🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $856 in Cabarete versus $1,096 in Santo Domingo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,324 in Cabarete versus $1,824 in Santo Domingo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,791 in Cabarete versus $2,552 in Santo Domingo.
🌍Living in Cabarete costs roughly 22% less than in Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cabarete36% lower, Santo Domingo18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.41DOP 374
$8.66DOP 505
-25.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.19DOP 2,052
$50.9DOP 2,965
-30.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.08DOP 355
$7.23DOP 422
-15.91%
Cappuccino
$2.20DOP 128
$2.63DOP 153
-16.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02DOP 59.6
$0.99DOP 57.5
3.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84DOP 48.77
$0.82DOP 48.08
2.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.62DOP 153
$2.57DOP 150
1.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79DOP 221
$4.99DOP 291
-24.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99DOP 57.9
$1.34DOP 78.1
-26.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41DOP 82.0
$1.71DOP 99.7
-17.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53DOP 89.2
$1.50DOP 87.5
2.00%
Eggs
$1.60DOP 93.2
$2.27DOP 132
-29.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.00DOP 408
$7.18DOP 419
-2.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.78DOP 279
$6.29DOP 367
-24.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.53DOP 322
$11.19DOP 653
-50.58%
Apples(1kg)
$0.91DOP 52.9
$3.21DOP 187
-71.65%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85DOP 49.56
$0.86DOP 49.90
-1.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93DOP 112
$2.88DOP 168
-32.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.28DOP 74.7
$1.93DOP 112
-33.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07DOP 62.2
$2.52DOP 147
-57.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73DOP 101
$2.36DOP 138
-26.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11DOP 64.6
$1.09DOP 63.6
1.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87DOP 50.7
$0.90DOP 52.4
-3.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44DOP 200
$5.78DOP 337
-40.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.59DOP 617
$10.70DOP 624
-1.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34DOP 136
$2.63DOP 153
-11.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84DOP 165
$3.20DOP 187
-11.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.66DOP 38.65
$0.57DOP 33.30
15.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$68.7DOP 4,004
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.50DOP 204
$3.36DOP 196
4.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.15DOP 125
$2.19DOP 128
-1.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.91DOP 345
$5.98DOP 349
-1.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23DOP 71.9
$1.33DOP 77.3
-7.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KDOP 1.5M
$26.1KDOP 1.5M
0.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4KDOP 1.8M
$32.3KDOP 1.9M
-2.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.5DOP 3,000
$75.6DOP 4,408
-31.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.94DOP 1,454
$25.29DOP 1,475
-1.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.89DOP 985
$35.48DOP 2,069
-52.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.55DOP 2,481
$36.45DOP 2,125
16.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.32DOP 835
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.95DOP 405
$6.76DOP 394
2.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$270DOP 15.7K
$263DOP 15.3K
2.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,191DOP 477.6K
$8,020DOP 467.7K
2.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6DOP 3,473
$60.3DOP 3,517
-1.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.7DOP 3,014
$52.0DOP 3,031
-0.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5DOP 5,568
$96.9DOP 5,648
-1.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114DOP 6,657
$114DOP 6,664
-0.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cabarete
Santo Domingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$880DOP 51.3K
$564DOP 32.9K
55.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$260DOP 15.1K
$285DOP 16.6K
-8.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$598DOP 34.9K
$1,175DOP 68.5K
-49.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374DOP 21.8K
$685DOP 39.9K
-45.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,168DOP 126.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$305DOP 17.8K
$1,179DOP 68.7K
-74.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cabarete
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 Cabarete: July 12, 2026
Last update for Santo Domingo: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $880 in Cabarete and $564 in Santo Domingo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Cabarete vs $51.0 in Santo Domingo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $243 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 28% 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 and in Santo Domingo?
You'd need roughly $1,284 in Cabarete 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cabarete compared to Santo Domingo?
Rent for a central apartment: $880 in Cabarete versus $564 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 $270 in Cabarete versus $263 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 Cabarete – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $51.0 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 in Santo Domingo?
At $856 in Cabarete versus $1,096 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 $856 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 28% less than in Santo Domingo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.