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 $742 per month in Dominican Republic vs $2,184 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,190 per month in Dominican Republic vs $3,219 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,637 per month in Dominican Republic vs $4,253 in Australia, rent included.

Dominican Republic is roughly 66% cheaper than Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Dominican Republic sits 45% below the global median, while Australia is 63% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.83 DOP 401
$16.44 A$23.33
-58.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.5 DOP 2,963
$78.1 A$111
-35.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.92 DOP 406
$9.94 A$14.11
-30.38%
Cappuccino
$2.10 DOP 123
$3.60 A$5.10
-41.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 DOP 61.1
$2.68 A$3.80
-61.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 DOP 48.10
$2.14 A$3.03
-61.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.54 DOP 149
$6.53 A$9.26
-61.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 DOP 256
$7.05 A$10.00
-38.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 DOP 72.8
$1.58 A$2.24
-21.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 DOP 94.8
$2.53 A$3.59
-35.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 DOP 73.0
$2.07 A$2.94
-40.10%
Eggs
$1.75 DOP 103
$4.30 A$6.11
-59.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.34 DOP 431
$9.03 A$12.81
-18.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.27 DOP 309
$8.55 A$12.13
-38.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.58 DOP 504
$13.96 A$19.80
-38.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 DOP 179
$3.18 A$4.51
-3.77%
Banana (1kg)
$0.96 DOP 56.1
$2.84 A$4.03
-66.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.43 DOP 143
$2.95 A$4.18
-17.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.65 DOP 96.7
$4.43 A$6.29
-62.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 DOP 89.4
$2.46 A$3.48
-38.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 DOP 130
$2.17 A$3.08
2.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 DOP 52.1
$2.29 A$3.25
-61.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 DOP 48.40
$1.57 A$2.23
-47.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.03 DOP 295
$30.87 A$43.79
-83.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.40 DOP 611
$14.06 A$19.94
-26.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 DOP 148
$4.55 A$6.45
-44.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 DOP 194
$4.81 A$6.83
-31.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.66 DOP 38.89
$2.87 A$4.07
-77.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.99 DOP 1,994
$95.8 A$136
-64.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 DOP 196
$3.65 A$5.17
-8.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 DOP 139
$1.76 A$2.50
34.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.46 DOP 320
$38.27 A$54.3
-85.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 DOP 77.3
$1.15 A$1.63
14.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K DOP 1.5M
$28.4K A$40.3K
-7.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K DOP 1.9M
$23.0K A$32.6K
38.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.2 DOP 4,004
$178 A$253
-61.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.38 DOP 1,196
$26.46 A$37.53
-22.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.61 DOP 2,265
$54.1 A$76.8
-28.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.91 DOP 1,520
$46.64 A$66.2
-44.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.40 DOP 786
$16.54 A$23.47
-18.98%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 DOP 368
$13.65 A$19.36
-53.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$239 DOP 14.0K
$1,575 A$2,234
-84.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,936 DOP 348.3K
$12.7K A$18.0K
-53.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.08 DOP 2,528
$71.5 A$101
-39.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.7 DOP 3,036
$50.8 A$72.1
1.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 DOP 4,693
$100 A$142
-20.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.4 DOP 5,482
$108 A$153
-13.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$458 DOP 26.9K
$1,384 A$1,963
-66.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$248 DOP 14.5K
$1,105 A$1,568
-77.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$873 DOP 51.2K
$2,298 A$3,260
-62.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 DOP 27.4K
$1,728 A$2,451
-72.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,146 DOP 126.0K
$7,610 A$10.8K
-71.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,179 DOP 69.2K
$5,504 A$7,808
-78.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dominican Republic
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$618 DOP 36.3K
$4,002 A$5,677
-84.55%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Australia: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $229 in Dominican Republic vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $560 in Santo Domingo and $1,568 in Canberra.

Average salary: $601 in Dominican Republic vs $3,845 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 438% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 103% more in Australia.

Public transport is 738% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 540% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.

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 219% 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 219% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Australia or 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 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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