Cost of Living Comparison Between Higuey and Azua Cost of Living Comparison Between Higuey and Azua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $931 in Higuey versus $683 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,524 in Higuey versus $1,080 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,116 in Higuey versus $1,477 in Azua.

Living in Higuey is roughly 36% more expensive than in Azua, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Higuey 32% lower, Azua 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.98 DOP 588

$8.23 DOP 485

21.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 DOP 2,982

$42.16 DOP 2,485

20.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.00 DOP 472

$7.40 DOP 436

8.11%

Cappuccino

$2.09 DOP 123

$1.37 DOP 80.8

52.55%

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

$1.08 DOP 63.9

$0.69 DOP 40.55

56.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 DOP 28.94

$0.39 DOP 22.75

25.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 DOP 151

$2.57 DOP 151

-0.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 DOP 212

$3.99 DOP 235

-9.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 DOP 75.9

$1.21 DOP 71.1

6.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 DOP 92.0

$1.85 DOP 109

-15.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 DOP 83.6

$1.04 DOP 61.3

36.54%

Eggs

$2.00 DOP 118

$1.54 DOP 90.9

29.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 DOP 445

$6.58 DOP 388

14.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.52 DOP 325

$3.63 DOP 214

52.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.84 DOP 403

$4.79 DOP 282

42.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 DOP 177

$3.82 DOP 225

-21.20%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 DOP 46.56

$1.48 DOP 87.4

-46.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 DOP 88.6

$3.40 DOP 200

-55.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 DOP 80.9

$2.30 DOP 135

-40.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 DOP 70.8

$3.72 DOP 219

-67.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 DOP 71.2

$2.92 DOP 172

-58.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 DOP 33.51

$0.96 DOP 56.4

-40.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 DOP 31.07

$1.69 DOP 99.8

-68.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.42 DOP 319

$4.79 DOP 282

13.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.40 DOP 613

$17.19 DOP 1,013

-39.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 DOP 152

$2.98 DOP 175

-13.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 DOP 174

$3.45 DOP 203

-14.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 DOP 49.09

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.5 DOP 3,032

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 DOP 198

$2.59 DOP 153

30.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 DOP 138

$3.32 DOP 196

-29.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 DOP 343

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 DOP 81.0

$1.37 DOP 80.5

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

$23.8K DOP 1.4M

$15.4K DOP 907.5K

54.33%

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

$31.5K DOP 1.9M

$25.5K DOP 1.5M

23.43%

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

$95.1 DOP 5,606

$95.2 DOP 5,610

-0.06%

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

$17.15 DOP 1,011

$27.28 DOP 1,608

-37.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.89 DOP 1,997

$39.60 DOP 2,333

-14.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.44 DOP 1,499

$20.68 DOP 1,219

23.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$66.5 DOP 3,916

Cinema Ticket

$7.74 DOP 456

$5.11 DOP 301

51.47%

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

$101 DOP 5,950

$155 DOP 9,115

-34.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,257 DOP 133.0K

$5,649 DOP 332.9K

-60.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.76 DOP 2,755

$26.75 DOP 1,576

74.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.87 DOP 2,821

$46.02 DOP 2,712

4.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 DOP 5,172

$64.2 DOP 3,781

36.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 DOP 4,800

$68.4 DOP 4,030

19.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$302 DOP 17.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 DOP 12.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 DOP 34.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$415 DOP 24.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,876 DOP 110.5K

$3,661 DOP 215.7K

-48.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,294 DOP 76.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$454 DOP 26.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

4.55%

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

Last update for Higuey: September 13, 2026

Last update for Azua: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $51.0 in Higuey vs $42.00 in Azua. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 vs $244, with Higuey 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

Higuey vs Azua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Azua is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,397 in Higuey and $1,025 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 Higuey pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $931 per month in Higuey versus $683 in Azua – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $683 in Azua versus $931 in Higuey, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Azua but tight or insufficient in Higuey. The gap between the two cities makes Azua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Higuey 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 Azua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Higuey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.