🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $863 in Cabarete versus $1,090 in Santo Domingo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,311 in Cabarete versus $1,825 in Santo Domingo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,758 in Cabarete versus $2,559 in Santo Domingo.
🙂Living in Cabarete costs roughly 21% less than in Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cabarete36% lower, Santo Domingo19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.30DOP 368
$8.65DOP 505
-27.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.13DOP 2,108
$50.1DOP 2,922
-27.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.97DOP 348
$7.18DOP 419
-16.85%
Cappuccino
$2.22DOP 129
$2.73DOP 159
-18.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00DOP 58.3
$0.99DOP 58.0
1.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85DOP 49.31
$0.83DOP 48.30
2.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51DOP 146
$2.60DOP 152
-3.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69DOP 215
$5.10DOP 298
-27.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98DOP 57.4
$1.40DOP 81.4
-30.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42DOP 82.6
$1.80DOP 105
-21.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51DOP 88.0
$1.52DOP 88.6
-0.66%
Eggs
$1.65DOP 96.3
$2.26DOP 132
-26.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.03DOP 410
$7.33DOP 428
-4.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.68DOP 273
$6.43DOP 375
-27.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.72DOP 334
$10.86DOP 633
-47.33%
Apples(1kg)
$0.91DOP 52.8
$3.34DOP 195
-72.75%
Banana(1kg)
$0.92DOP 53.8
$0.91DOP 53.0
1.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87DOP 109
$2.96DOP 173
-36.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.30DOP 75.8
$1.99DOP 116
-34.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06DOP 61.7
$2.43DOP 142
-56.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75DOP 102
$2.33DOP 136
-24.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09DOP 63.8
$1.13DOP 65.9
-3.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95DOP 55.4
$0.89DOP 51.8
6.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38DOP 197
$5.74DOP 335
-41.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.83DOP 632
$10.80DOP 630
0.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.30DOP 134
$2.66DOP 155
-13.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82DOP 164
$3.23DOP 189
-12.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70DOP 40.67
$0.57DOP 33.23
22.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$67.9DOP 3,962
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.32DOP 193
$3.33DOP 194
-0.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.20DOP 128
$2.13DOP 124
3.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07DOP 354
$5.79DOP 338
4.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30DOP 75.9
$1.33DOP 77.7
-2.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7KDOP 1.6M
$26.2KDOP 1.5M
1.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KDOP 1.9M
$31.2KDOP 1.8M
2.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.7DOP 2,957
$77.6DOP 4,527
-34.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.55DOP 1,490
$25.52DOP 1,488
0.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.05DOP 994
$35.50DOP 2,071
-51.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.40DOP 2,473
$35.44DOP 2,067
19.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.29DOP 834
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.72DOP 392
$6.88DOP 402
-2.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$270DOP 15.7K
$271DOP 15.8K
-0.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,965DOP 464.6K
$8,089DOP 471.9K
-1.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9DOP 3,494
$60.3DOP 3,519
-0.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.9DOP 3,027
$52.0DOP 3,031
-0.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.2DOP 5,555
$96.0DOP 5,600
-0.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114DOP 6,646
$115DOP 6,728
-1.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$880DOP 51.3K
$562DOP 32.8K
56.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$252DOP 14.7K
$289DOP 16.9K
-12.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$587DOP 34.3K
$1,192DOP 69.5K
-50.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369DOP 21.6K
$676DOP 39.4K
-45.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,192DOP 127.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$312DOP 18.2K
$1,219DOP 71.1K
-74.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cabarete
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 Cabarete: May 31, 2026
Last update for Santo Domingo: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $880 in Cabarete and $562 in Santo Domingo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Cabarete vs $50.0 in Santo Domingo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $246 per month, with Cabarete 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
Cabarete vs Santo Domingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cabarete or Santo Domingo?
Cabarete wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Santo Domingo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cabarete the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cabarete vs Santo Domingo?
You'd need roughly $1,295 in Cabarete 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cabarete vs Santo Domingo?
Rent for a central apartment: $880 in Cabarete versus $562 in Santo Domingo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Cabarete and Santo Domingo?
Childcare runs $270 in Cabarete versus $271 in Santo Domingo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Cabarete vs Santo Domingo?
Dining out is cheaper in Cabarete – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $50.0 in Santo Domingo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cabarete or Santo Domingo?
At $863 in Cabarete versus $1,090 in Santo Domingo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cabarete but tight or insufficient in Santo Domingo. The gap between the two cities makes Cabarete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cabarete or Santo Domingo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cabarete delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $863 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cabarete hard to pass up.
How safe is Cabarete compared to Santo Domingo?
Safety-wise, Cabarete 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cabarete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Santo Domingo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.