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: $667 in Azua versus $836 in Puerto Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,075 in Azua versus $1,299 in Puerto Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,482 in Azua versus $1,761 in Puerto Plata.

Living in Azua costs roughly 20% less than in Puerto Plata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Azua 51% lower, Puerto Plata 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.65 DOP 510

$6.10 DOP 360

41.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.01 DOP 2,538

$38.74 DOP 2,286

11.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.05 DOP 416

$6.91 DOP 408

2.03%

Cappuccino

$1.38 DOP 81.7

$1.24 DOP 73.0

11.29%

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

$0.68 DOP 40.10

$0.50 DOP 29.47

36.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 DOP 22.51

$0.64 DOP 37.53

-40.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 DOP 147

$2.51 DOP 148

-0.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 DOP 241

$3.38 DOP 199

21.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 DOP 73.1

$1.29 DOP 75.9

-3.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 DOP 108

$1.57 DOP 92.8

16.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 DOP 64.3

$0.71 DOP 42.07

53.52%

Eggs

$1.47 DOP 86.9

$1.43 DOP 84.4

2.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.30 DOP 371

$4.51 DOP 266

39.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 DOP 220

$3.89 DOP 230

-4.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.81 DOP 284

$3.42 DOP 202

40.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.82 DOP 225

$1.33 DOP 78.5

187.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 DOP 84.9

$0.65 DOP 38.34

121.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 DOP 194

$0.84 DOP 49.50

290.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 DOP 135

$0.70 DOP 41.03

227.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 DOP 216

$0.65 DOP 38.12

464.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 DOP 171

$0.89 DOP 52.6

225.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 DOP 54.2

$0.62 DOP 36.61

48.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 DOP 96.1

$0.98 DOP 57.8

66.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.94 DOP 291

$2.51 DOP 148

96.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.11 DOP 1,009

$8.71 DOP 514

96.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 DOP 184

$2.31 DOP 136

34.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 DOP 202

$3.07 DOP 181

11.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 DOP 61.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 DOP 148

$3.47 DOP 205

-27.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.29 DOP 194

$2.33 DOP 137

41.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 DOP 341

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 DOP 81.8

$1.23 DOP 72.4

13.01%

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

$15.5K DOP 911.8K

$24.0K DOP 1.4M

-35.50%

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

$26.0K DOP 1.5M

$34.7K DOP 2.0M

-25.19%

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

$98.3 DOP 5,799

$93.3 DOP 5,501

5.42%

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

$27.86 DOP 1,644

$17.30 DOP 1,021

61.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.86 DOP 2,351

$37.20 DOP 2,195

7.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.21 DOP 1,192

Cinema Ticket

$5.21 DOP 308

$7.65 DOP 452

-31.90%

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

$152 DOP 8,940

$255 DOP 15.1K

-40.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,515 DOP 325.4K

$7,105 DOP 419.2K

-22.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.70 DOP 1,575

$18.45 DOP 1,088

44.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.53 DOP 2,804

$13.35 DOP 788

256.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 DOP 3,802

$87.5 DOP 5,164

-26.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.1 DOP 4,079

$126 DOP 7,444

-45.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$419 DOP 24.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 DOP 17.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 DOP 59.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 DOP 32.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,649 DOP 215.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.56

-18.88%

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

Last update for Azua: August 31, 2026

Last update for Puerto Plata: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $43.00 in Azua vs $39.00 in Puerto Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $151 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

Azua is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,001 in Azua and $1,255 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.

Shoppers in Puerto Plata pay roughly 60% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $667 per month in Azua versus $836 in Puerto Plata – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Azua 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 Azua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Puerto Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.