🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $897 in Azua versus $1,090 in Santo Domingo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,259 in Azua versus $1,825 in Santo Domingo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,621 in Azua versus $2,559 in Santo Domingo.
🙂Living in Azua costs roughly 18% less than in Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Azua33% lower, Santo Domingo19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.58DOP 501
$8.65DOP 505
-0.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.0DOP 2,973
$50.1DOP 2,922
1.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.24DOP 422
$7.18DOP 419
0.84%
Cappuccino
$1.40DOP 81.6
$2.73DOP 159
-48.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04DOP 60.5
$0.99DOP 58.0
5.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79DOP 45.87
$0.83DOP 48.30
-4.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.59DOP 151
$2.60DOP 152
-0.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12DOP 298
$5.10DOP 298
0.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24DOP 72.4
$1.40DOP 81.4
-11.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73DOP 101
$1.80DOP 105
-3.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.05DOP 61.1
$1.52DOP 88.6
-30.92%
Eggs
$1.70DOP 99.1
$2.26DOP 132
-24.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.34DOP 428
$7.33DOP 428
0.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.37DOP 372
$6.43DOP 375
-0.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.13DOP 649
$10.86DOP 633
2.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.27DOP 191
$3.34DOP 195
-2.10%
Banana(1kg)
$0.86DOP 50.2
$0.91DOP 53.0
-5.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89DOP 169
$2.96DOP 173
-2.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02DOP 118
$1.99DOP 116
1.51%
Potato(1kg)
$2.43DOP 141
$2.43DOP 142
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.32DOP 136
$2.33DOP 136
-0.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14DOP 66.7
$1.13DOP 65.9
0.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97DOP 56.6
$0.89DOP 51.8
8.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.67DOP 331
$5.74DOP 335
-1.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.53DOP 614
$10.80DOP 630
-2.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65DOP 155
$2.66DOP 155
-0.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21DOP 187
$3.23DOP 189
-0.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.57DOP 33.23
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$67.9DOP 3,962
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.31DOP 193
$3.33DOP 194
-0.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.18DOP 127
$2.13DOP 124
2.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.11DOP 356
$5.79DOP 338
5.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33DOP 77.3
$1.33DOP 77.7
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KDOP 1.6M
$26.2KDOP 1.5M
2.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KDOP 1.7M
$31.2KDOP 1.8M
-5.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.2DOP 4,446
$77.6DOP 4,527
-1.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.83DOP 1,506
$25.52DOP 1,488
1.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.41DOP 2,124
$35.50DOP 2,071
2.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$35.44DOP 2,067
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.29DOP 834
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.86DOP 400
$6.88DOP 402
-0.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266DOP 15.5K
$271DOP 15.8K
-1.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,174DOP 476.8K
$8,089DOP 471.9K
1.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.1DOP 3,507
$60.3DOP 3,519
-0.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.0DOP 2,975
$52.0DOP 3,031
-1.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7DOP 5,580
$96.0DOP 5,600
-0.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118DOP 6,860
$115DOP 6,728
1.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$562DOP 32.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$204DOP 11.9K
$289DOP 16.9K
-29.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,192DOP 69.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$676DOP 39.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,709DOP 216.4K
$2,192DOP 127.9K
69.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,219DOP 71.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$638DOP 37.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.9
12.9
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Azua: June 1, 2026
Last update for Santo Domingo: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Azua vs $50.0 in Santo Domingo. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $246, with Azua 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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santo Domingo cheaper than Azua?
Azua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,345 in Azua and $1,635 in Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Santo Domingo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Azua vs Santo Domingo?
All in, you'll spend $897 per month in Azua versus $1,090 in Santo Domingo – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Azua or Santo Domingo?
At $897 in Azua versus $1,090 in Santo Domingo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Azua but tight or insufficient in Santo Domingo. The gap between the two cities makes Azua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Azua or Santo Domingo?
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?
Safety-wise, Azua and Santo Domingo 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 Azua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Santo Domingo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.