Cost of Living Comparison Between Azua and Samana Cost of Living Comparison Between Azua and Samana

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $908 in Azua versus $835 in Samana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,262 in Azua versus $1,334 in Samana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,616 in Azua versus $1,834 in Samana.

Living in Azua is roughly 9% more expensive than in Samana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Azua 32% lower, Samana 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.44 DOP 491

$4.19 DOP 243

101.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.97 DOP 2,904

$36.95 DOP 2,147

35.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.24 DOP 420

$7.60 DOP 442

-4.74%

Cappuccino

$1.33 DOP 77.3

$1.67 DOP 97.2

-20.36%

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

$1.03 DOP 60.1

$0.76 DOP 43.87

35.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 DOP 48.84

$0.77 DOP 44.88

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 DOP 146

$2.54 DOP 147

-1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 DOP 287

$4.30 DOP 250

14.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 DOP 70.1

$1.33 DOP 77.0

-9.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 DOP 99.6

$0.89 DOP 51.7

92.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 DOP 63.0

$0.83 DOP 48.03

30.12%

Eggs

$1.64 DOP 95.2

$2.00 DOP 116

-18.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 DOP 420

$6.27 DOP 364

15.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 DOP 377

$5.20 DOP 302

24.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 DOP 628

$8.41 DOP 489

28.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 DOP 192

$3.08 DOP 179

7.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 DOP 54.1

$0.93 DOP 53.9

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 DOP 176

$1.34 DOP 78.1

126.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 DOP 113

$1.57 DOP 91.3

23.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 DOP 146

$1.75 DOP 102

44.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 DOP 135

$1.75 DOP 102

33.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 DOP 65.8

$0.53 DOP 30.54

113.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 DOP 54.9

$0.67 DOP 38.86

40.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.93 DOP 345

$4.30 DOP 250

37.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.94 DOP 984

$8.34 DOP 485

103.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 DOP 157

$2.48 DOP 144

8.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 DOP 179

$3.01 DOP 175

2.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 DOP 48.07

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 DOP 193

$3.41 DOP 198

-2.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 DOP 124

$1.02 DOP 59.5

109.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.88 DOP 342

$6.04 DOP 351

-2.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 DOP 74.0

$1.28 DOP 74.4

-0.78%

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

$26.4K DOP 1.5M

$26.3K DOP 1.5M

0.23%

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

$29.7K DOP 1.7M

$32.1K DOP 1.9M

-7.50%

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

$75.7 DOP 4,400

$51.9 DOP 3,015

45.93%

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

$25.29 DOP 1,470

$16.97 DOP 986

49.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.71 DOP 2,075

$36.25 DOP 2,107

-1.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 DOP 387

$6.76 DOP 393

-1.63%

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

$273 DOP 15.8K

$266 DOP 15.4K

2.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,993 DOP 464.4K

$7,990 DOP 464.3K

0.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 DOP 3,496

$59.7 DOP 3,470

0.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 DOP 3,007

$51.2 DOP 2,975

1.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 DOP 5,592

$97.3 DOP 5,655

-1.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 DOP 6,707

$114 DOP 6,633

1.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 DOP 18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 DOP 11.9K

$252 DOP 14.7K

-18.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 DOP 42.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$534 DOP 31.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,702 DOP 215.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.9

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

Last update for Azua: July 26, 2026

Last update for Samana: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $50.0 in Azua vs $37.00 in Samana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $192 per month, with Samana 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 Samana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Samana is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,363 in Azua and $1,253 in Samana 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 32% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $908 per month in Azua versus $835 in Samana – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Samana 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 Samana 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 Samana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.