Cost of Living Comparison Between Azua and Santo Domingo Este Cost of Living Comparison Between Azua and Santo Domingo Este

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $890 in Azua versus $792 in Santo Domingo Este.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,258 in Azua versus $1,354 in Santo Domingo Este.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,625 in Azua versus $1,916 in Santo Domingo Este.

Living in Azua is roughly 12% more expensive than in Santo Domingo Este, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Azua 33% lower, Santo Domingo Este 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.74 DOP 509

$8.60 DOP 501

1.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 DOP 3,008

$43.02 DOP 2,506

20.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 DOP 426

$7.59 DOP 442

-3.69%

Cappuccino

$1.38 DOP 80.3

$1.28 DOP 74.3

7.81%

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

$1.02 DOP 59.5

$1.00 DOP 58.2

2.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 DOP 45.25

$0.50 DOP 29.12

56.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 DOP 146

$2.57 DOP 150

-2.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 DOP 295

$3.44 DOP 201

47.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 DOP 73.0

$1.22 DOP 71.2

2.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 DOP 104

$1.71 DOP 99.5

4.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 DOP 63.8

$1.57 DOP 91.7

-30.57%

Eggs

$1.64 DOP 95.6

$1.69 DOP 98.7

-2.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.17 DOP 418

$7.28 DOP 424

-1.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.14 DOP 358

$3.62 DOP 211

69.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 DOP 644

$6.66 DOP 388

66.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 DOP 191

$3.31 DOP 193

-1.21%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 DOP 53.8

$0.74 DOP 42.93

24.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 DOP 168

$1.93 DOP 112

49.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 DOP 118

$1.33 DOP 77.4

52.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 DOP 143

$0.94 DOP 54.8

161.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 DOP 137

$1.75 DOP 102

34.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 DOP 66.1

$1.10 DOP 63.9

3.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 DOP 51.8

$0.90 DOP 52.7

-1.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.67 DOP 330

$5.70 DOP 332

-0.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.30 DOP 1,007

$10.80 DOP 629

60.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 DOP 152

$1.66 DOP 96.9

57.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 DOP 180

$2.36 DOP 137

31.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 DOP 48.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.34 DOP 1,942

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 DOP 196

$3.42 DOP 199

-1.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 DOP 129

$2.12 DOP 123

4.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.89 DOP 343

$6.07 DOP 353

-2.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 DOP 77.3

$1.23 DOP 71.5

8.13%

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

$26.9K DOP 1.6M

$27.0K DOP 1.6M

-0.11%

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

$29.3K DOP 1.7M

$31.3K DOP 1.8M

-6.35%

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

$75.1 DOP 4,374

$40.76 DOP 2,375

84.22%

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

$25.36 DOP 1,477

$17.60 DOP 1,025

44.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.58 DOP 2,131

$35.67 DOP 2,078

2.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.03 DOP 1,633

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.44 DOP 492

Cinema Ticket

$6.97 DOP 406

$5.89 DOP 343

18.34%

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

$268 DOP 15.6K

0.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,133 DOP 473.7K

$5,898 DOP 343.6K

37.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 DOP 3,558

$41.90 DOP 2,441

45.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 DOP 3,042

$51.1 DOP 2,976

2.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 DOP 5,641

$65.9 DOP 3,840

46.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 DOP 6,701

$58.7 DOP 3,421

95.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 DOP 26.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 DOP 11.7K

$169 DOP 9,825

18.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,070 DOP 62.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$473 DOP 27.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,735 DOP 217.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 DOP 34.9K

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 11, 2026

Last update for Santo Domingo Este: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $52.0 in Azua vs $43.00 in Santo Domingo Este for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $194 per month, with Santo Domingo Este 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 Santo Domingo Este: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santo Domingo Este is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,335 in Azua and $1,188 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% 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 $792 in Santo Domingo Este – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $792 in Santo Domingo Este versus $890 in Azua, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santo Domingo Este but tight or insufficient in Azua. The gap between the two cities makes Santo Domingo Este the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 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.

Expats usually find Santo Domingo Este gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.