🙂A single person spends $738 per month in Dominican Republic vs $1,536 in Costa Rica, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,183 per month in Dominican Republic vs $2,320 in Costa Rica, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,628 per month in Dominican Republic vs $3,104 in Costa Rica, rent included.
🙂Dominican Republic is roughly 52% cheaper than Costa Rica on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Dominican Republic sits 45% below the global median, while Costa Rica is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Dominican Republic
Costa Rica
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.76DOP 402
$9.69₡4,413
-30.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.8DOP 3,082
$59.8₡27.2K
-13.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.74DOP 401
$9.65₡4,398
-30.16%
Cappuccino
$2.16DOP 129
$3.99₡1,817
-45.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08DOP 64.5
$2.18₡993
-50.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85DOP 50.6
$1.64₡745
-48.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.52DOP 150
$3.05₡1,387
-17.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15DOP 247
$4.42₡2,012
-6.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dominican Republic
Costa Rica
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29DOP 76.7
$2.05₡934
-37.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66DOP 98.9
$3.21₡1,464
-48.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31DOP 77.9
$2.49₡1,133
-47.39%
Eggs
$1.74DOP 104
$3.29₡1,497
-47.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.46DOP 444
$9.11₡4,148
-18.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.41DOP 322
$9.70₡4,417
-44.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.99DOP 535
$13.19₡6,010
-31.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05DOP 182
$4.53₡2,063
-32.67%
Banana(1kg)
$0.94DOP 55.9
$1.57₡715
-40.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36DOP 140
$3.20₡1,460
-26.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60DOP 95.2
$2.94₡1,339
-45.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61DOP 95.6
$2.99₡1,361
-46.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23DOP 133
$2.71₡1,235
-17.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93DOP 55.6
$1.03₡469
-9.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81DOP 48.34
$2.50₡1,138
-67.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.10DOP 304
$5.05₡2,300
0.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.13DOP 603
$16.18₡7,372
-37.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64DOP 157
$2.39₡1,091
10.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29DOP 196
$2.77₡1,260
18.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Dominican Republic
Costa Rica
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.62DOP 36.84
$0.95₡431
-34.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.67DOP 2,004
$48.97₡22.3K
-31.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.35DOP 199
$1.86₡848
80.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.38DOP 142
$2.01₡915
18.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.66DOP 337
$7.75₡3,532
-26.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29DOP 76.6
$1.50₡684
-14.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KDOP 1.6M
$36.8K₡16.8M
-28.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KDOP 1.9M
$35.5K₡16.2M
-10.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dominican Republic
Costa Rica
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.1DOP 4,053
$87.5₡39.8K
-22.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.70DOP 1,232
$25.82₡11.8K
-19.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.37DOP 2,284
$54.5₡24.8K
-29.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dominican Republic
Costa Rica
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.47DOP 1,516
$56.4₡25.7K
-54.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.42DOP 799
$29.13₡13.3K
-53.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.15DOP 366
$9.14₡4,164
-32.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dominican Republic
Costa Rica
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$240DOP 14.3K
$555₡252.8K
-56.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,971DOP 355.4K
$9,828₡4.5M
-39.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dominican Republic
Costa Rica
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.22DOP 2,632
$73.9₡33.7K
-40.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5DOP 3,123
$54.2₡24.7K
-3.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.5DOP 4,733
$119₡54.0K
-32.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.2DOP 5,486
$102₡46.5K
-9.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dominican Republic
Costa Rica
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$450DOP 26.8K
$822₡374.6K
-45.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$253DOP 15.0K
$549₡250.1K
-53.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$885DOP 52.7K
$1,469₡669.1K
-39.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$457DOP 27.2K
$1,023₡466.2K
-55.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,194DOP 130.6K
$2,327₡1.1M
-5.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,201DOP 71.5K
$1,612₡734.5K
-25.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dominican Republic
Costa Rica
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$622DOP 37.0K
$1,076₡490.3K
-42.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.16
10.53
24.98%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Dominican Republic: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Costa Rica: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $229 in Dominican Republic vs $776 in Costa Rica. For reference, capital cities sit at $572 in Santo Domingo and $872 in San Jose.
💰Average salary: $573 in Dominican Republic vs $1,110 in Costa Rica. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 239% higher in Costa Rica.
⭐Dining out costs 34% more in Costa Rica.
⭐Public transport is 63% more expensive in Costa Rica.
⭐Salaries are 94% higher in Costa Rica.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Dominican Republic vs Costa Rica: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which country is cheaper: Costa Rica or Dominican Republic?
Dominican Republic is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 135% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Costa Rica or Dominican Republic?
Housing costs more in Costa Rica, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Costa Rica consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Costa Rica vs Dominican Republic?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Dominican Republic, contributing to the overall 135% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Costa Rica and Dominican Republic on $2,000 per month?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Dominican Republic, but in Costa Rica it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Costa Rica 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 otros destinos: coste de vida comparado