Cost of Living Comparison Between Higuey and Santo Domingo Cost of Living Comparison Between Higuey and Santo Domingo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $931 in Higuey versus $1,139 in Santo Domingo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,524 in Higuey versus $1,775 in Santo Domingo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,116 in Higuey versus $2,410 in Santo Domingo.

Living in Higuey costs roughly 18% less than in Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Higuey 32% lower, Santo Domingo 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.98 DOP 588

$10.24 DOP 603

-2.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 DOP 2,982

$51.7 DOP 3,045

-2.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.00 DOP 472

$7.58 DOP 447

5.54%

Cappuccino

$2.09 DOP 123

$2.46 DOP 145

-15.04%

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

$1.08 DOP 63.9

$1.12 DOP 66.2

-3.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 DOP 28.94

$0.63 DOP 37.40

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 DOP 151

$2.47 DOP 146

3.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 DOP 212

$3.46 DOP 204

4.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 DOP 75.9

$1.39 DOP 82.0

-7.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 DOP 92.0

$1.56 DOP 92.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 DOP 83.6

$1.67 DOP 98.3

-14.97%

Eggs

$2.00 DOP 118

$2.41 DOP 142

-17.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 DOP 445

$7.61 DOP 449

-0.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.52 DOP 325

$5.55 DOP 327

-0.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.84 DOP 403

$6.63 DOP 391

3.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 DOP 177

$3.24 DOP 191

-7.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 DOP 46.56

$0.81 DOP 47.48

-2.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 DOP 88.6

$2.82 DOP 166

-46.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 DOP 80.9

$1.84 DOP 108

-25.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 DOP 70.8

$2.02 DOP 119

-40.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 DOP 71.2

$2.29 DOP 135

-47.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 DOP 33.51

$1.06 DOP 62.2

-46.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 DOP 31.07

$1.02 DOP 59.8

-48.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.42 DOP 319

$5.37 DOP 316

0.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.40 DOP 613

$10.49 DOP 618

-0.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 DOP 152

$2.60 DOP 153

-0.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 DOP 174

$3.08 DOP 182

-3.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 DOP 49.09

$0.61 DOP 36.20

36.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.5 DOP 3,032

$18.37 DOP 1,083

180.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 DOP 198

$3.30 DOP 194

2.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 DOP 138

$2.35 DOP 138

-0.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 DOP 343

$5.79 DOP 341

0.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 DOP 81.0

$1.36 DOP 80.4

0.74%

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

$23.8K DOP 1.4M

$24.1K DOP 1.4M

-1.37%

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

$31.5K DOP 1.9M

$34.5K DOP 2.0M

-8.74%

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

$95.1 DOP 5,606

$95.1 DOP 5,607

-0.01%

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

$17.15 DOP 1,011

$32.26 DOP 1,901

-46.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.89 DOP 1,997

$36.76 DOP 2,166

-7.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.44 DOP 1,499

$30.52 DOP 1,798

-16.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$66.5 DOP 3,916

$24.61 DOP 1,450

170.01%

Cinema Ticket

$7.74 DOP 456

$7.72 DOP 455

0.26%

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

$101 DOP 5,950

$263 DOP 15.5K

-61.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,257 DOP 133.0K

$7,446 DOP 438.8K

-69.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.76 DOP 2,755

$46.94 DOP 2,766

-0.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.87 DOP 2,821

$48.16 DOP 2,838

-0.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 DOP 5,172

$87.4 DOP 5,148

0.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 DOP 4,800

$128 DOP 7,556

-36.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$302 DOP 17.8K

$727 DOP 42.8K

-58.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 DOP 12.9K

$359 DOP 21.2K

-38.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 DOP 34.7K

$1,460 DOP 86.1K

-59.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$415 DOP 24.5K

$634 DOP 37.4K

-34.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,876 DOP 110.5K

$2,204 DOP 129.9K

-14.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,294 DOP 76.3K

$1,204 DOP 70.9K

7.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$454 DOP 26.7K

$606 DOP 35.7K

-25.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

13.56

-15.19%

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

Last update for Higuey: September 13, 2026

Last update for Santo Domingo: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $302 in Higuey and $727 in Santo Domingo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santo Domingo pays 34% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $51.0 in Higuey vs $52.0 in Santo Domingo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $225 per month, with Higuey cheaper across the board.

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 Santo Domingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Higuey is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 34% lower in Santo Domingo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $302 in Higuey versus $727 in Santo Domingo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $931 per month in Higuey versus $1,139 in Santo Domingo – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Higuey runs roughly 180% less than in Santo Domingo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $931 in Higuey versus $1,139 in Santo Domingo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Higuey but tight or insufficient in Santo Domingo. The gap between the two cities makes Higuey 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 Santo Domingo 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 Higuey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Santo Domingo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.