Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dominica and the United States

For one person, living is cheaper in Dominica: $1,260 a month against $2,701 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $17,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

🇩🇲 Dominica
$1,260
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,701
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dominica and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dominica and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Dominica vs $2,701 in the United States, rent included.

  • Dominica $1,260
  • United States $2,701

A couple spends around $2,106 per month in Dominica vs $3,980 in the United States, rent included.

  • Dominica $2,106
  • United States $3,980

A family of three spends $2,952 per month in Dominica vs $5,258 in the United States, rent included.

  • Dominica $2,952
  • United States $5,258

The cost of living in Dominica is roughly 53% lower than in the United States on average.

Dominica sits 7% below the global median, while the United States is 100% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dominica
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.28 EC$19.66
$19.92 $19.92
-63.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9 EC$148
$81.0 $81.0
-32.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.24 EC$19.55
$12.07 $12.07
-40.02%
Cappuccino
$3.70 EC$9.99
$5.55 $5.55
-33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 EC$6.61
$2.67 $2.67
-8.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 EC$5.67
$2.09 $2.09
0.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.80 EC$4.87
$5.96 $5.96
-69.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 EC$8.94
$7.76 $7.76
-57.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dominica
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.20 EC$8.65
$1.05 $1.05
204.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 EC$6.07
$3.55 $3.55
-36.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 EC$4.04
$4.64 $4.64
-67.67%
Eggs
$5.45 EC$14.71
$4.18 $4.18
30.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.42 EC$6.55
$12.76 $12.76
-81.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.47 EC$28.28
$12.63 $12.63
-17.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.99 EC$35.07
$17.22 $17.22
-24.56%
Apples (1kg)
$7.46 EC$20.13
$5.15 $5.15
44.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 EC$7.67
$1.64 $1.64
73.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.64 EC$12.54
$4.46 $4.46
4.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.02 EC$13.56
$4.98 $4.98
0.80%
Potato (1kg)
$3.29 EC$8.88
$2.84 $2.84
15.85%
Onion (1kg)
$3.08 EC$8.31
$3.09 $3.09
-0.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 EC$5.31
$2.19 $2.19
-10.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 EC$6.96
$2.27 $2.27
13.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.29 EC$19.69
$10.61 $10.61
-31.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.03 EC$29.77
$14.71 $14.71
-25.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 EC$6.46
$2.10 $2.10
13.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 EC$7.66
$3.82 $3.82
-25.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Dominica
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.29 EC$3.47
$2.35 $2.35
-45.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.1 EC$143
$64.1 $64.1
-17.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.62 EC$9.77
$3.57 $3.57
1.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.77 EC$10.18
$1.85 $1.85
103.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.36 EC$27.98
$30.19 $30.19
-65.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 EC$3.91
$1.07 $1.07
35.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K EC$94.8K
$35.3K $35.3K
-0.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K EC$81.0K
$25.9K $25.9K
15.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dominica
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 EC$376
$217 $217
-35.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.25 EC$125
$61.4 $61.4
-24.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 EC$189
$74.4 $74.4
-6.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dominica
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.52 EC$123
$45.08 $45.08
0.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.50 EC$60.7
$23.07 $23.07
-2.47%
Cinema Ticket
$9.81 EC$26.48
$14.79 $14.79
-33.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dominica
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$128 EC$346
$1,480 $1,480
-91.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,355 EC$11.8K
$25.5K $25.5K
-82.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dominica
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 EC$150
$53.0 $53.0
5.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.13 EC$81.4
$42.75 $42.75
-29.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.2 EC$181
$94.3 $94.3
-28.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.5 EC$217
$115 $115
-30.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dominica
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$284 EC$766
$1,678 $1,678
-83.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$222 EC$598
$1,313 $1,313
-83.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$816 EC$2,202
$2,649 $2,649
-69.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$640 EC$1,727
$2,183 $2,183
-70.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$100 EC$270
$3,374 $3,374
-97.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$36.73 EC$99.2
$2,661 $2,661
-98.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dominica
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$560 EC$1,512
$4,404 $4,404
-87.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.6
6.55
16.03%

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

Last update for Dominica: October 11, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dominica
$373
United States
$411 10% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dominica
$256
United States
$352 37.9% $97
Accommodation & Living
Dominica
$222
United States
$1.3K 493% $1.1K
Eating Out
Dominica
$158
United States
$327 106% $168
Clothing & Footwear
Dominica
$105
United States
$137 30.8% $32
Getting Around
Dominica
$81
United States
$86 6.9% $5.6
Sport & Entertainment
Dominica
$65
United States
$75 14.6% $9.5

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $89.0 in Dominica vs $1,609 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $278 in Roseau and $2,730 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $561 in Dominica vs $4,533 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1708% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 295% more in the United States.

Public transport is 200% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are 708% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know
🇩🇲 Dominica
🇺🇸 United States
🕒 Local time
22:04 10:04 PM
22:04 10:04 PM
Same time as Dominica
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,656
340,110,988
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to XCD – East Caribbean Dollar Converter

East Caribbean Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD (1 XCD = 0.37 USD). 1 EUR = 3.04 XCD (1 XCD = 0.329 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dominica United States 3,410 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dominica
  • United States

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Dominica vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dominica more expensive than the United States?
Dominica is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 114% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,609 versus $89.0 in Dominica.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Dominica, adding to the overall 114% price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Dominica or in the United States?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Dominica, but in the United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Dominica or to the United States?
Dominica is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Dominica vs other spots: cost of living compared

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