Cost of Living Comparison Between Dominican Republic and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Dominican Republic and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $745 per month in Dominican Republic vs $2,181 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,188 per month in Dominican Republic vs $3,218 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,630 per month in Dominican Republic vs $4,254 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Dominican Republic is roughly 66% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Dominican Republic sits 44% below the global median, while Australia is 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.83 DOP 396
$15.97 A$22.93
-57.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.1 DOP 2,962
$79.0 A$113
-35.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.62 DOP 384
$9.68 A$13.91
-31.61%
Cappuccino
$2.20 DOP 127
$3.58 A$5.15
-38.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 DOP 61.5
$2.56 A$3.68
-58.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 DOP 46.49
$2.22 A$3.19
-63.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.54 DOP 147
$6.34 A$9.10
-59.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 DOP 251
$6.95 A$9.98
-37.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 DOP 74.7
$1.56 A$2.25
-17.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 DOP 93.0
$2.53 A$3.63
-36.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 DOP 76.2
$2.00 A$2.87
-34.50%
Eggs
$1.69 DOP 98.2
$4.26 A$6.12
-60.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 DOP 430
$8.75 A$12.57
-15.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.24 DOP 304
$8.23 A$11.83
-36.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.91 DOP 517
$14.15 A$20.33
-37.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 DOP 170
$3.26 A$4.69
-10.12%
Banana (1kg)
$0.89 DOP 51.6
$2.81 A$4.04
-68.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.45 DOP 142
$3.00 A$4.31
-18.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 DOP 92.4
$4.31 A$6.19
-63.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 DOP 89.1
$2.55 A$3.67
-39.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 DOP 128
$2.16 A$3.10
1.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 DOP 51.5
$2.22 A$3.19
-59.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 DOP 48.64
$1.53 A$2.20
-45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.15 DOP 299
$31.28 A$44.93
-83.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.67 DOP 619
$14.09 A$20.24
-24.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 DOP 147
$4.44 A$6.38
-43.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 DOP 184
$4.90 A$7.05
-35.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.66 DOP 38.08
$2.95 A$4.24
-77.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.64 DOP 1,952
$95.9 A$138
-64.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 DOP 198
$3.49 A$5.01
-2.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 DOP 140
$1.84 A$2.64
30.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 DOP 327
$37.26 A$53.5
-84.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 DOP 74.2
$1.17 A$1.68
9.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K DOP 1.5M
$28.7K A$41.3K
-8.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K DOP 1.8M
$22.5K A$32.3K
40.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.2 DOP 3,839
$173 A$249
-61.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.65 DOP 1,198
$26.62 A$38.23
-22.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.89 DOP 2,198
$53.1 A$76.2
-28.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.11 DOP 1,515
$46.82 A$67.3
-44.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.54 DOP 786
$16.38 A$23.53
-17.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 DOP 361
$13.56 A$19.48
-54.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$241 DOP 14.0K
$1,571 A$2,256
-84.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,961 DOP 345.8K
$12.6K A$18.1K
-52.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.30 DOP 2,512
$72.1 A$104
-39.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 DOP 2,973
$51.6 A$74.1
-0.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.9 DOP 4,695
$101 A$145
-19.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3 DOP 5,299
$108 A$155
-15.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$457 DOP 26.5K
$1,398 A$2,008
-67.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$248 DOP 14.4K
$1,086 A$1,560
-77.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$870 DOP 50.4K
$2,272 A$3,263
-61.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$473 DOP 27.5K
$1,751 A$2,515
-72.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,141 DOP 124.2K
$7,955 A$11.4K
-73.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,165 DOP 67.6K
$5,978 A$8,587
-80.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$588 DOP 34.1K
$4,053 A$5,822
-85.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.16
6.35
107.24%

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

Last update for Dominican Republic: July 27, 2026

Last update for Australia: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $229 in Dominican Republic vs $1,230 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $564 in Santo Domingo and $1,557 in Canberra.

Average salary: $559 in Dominican Republic vs $3,808 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 437% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 103% more in Australia.

Public transport is 738% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 581% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

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
Dominican Republic vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Dominican Republic?
Dominican Republic is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 214% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Dominican Republic, contributing to the overall 214% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in Dominican Republic?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Dominican Republic, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Dominican Republic?
Dominican Republic 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.

Dominican Republic vs other spots: cost of living compared

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