😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $683 in Azua versus $648 in Santo Domingo Este.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,080 in Azua versus $1,061 in Santo Domingo Este.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,477 in Azua versus $1,474 in Santo Domingo Este.
🌍Living in Azua is roughly 5% more expensive than in Santo Domingo Este, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Azua50% lower, Santo Domingo Este53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Azua
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.23DOP 483
$5.10DOP 300
61.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.16DOP 2,478
$42.40DOP 2,492
-0.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.40DOP 435
$6.87DOP 404
7.71%
Cappuccino
$1.37DOP 80.6
$0.99DOP 58.4
38.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69DOP 40.44
$1.08DOP 63.5
-36.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39DOP 22.69
$0.64DOP 37.44
-39.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.57DOP 151
$2.59DOP 152
-0.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99DOP 235
$3.58DOP 211
11.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Azua
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21DOP 70.9
$1.39DOP 81.6
-12.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85DOP 109
$1.52DOP 89.3
21.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.04DOP 61.2
$1.65DOP 96.9
-36.97%
Eggs
$1.54DOP 90.6
$2.45DOP 144
-37.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.58DOP 387
$7.48DOP 439
-12.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63DOP 213
$5.77DOP 339
-37.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.79DOP 281
$7.01DOP 412
-31.67%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82DOP 224
$3.18DOP 187
20.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48DOP 87.2
$0.81DOP 47.44
82.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.40DOP 200
$2.80DOP 165
21.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30DOP 135
$1.82DOP 107
26.37%
Potato(1kg)
$3.72DOP 218
$2.08DOP 122
78.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.92DOP 171
$2.22DOP 131
31.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96DOP 56.3
$1.07DOP 62.9
-10.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69DOP 99.5
$0.97DOP 57.1
74.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.79DOP 282
$5.30DOP 311
-9.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.19DOP 1,010
$10.61DOP 623
62.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98DOP 175
$2.67DOP 157
11.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45DOP 203
$3.09DOP 181
11.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Azua
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.59DOP 152
$3.45DOP 203
-24.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.32DOP 195
$2.33DOP 137
42.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.90DOP 347
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37DOP 80.3
$1.29DOP 75.7
6.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.4KDOP 904.9K
$23.3KDOP 1.4M
-33.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KDOP 1.5M
$34.1KDOP 2.0M
-25.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Azua
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.2DOP 5,593
$93.1DOP 5,472
2.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.28DOP 1,603
$32.16DOP 1,890
-15.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.60DOP 2,327
$36.97DOP 2,173
7.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Azua
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.68DOP 1,215
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.11DOP 300
$7.82DOP 460
-34.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Azua
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$155DOP 9,088
$262DOP 15.4K
-40.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,649DOP 331.9K
$7,462DOP 438.4K
-24.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Azua
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.75DOP 1,572
$47.06DOP 2,765
-43.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.02DOP 2,704
$48.60DOP 2,856
-5.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.2DOP 3,770
$90.0DOP 5,290
-28.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.4DOP 4,018
$126DOP 7,412
-45.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Azua
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,661DOP 215.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Azua
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595DOP 35.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
13.56
-18.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Azua: September 14, 2026
Last update for Santo Domingo Este: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Azua vs $42.00 in Santo Domingo Este. Groceries flip the comparison at $244 vs $226, with Santo Domingo Este cheaper for home cooking.
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 Santo Domingo Este: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santo Domingo Este cheaper than Azua?
Santo Domingo Este is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,025 in Azua and $972 in Santo Domingo Este 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.
How do food prices compare in Azua and in Santo Domingo Este?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Azua and in Santo Domingo Este?
All in, you'll spend $683 per month in Azua versus $648 in Santo Domingo Este – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $800 enough for either Azua or Santo Domingo Este?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Santo Domingo Este gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Azua or in Santo Domingo Este?
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.
Which city is safer, Azua or Santo Domingo Este?
Safety-wise, Azua and Santo Domingo Este are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Santo Domingo Este 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.