🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $890 in Azua versus $1,096 in Santo Domingo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,258 in Azua versus $1,824 in Santo Domingo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,625 in Azua versus $2,552 in Santo Domingo.
🌍Living in Azua costs roughly 19% less than in Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Azua33% lower, Santo Domingo18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.74DOP 509
$8.66DOP 504
0.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6DOP 3,007
$50.9DOP 2,961
1.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.31DOP 426
$7.23DOP 421
1.11%
Cappuccino
$1.38DOP 80.3
$2.63DOP 153
-47.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02DOP 59.5
$0.99DOP 57.4
3.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78DOP 45.24
$0.82DOP 48.02
-4.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50DOP 146
$2.57DOP 150
-2.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06DOP 295
$4.99DOP 291
1.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25DOP 73.0
$1.34DOP 78.0
-6.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78DOP 104
$1.71DOP 99.6
4.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.09DOP 63.7
$1.50DOP 87.4
-27.33%
Eggs
$1.64DOP 95.6
$2.27DOP 132
-27.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.17DOP 418
$7.18DOP 418
-0.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.14DOP 358
$6.29DOP 366
-2.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.06DOP 644
$11.19DOP 652
-1.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.27DOP 191
$3.21DOP 187
1.87%
Banana(1kg)
$0.92DOP 53.8
$0.86DOP 49.84
6.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88DOP 168
$2.88DOP 168
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03DOP 118
$1.93DOP 112
5.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46DOP 143
$2.52DOP 147
-2.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.36DOP 137
$2.36DOP 138
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14DOP 66.1
$1.09DOP 63.5
4.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89DOP 51.8
$0.90DOP 52.3
-1.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.67DOP 330
$5.78DOP 337
-1.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.30DOP 1,007
$10.70DOP 623
61.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61DOP 152
$2.63DOP 153
-0.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10DOP 180
$3.20DOP 186
-3.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.57DOP 33.26
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$68.7DOP 4,000
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.37DOP 196
$3.36DOP 196
0.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.21DOP 129
$2.19DOP 128
0.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.89DOP 343
$5.98DOP 348
-1.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33DOP 77.3
$1.33DOP 77.2
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9KDOP 1.6M
$26.1KDOP 1.5M
3.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3KDOP 1.7M
$32.3KDOP 1.9M
-9.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.1DOP 4,373
$75.6DOP 4,403
-0.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.36DOP 1,477
$25.29DOP 1,473
0.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.58DOP 2,130
$35.48DOP 2,066
3.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$36.45DOP 2,123
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.32DOP 834
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.97DOP 406
$6.76DOP 394
3.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$268DOP 15.6K
$263DOP 15.3K
1.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,133DOP 473.6K
$8,020DOP 467.1K
1.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1DOP 3,557
$60.3DOP 3,513
1.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2DOP 3,041
$52.0DOP 3,027
0.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.8DOP 5,640
$96.9DOP 5,641
-0.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115DOP 6,700
$114DOP 6,656
0.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$564DOP 32.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$200DOP 11.7K
$285DOP 16.6K
-29.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,175DOP 68.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$685DOP 39.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,735DOP 217.5K
$2,168DOP 126.2K
72.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,179DOP 68.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$621DOP 36.2K
-
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Santo Domingo: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Azua vs $51.0 in Santo Domingo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $243 per month, with Santo Domingo 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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santo Domingo cheaper than Azua?
Azua is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,335 in Azua and $1,643 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 in Santo Domingo?
Shoppers in Santo Domingo pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Azua and in Santo Domingo?
All in, you'll spend $890 per month in Azua versus $1,096 in Santo Domingo – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Azua or in Santo Domingo?
At $890 in Azua versus $1,096 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 in 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 23% less than in Santo Domingo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.