😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Cabarete versus $1,124 in Santo Domingo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,855 in Cabarete versus $1,760 in Santo Domingo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,492 in Cabarete versus $2,395 in Santo Domingo.
🌍Living in Cabarete is roughly 8% more expensive than in Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cabarete11% lower, Santo Domingo18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.76DOP 455
$10.21DOP 598
-24.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.52DOP 2,899
$51.7DOP 3,026
-4.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.76DOP 396
$7.97DOP 467
-15.18%
Cappuccino
$2.04DOP 120
$2.40DOP 140
-15.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13DOP 66.1
$1.13DOP 66.4
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67DOP 39.46
$0.64DOP 37.46
4.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53DOP 148
$2.61DOP 153
-3.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46DOP 203
$3.60DOP 211
-3.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41DOP 82.6
$1.45DOP 84.8
-2.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59DOP 93.2
$1.53DOP 89.5
3.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67DOP 97.7
$1.61DOP 94.3
3.73%
Eggs
$2.40DOP 141
$2.46DOP 144
-2.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.51DOP 440
$7.57DOP 443
-0.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.76DOP 337
$5.87DOP 343
-1.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.62DOP 388
$6.76DOP 396
-2.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04DOP 178
$3.36DOP 197
-9.52%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85DOP 49.91
$0.81DOP 47.21
4.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82DOP 165
$2.71DOP 159
4.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.89DOP 111
$1.91DOP 112
-1.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12DOP 124
$2.10DOP 123
0.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31DOP 135
$2.31DOP 135
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03DOP 60.3
$1.02DOP 59.6
0.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87DOP 51.1
$1.03DOP 60.1
-15.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.98DOP 233
$5.47DOP 320
-27.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.41DOP 609
$10.52DOP 616
-1.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69DOP 157
$2.62DOP 153
2.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61DOP 153
$3.04DOP 178
-14.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03DOP 60.3
$0.61DOP 35.91
68.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.63DOP 1,091
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.33DOP 195
$3.32DOP 195
0.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.27DOP 133
$2.24DOP 131
1.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.01DOP 352
$6.11DOP 358
-1.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21DOP 71.0
$1.35DOP 79.0
-10.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1KDOP 1.4M
$23.3KDOP 1.4M
3.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KDOP 2.0M
$34.6KDOP 2.0M
-0.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$94.8DOP 5,550
$95.3DOP 5,579
-0.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.78DOP 1,860
$31.73DOP 1,858
0.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80DOP 2,213
$36.90DOP 2,161
2.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.35DOP 1,484
$29.78DOP 1,743
-14.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.29DOP 1,481
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.59DOP 444
$7.84DOP 459
-3.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$260DOP 15.2K
$262DOP 15.3K
-0.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,121DOP 416.9K
$7,076DOP 414.3K
0.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.13DOP 2,701
$46.44DOP 2,719
-0.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.21DOP 2,823
$46.90DOP 2,746
2.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.2DOP 5,164
$90.4DOP 5,295
-2.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130DOP 7,584
$125DOP 7,300
3.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$704DOP 41.2K
$728DOP 42.6K
-3.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$506DOP 29.6K
$354DOP 20.7K
43.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,192DOP 69.8K
$1,475DOP 86.4K
-19.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$785DOP 46.0K
$630DOP 36.9K
24.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,265DOP 132.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$306DOP 17.9K
$1,209DOP 70.8K
-74.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$610DOP 35.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.56
13.56
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cabarete: August 31, 2026
Last update for Santo Domingo: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $704 in Cabarete and $728 in Santo Domingo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Cabarete vs $52.0 in Santo Domingo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $224 vs $228 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?
Santo Domingo wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Cabarete. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santo Domingo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cabarete and in Santo Domingo?
You'd need roughly $1,826 in Cabarete 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cabarete compared to Santo Domingo?
Rent for a central apartment: $704 in Cabarete versus $728 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 in Santo Domingo?
Childcare runs $260 in Cabarete versus $262 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 and in Santo Domingo?
Dining out is cheaper in Santo Domingo – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $50.0 in Cabarete. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Cabarete or in Santo Domingo?
At $1,124 in Santo Domingo versus $1,218 in Cabarete, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santo Domingo but tight or insufficient in Cabarete. The gap between the two cities makes Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,124 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Cabarete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.