Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Dominican Republic Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Dominican Republic

😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 49.9% more expensive than Dominican Republic without rent, and 64.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 46.6% more expensive than Dominican Republic without rent, and 60.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65 ₡4,833
$6.91 DOP 407
39.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡29.3K
$51.9 DOP 3,052
13.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 ₡4,957
$6.91 DOP 407
43.27%
Cappuccino
$3.9 ₡1,954
$2.12 DOP 125
83.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 ₡1,100
$1.08 DOP 63.8
103.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₡827
$0.81 DOP 47.85
103.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ₡1,517
$2.5 DOP 147
21.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₡2,278
$4.26 DOP 251
6.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ₡1,033
$1.26 DOP 74.2
63.49%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 ₡1,530
$1.67 DOP 98.5
83.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 ₡1,261
$1.31 DOP 76.8
92.37%
Eggs
$3.29 ₡1,646
$1.7 DOP 100
93.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 ₡4,650
$7.38 DOP 434
25.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 ₡4,775
$5.44 DOP 320
75.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.6 ₡6,808
$8.79 DOP 517
54.72%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 ₡2,337
$2.96 DOP 174
57.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₡782
$0.96 DOP 56.7
62.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 ₡1,672
$2.49 DOP 147
34.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 ₡1,507
$1.65 DOP 97.2
82.42%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 ₡1,524
$1.54 DOP 90.4
97.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,426
$2.22 DOP 131
28.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡506
$0.86 DOP 50.4
17.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₡1,273
$0.76 DOP 44.76
234.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.86 ₡2,434
$5.04 DOP 297
-3.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 ₡7,442
$9.14 DOP 538
62.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 ₡1,137
$2.51 DOP 148
-9.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₡1,366
$3.34 DOP 197
-18.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₡476
$0.62 DOP 36.22
53.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.46 ₡24.8K
$34.22 DOP 2,015
44.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₡904
$3.35 DOP 197
-45.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 ₡969
$2.44 DOP 144
-20.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 ₡3,850
$5.46 DOP 322
40.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₡735
$1.33 DOP 78.4
10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K ₡18.7M
$25.8K DOP 1.5M
44.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K ₡17.4M
$31.5K DOP 1.9M
10.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 ₡43.5K
$67.1 DOP 3,948
29.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 ₡12.7K
$20.77 DOP 1,223
22.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 ₡27.4K
$37.65 DOP 2,216
45.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 ₡28.9K
$25.93 DOP 1,526
122.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42 ₡14.2K
$13.45 DOP 792
111.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.08 ₡4,546
$6.17 DOP 363
47.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 ₡275.9K
$241 DOP 14.2K
128.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,816 ₡4.9M
$6,116 DOP 360.1K
60.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 ₡36.2K
$43.54 DOP 2,563
66.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 ₡27.6K
$52.8 DOP 3,110
4.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₡59.3K
$79.3 DOP 4,666
49.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ₡52.1K
$93.4 DOP 5,496
11.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡408.8K
$450 DOP 26.5K
81.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$539 ₡269.6K
$249 DOP 14.7K
116.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 ₡748.3K
$885 DOP 52.1K
68.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 ₡510.2K
$474 DOP 27.9K
114.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,511 ₡1.3M
$1,550 DOP 91.2K
62.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,384 ₡693K
$983 DOP 57.9K
40.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.8K
$402 DOP 23.6K
148.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
13.16
-19.98%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

Last update for Dominican Republic: October 29, 2025

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