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: $890 in Azua versus $850 in Puerto Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,258 in Azua versus $1,285 in Puerto Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,625 in Azua versus $1,721 in Puerto Plata.

Living in Azua is roughly 5% more expensive than in Puerto Plata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Azua 33% lower, Puerto Plata 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.74 DOP 509

$5.00 DOP 291

74.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 DOP 3,008

$37.64 DOP 2,193

37.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 DOP 426

$7.33 DOP 427

-0.27%

Cappuccino

$1.38 DOP 80.3

$1.34 DOP 77.9

2.99%

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

$1.02 DOP 59.5

$0.97 DOP 56.4

5.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 DOP 45.25

$0.72 DOP 41.95

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 DOP 146

$2.33 DOP 136

7.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 DOP 295

$3.87 DOP 225

30.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 DOP 73.0

$0.99 DOP 57.8

26.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 DOP 104

$1.78 DOP 103

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 DOP 63.8

$0.99 DOP 57.7

10.10%

Eggs

$1.64 DOP 95.6

$1.46 DOP 85.3

12.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.17 DOP 418

$3.06 DOP 178

134.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.14 DOP 358

$4.28 DOP 250

43.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 DOP 644

$3.84 DOP 223

188.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 DOP 191

$3.18 DOP 185

2.83%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 DOP 53.8

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 DOP 168

$2.90 DOP 169

-0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 DOP 118

$1.94 DOP 113

4.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 DOP 143

$1.92 DOP 112

28.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 DOP 137

$2.40 DOP 140

-1.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 DOP 66.1

$1.13 DOP 65.8

0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 DOP 51.8

$0.17 DOP 10.17

423.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.67 DOP 330

$3.49 DOP 203

62.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.30 DOP 1,007

$8.38 DOP 488

106.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 DOP 152

$2.63 DOP 153

-0.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 DOP 180

$3.27 DOP 191

-5.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 DOP 30.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.79 DOP 1,793

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 DOP 196

$3.30 DOP 192

2.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 DOP 129

$2.11 DOP 123

4.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.89 DOP 343

$2.53 DOP 147

132.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 DOP 77.3

$1.26 DOP 73.3

5.56%

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

$26.9K DOP 1.6M

$26.1K DOP 1.5M

3.27%

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

$29.3K DOP 1.7M

$31.3K DOP 1.8M

-6.52%

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

$75.1 DOP 4,374

$50.2 DOP 2,921

49.73%

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

$25.36 DOP 1,477

$25.73 DOP 1,499

-1.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.58 DOP 2,131

$36.07 DOP 2,101

1.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.38 DOP 488

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.34 DOP 486

Cinema Ticket

$6.97 DOP 406

$4.89 DOP 285

42.54%

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

$268 DOP 15.6K

$263 DOP 15.3K

2.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,133 DOP 473.7K

$1,031 DOP 60.0K

689.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 DOP 3,558

$46.63 DOP 2,716

30.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 DOP 3,042

$44.15 DOP 2,572

18.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 DOP 5,641

$89.4 DOP 5,206

8.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 DOP 6,701

$64.1 DOP 3,731

79.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 DOP 20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 DOP 11.7K

$271 DOP 15.8K

-26.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$823 DOP 47.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$408 DOP 23.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,735 DOP 217.6K

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Puerto Plata: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $52.0 in Azua vs $38.00 in Puerto Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $176 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,335 in Azua and $1,275 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 43% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $890 per month in Azua versus $850 in Puerto Plata – a 5% 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 5% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.