🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $667 in Azua versus $1,124 in Santo Domingo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,075 in Azua versus $1,760 in Santo Domingo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,482 in Azua versus $2,395 in Santo Domingo.
🌍Living in Azua costs roughly 41% less than in Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Azua51% lower, Santo Domingo18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.65DOP 506
$10.21DOP 598
-15.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.01DOP 2,518
$51.7DOP 3,026
-16.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.05DOP 413
$7.97DOP 467
-11.54%
Cappuccino
$1.38DOP 81.1
$2.40DOP 140
-42.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68DOP 39.80
$1.13DOP 66.4
-39.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38DOP 22.33
$0.64DOP 37.46
-40.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49DOP 146
$2.61DOP 153
-4.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09DOP 239
$3.60DOP 211
13.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24DOP 72.5
$1.45DOP 84.8
-14.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83DOP 107
$1.53DOP 89.5
19.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.09DOP 63.8
$1.61DOP 94.3
-32.30%
Eggs
$1.47DOP 86.2
$2.46DOP 144
-40.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.30DOP 369
$7.57DOP 443
-16.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.73DOP 218
$5.87DOP 343
-36.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.81DOP 282
$6.76DOP 396
-28.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82DOP 224
$3.36DOP 197
13.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44DOP 84.3
$0.81DOP 47.21
77.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.28DOP 192
$2.71DOP 159
21.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29DOP 134
$1.91DOP 112
19.90%
Potato(1kg)
$3.67DOP 215
$2.10DOP 123
74.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.90DOP 170
$2.31DOP 135
25.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92DOP 53.8
$1.02DOP 59.6
-9.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63DOP 95.4
$1.03DOP 60.1
58.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.94DOP 289
$5.47DOP 320
-9.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.11DOP 1,002
$10.52DOP 616
62.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.11DOP 182
$2.62DOP 153
18.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42DOP 200
$3.04DOP 178
12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.61DOP 35.91
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.63DOP 1,091
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.50DOP 146
$3.32DOP 195
-24.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.29DOP 193
$2.24DOP 131
46.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$6.11DOP 358
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39DOP 81.2
$1.35DOP 79.0
2.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.5KDOP 904.9K
$23.3KDOP 1.4M
-33.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KDOP 1.5M
$34.6KDOP 2.0M
-24.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.3DOP 5,755
$95.3DOP 5,579
3.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.86DOP 1,631
$31.73DOP 1,858
-12.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.86DOP 2,334
$36.90DOP 2,161
8.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.21DOP 1,183
$29.78DOP 1,743
-32.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.29DOP 1,481
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.21DOP 305
$7.84DOP 459
-33.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152DOP 8,872
$262DOP 15.3K
-42.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,515DOP 322.9K
$7,076DOP 414.3K
-22.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.70DOP 1,563
$46.44DOP 2,719
-42.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.53DOP 2,783
$46.90DOP 2,746
1.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.5DOP 3,773
$90.4DOP 5,295
-28.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.1DOP 4,048
$125DOP 7,300
-44.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$728DOP 42.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$354DOP 20.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,475DOP 86.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$630DOP 36.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,649DOP 213.7K
$2,265DOP 132.6K
61.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,209DOP 70.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Azua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$610DOP 35.7K
-
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: August 31, 2026
Last update for Santo Domingo: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Azua vs $52.0 in Santo Domingo. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $228, with Santo Domingo 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 Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 68% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,001 in Azua and $1,685 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 6% 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 $667 per month in Azua versus $1,124 in Santo Domingo – a 68% 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 $667 in Azua versus $1,124 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 68% less than in Santo Domingo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.