Cost of Living Comparison Between Higuey and Santa Cruz del Seibo Cost of Living Comparison Between Higuey and Santa Cruz del Seibo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $931 in Higuey versus $656 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,524 in Higuey versus $1,049 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,116 in Higuey versus $1,442 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.

Living in Higuey is roughly 42% more expensive than in Santa Cruz del Seibo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Higuey 32% lower, Santa Cruz del Seibo 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Higuey
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.98 DOP 588
$8.27 DOP 487
20.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.6 DOP 2,982
$42.76 DOP 2,520
18.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.00 DOP 472
$5.10 DOP 300
56.86%
Cappuccino
$2.09 DOP 123
$1.82 DOP 107
14.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 DOP 63.9
$0.73 DOP 43.27
47.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 DOP 28.94
$0.38 DOP 22.59
28.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 DOP 151
$2.50 DOP 147
2.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 DOP 212
$4.00 DOP 235
-10.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Higuey
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 DOP 75.9
$1.24 DOP 73.3
4.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 DOP 92.0
$1.78 DOP 105
-12.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 DOP 83.6
$1.54 DOP 90.8
-7.79%
Eggs
$2.00 DOP 118
$1.52 DOP 89.8
31.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.55 DOP 445
$6.40 DOP 377
17.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.52 DOP 325
$3.60 DOP 212
53.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.84 DOP 403
$4.71 DOP 277
45.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 DOP 177
$3.72 DOP 219
-19.09%
Banana (1kg)
$0.79 DOP 46.56
$1.47 DOP 86.5
-46.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 DOP 88.6
$3.34 DOP 197
-55.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 DOP 80.9
$2.21 DOP 131
-38.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 DOP 70.8
$3.71 DOP 219
-67.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 DOP 71.2
$2.92 DOP 172
-58.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 DOP 33.51
$0.91 DOP 53.8
-37.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 DOP 31.07
$1.62 DOP 95.7
-67.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.42 DOP 319
$4.97 DOP 293
9.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.40 DOP 613
$17.05 DOP 1,005
-39.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 DOP 152
$3.06 DOP 180
-15.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 DOP 174
$3.40 DOP 200
-12.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Higuey
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
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
$2.48 DOP 146
35.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.34 DOP 138
$3.38 DOP 199
-30.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.83 DOP 343
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 DOP 81.0
$1.42 DOP 83.7
-3.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K DOP 1.4M
$15.1K DOP 891.5K
57.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K DOP 1.9M
$25.4K DOP 1.5M
24.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Higuey
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.1 DOP 5,606
$98.1 DOP 5,782
-3.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.15 DOP 1,011
$27.13 DOP 1,599
-36.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.89 DOP 1,997
$39.79 DOP 2,345
-14.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Higuey
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.44 DOP 1,499
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$66.5 DOP 3,916
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.74 DOP 456
$5.19 DOP 306
49.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Higuey
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$101 DOP 5,950
$154 DOP 9,094
-34.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,257 DOP 133.0K
$5,493 DOP 323.7K
-58.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Higuey
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.76 DOP 2,755
$27.50 DOP 1,621
70.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.87 DOP 2,821
$46.34 DOP 2,731
3.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.8 DOP 5,172
$62.5 DOP 3,685
40.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.5 DOP 4,800
$67.5 DOP 3,980
20.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Higuey
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
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
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,294 DOP 76.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Higuey
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$454 DOP 26.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.5
11
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 Santa Cruz del Seibo: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $51.0 in Higuey vs $43.00 in Santa Cruz del Seibo. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 vs $242, 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 Santa Cruz del Seibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Cruz del Seibo cheaper than Higuey?
Santa Cruz del Seibo is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,397 in Higuey and $984 in Santa Cruz del Seibo 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.
How do food prices compare in Higuey and in Santa Cruz del Seibo?
Shoppers in Higuey pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Higuey and in Santa Cruz del Seibo?
All in, you'll spend $931 per month in Higuey versus $656 in Santa Cruz del Seibo – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Higuey or in Santa Cruz del Seibo?
At $656 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $931 in Higuey, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz del Seibo but tight or insufficient in Higuey. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz del Seibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Higuey or in Santa Cruz del Seibo?
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.
Which city is safer, Higuey or Santa Cruz del Seibo?
Safety-wise, Higuey and Santa Cruz del Seibo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Santa Cruz del Seibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Higuey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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