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: $894 in Azua versus $817 in Samana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,248 in Azua versus $1,353 in Samana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,602 in Azua versus $1,889 in Samana.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Azua 34% lower, Samana 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.24 DOP 483

$4.35 DOP 255

89.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 DOP 2,979

$36.59 DOP 2,144

39.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 DOP 442

$7.36 DOP 431

2.45%

Cappuccino

$1.37 DOP 80.3

$1.73 DOP 101

-20.81%

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

$1.00 DOP 58.4

$0.75 DOP 44.16

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 DOP 48.14

$0.85 DOP 49.57

-3.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 DOP 149

$2.50 DOP 147

1.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.23 DOP 306

$4.16 DOP 244

25.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 DOP 70.3

$1.38 DOP 81.0

-13.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 DOP 106

$0.82 DOP 48.04

120.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 DOP 64.4

$0.87 DOP 51.1

26.44%

Eggs

$1.65 DOP 96.6

$2.10 DOP 123

-21.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.12 DOP 417

$6.33 DOP 371

12.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 DOP 368

$5.31 DOP 311

18.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.08 DOP 649

$8.45 DOP 495

31.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 DOP 194

$2.99 DOP 175

10.70%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 DOP 54.6

$0.86 DOP 50.3

8.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 DOP 178

$1.39 DOP 81.7

118.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 DOP 113

$1.63 DOP 95.3

17.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 DOP 143

$1.69 DOP 98.9

43.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 DOP 138

$1.73 DOP 101

35.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 DOP 65.9

$0.53 DOP 30.96

111.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 DOP 56.0

$0.67 DOP 39.06

43.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.70 DOP 334

$4.16 DOP 244

37.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.88 DOP 989

$8.76 DOP 513

92.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 DOP 161

$2.58 DOP 151

6.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 DOP 190

$2.90 DOP 170

12.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 DOP 47.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 DOP 198

$3.32 DOP 194

2.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 DOP 123

$1.07 DOP 62.6

96.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 DOP 354

$6.00 DOP 351

0.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 DOP 74.1

$1.23 DOP 72.2

2.44%

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

$26.5K DOP 1.6M

$26.9K DOP 1.6M

-1.35%

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

$29.6K DOP 1.7M

$31.9K DOP 1.9M

-6.96%

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

$76.1 DOP 4,459

$50.4 DOP 2,954

50.97%

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

$25.36 DOP 1,485

$16.85 DOP 987

50.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.76 DOP 2,095

$36.71 DOP 2,150

-2.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.99 DOP 409

$6.74 DOP 395

3.71%

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

$264 DOP 15.5K

$263 DOP 15.4K

0.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,141 DOP 476.9K

$8,189 DOP 479.7K

-0.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.7 DOP 3,554

$59.3 DOP 3,474

2.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 DOP 3,059

$52.4 DOP 3,068

-0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 DOP 5,526

$95.0 DOP 5,566

-0.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 DOP 6,730

$116 DOP 6,778

-0.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$310 DOP 18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 DOP 12.0K

$254 DOP 14.9K

-19.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$746 DOP 43.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$539 DOP 31.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,671 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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Samana: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $51.0 in Azua vs $37.00 in Samana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $193 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, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,341 in Azua and $1,226 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 31% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $894 per month in Azua versus $817 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.