOP 481.6K

$1,025 DOP 61.4K

683.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.8 DOP 3,643

$46.69 DOP 2,799

30.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 DOP 3,063

$42.88 DOP 2,571

19.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 DOP 5,880

$87.8 DOP 5,263

11.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 DOP 6,982

$64.6 DOP 3,870

80.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 DOP 21.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 DOP 12.2K

$267 DOP 16.0K

-23.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$812 DOP 48.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 DOP 24.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,648 DOP 218.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.9

7.15

80.42%

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

Last update for Azua: April 11, 2026

Last update for Puerto Plata: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $0 in Azua and $352 in Puerto Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $51 in Azua vs $38 in Puerto Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $175 per month, with Puerto Plata 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 Puerto Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Puerto Plata is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,364 in Azua and $1,262 in Puerto Plata 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 38% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $909 per month in Azua versus $842 in Puerto Plata – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Puerto Plata 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 Puerto Plata 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 Puerto Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.