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: $897 in Azua versus $830 in Puerto Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,259 in Azua versus $1,281 in Puerto Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,621 in Azua versus $1,733 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

$8.58 DOP 500

$5.00 DOP 291

71.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.0 DOP 2,967

$37.71 DOP 2,195

35.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.24 DOP 422

$7.28 DOP 424

-0.55%

Cappuccino

$1.40 DOP 81.4

$1.31 DOP 76.1

6.87%

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

$1.04 DOP 60.4

$0.89 DOP 51.9

16.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 DOP 45.77

$0.72 DOP 42.12

9.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 DOP 151

$2.41 DOP 141

7.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 DOP 298

$3.90 DOP 227

31.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 DOP 72.3

$0.99 DOP 57.7

25.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 DOP 101

$1.81 DOP 105

-4.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 DOP 61.0

$1.04 DOP 60.5

0.96%

Eggs

$1.70 DOP 98.9

$1.41 DOP 82.2

20.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.34 DOP 427

$3.06 DOP 178

139.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.37 DOP 371

$4.15 DOP 242

53.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.13 DOP 648

$3.71 DOP 216

200.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 DOP 190

$3.34 DOP 195

-2.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 DOP 50.0

$0.93 DOP 53.9

-7.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 DOP 168

$2.93 DOP 171

-1.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 DOP 118

$1.96 DOP 114

3.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 DOP 141

$1.89 DOP 110

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 DOP 135

$2.36 DOP 137

-1.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 DOP 66.5

$1.13 DOP 65.6

0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 DOP 56.5

$0.15 DOP 8.71

546.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.67 DOP 330

$3.36 DOP 195

68.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.53 DOP 613

$8.35 DOP 486

26.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 DOP 154

$2.63 DOP 153

0.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 DOP 187

$3.17 DOP 184

1.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 DOP 28.90

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.04 DOP 1,749

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 DOP 193

$3.30 DOP 192

0.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 DOP 127

$2.12 DOP 123

2.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.11 DOP 355

$2.51 DOP 146

143.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 DOP 77.1

$1.26 DOP 73.5

5.56%

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

$26.8K DOP 1.6M

$26.6K DOP 1.5M

0.57%

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

$29.6K DOP 1.7M

$31.2K DOP 1.8M

-5.18%

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

$76.2 DOP 4,437

$51.6 DOP 3,004

47.68%

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

$25.83 DOP 1,503

$24.92 DOP 1,451

3.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.41 DOP 2,120

$36.22 DOP 2,109

0.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.34 DOP 485

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 DOP 500

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 DOP 399

$4.69 DOP 273

46.27%

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

$266 DOP 15.5K

$269 DOP 15.7K

-0.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,174 DOP 475.8K

$1,037 DOP 60.4K

688.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 DOP 3,500

$45.63 DOP 2,656

31.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 DOP 2,969

$44.35 DOP 2,581

15.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 DOP 5,569

$87.6 DOP 5,096

9.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 DOP 6,846

$62.6 DOP 3,644

87.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 DOP 20.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 DOP 11.9K

$276 DOP 16.0K

-25.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 DOP 48.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$416 DOP 24.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,709 DOP 215.9K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Puerto Plata: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $51.0 in Azua vs $38.00 in Puerto Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 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 $1,345 in Azua and $1,245 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 37% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $897 per month in Azua versus $830 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.