Cost of Living Comparison Between Esperanza and Azua Cost of Living Comparison Between Esperanza and Azua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $705 in Esperanza versus $888 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,170 in Esperanza versus $1,247 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,636 in Esperanza versus $1,606 in Azua.

Living in Esperanza costs roughly 21% less than in Azua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Esperanza 47% lower, Azua 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.61 DOP 512

$8.71 DOP 518

-1.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 DOP 3,009

$51.8 DOP 3,082

-2.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 DOP 427

$7.25 DOP 432

-0.97%

Cappuccino

$2.69 DOP 160

$1.38 DOP 81.9

94.93%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 DOP 59.5

$1.03 DOP 61.4

-2.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 DOP 46.48

$0.79 DOP 46.76

-1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 DOP 151

$2.52 DOP 150

0.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.18 DOP 309

$4.95 DOP 295

4.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 DOP 80.3

$1.20 DOP 71.3

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 DOP 107

$1.74 DOP 104

3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 DOP 91.9

$1.08 DOP 64.5

42.59%

Eggs

$2.21 DOP 132

$1.63 DOP 96.8

35.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.12 DOP 424

$7.16 DOP 426

-0.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.40 DOP 381

$6.14 DOP 366

4.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.13 DOP 663

$10.81 DOP 643

2.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 DOP 195

$3.34 DOP 199

-1.80%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 DOP 51.3

$0.85 DOP 50.8

1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 DOP 177

$3.01 DOP 179

-1.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 DOP 120

$1.95 DOP 116

3.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 DOP 150

$2.55 DOP 152

-1.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 DOP 138

$2.36 DOP 140

-1.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 DOP 64.2

$1.12 DOP 66.7

-3.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 DOP 56.3

$0.95 DOP 56.4

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.69 DOP 339

$5.91 DOP 352

-3.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.44 DOP 681

$11.59 DOP 690

-1.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 DOP 156

$2.61 DOP 156

0.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 DOP 185

$3.15 DOP 187

-1.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 DOP 205

$3.33 DOP 198

3.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 DOP 126

$2.11 DOP 126

0.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 DOP 359

$5.88 DOP 350

2.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 DOP 76.2

$1.33 DOP 79.1

-3.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.7K DOP 1.6M

$26.9K DOP 1.6M

-0.77%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.2K DOP 1.9M

$29.7K DOP 1.8M

5.03%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$75.2 DOP 4,475

$77.2 DOP 4,596

-2.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.15 DOP 1,497

$25.20 DOP 1,500

-0.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.28 DOP 2,160

$36.27 DOP 2,159

0.03%

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 DOP 393

$6.83 DOP 406

-3.22%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$267 DOP 15.9K

0.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,168 DOP 486.2K

$8,222 DOP 489.4K

-0.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 DOP 3,539

$60.7 DOP 3,613

-2.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 DOP 3,026

$52.7 DOP 3,134

-3.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 DOP 5,615

$95.1 DOP 5,661

-0.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 DOP 6,816

$115 DOP 6,825

-0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 DOP 12.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,604 DOP 214.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.9

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

Last update for Esperanza: April 26, 2026

Last update for Azua: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $51.0 in Esperanza vs $52.0 in Azua. Groceries flip the comparison at $247 vs $239, with Azua cheaper for home cooking.

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

Esperanza vs Azua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Esperanza is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,057 in Esperanza and $1,332 in Azua to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Azua pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $705 per month in Esperanza versus $888 in Azua – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Esperanza gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Esperanza and Azua are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Esperanza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.