For one person, living is cheaper in India: $399 a month against $1,044 in the Dominican Republic, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in India and in the Dominican Republic
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in India and in the Dominican Republic actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $399 in India versus $1,044 in the Dominican Republic.
India $399
Dominican Republic $1,044
Estimated couple costs with rent: $639 in India versus $1,664 in the Dominican Republic.
India $639
Dominican Republic $1,664
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $879 in India versus $2,284 in the Dominican Republic.
India $879
Dominican Republic $2,284
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in the Dominican Republic: monthly costs span $589 to $1,424, compared to $230–$813 in India. City choice carries more weight in the Dominican Republic.
🌍
Living in India costs about 62% less than in the Dominican Republic on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: India 71% lower, the Dominican Republic 23% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
India
Dominican Republic
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14₹204
$8.41DOP 514
-74.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.46₹996
$49.89DOP 3,045
-79.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.80₹362
$7.52DOP 459
-49.47%
Cappuccino
$1.68₹160
$2.02DOP 123
-16.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38₹36.05
$0.94DOP 57.5
-59.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.63
$0.65DOP 39.49
-76.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87₹178
$2.46DOP 150
-23.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18₹303
$4.21DOP 257
-24.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Dominican Republic
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62₹59.3
$1.32DOP 80.6
-53.03%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50₹47.84
$1.74DOP 106
-71.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.63₹60.4
$1.46DOP 88.9
-56.85%
Eggs
$0.96₹91.4
$1.80DOP 110
-46.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.85₹462
$7.59DOP 463
-36.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.84₹271
$5.73DOP 349
-50.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$6.66DOP 406
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.00₹191
$3.18DOP 194
-37.11%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65₹61.5
$0.88DOP 53.6
-26.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97₹92.4
$2.64DOP 161
-63.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47₹44.37
$1.73DOP 106
-72.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34₹31.92
$2.16DOP 132
-84.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₹39.79
$2.08DOP 127
-79.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47₹44.46
$0.93DOP 56.9
-49.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹29.72
$0.91DOP 55.7
-65.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08₹484
$5.29DOP 323
-3.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.31₹696
$10.14DOP 619
-27.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63₹155
$2.64DOP 161
-38.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76₹263
$3.07DOP 188
-10.10%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.11₹487
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Dominican Republic
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₹24.89
$0.67DOP 40.85
-61.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.58₹817
$19.30DOP 1,178
-55.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00₹94.8
$3.20DOP 195
-68.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₹25.78
$2.15DOP 131
-87.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.54₹146
$5.66DOP 346
-72.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07₹102
$1.39DOP 85.1
-23.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.2K₹1.1M
$24.9KDOP 1.5M
-55.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K₹1.9M
$32.7KDOP 2.0M
-38.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Dominican Republic
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.08₹3,532
$91.6DOP 5,592
-59.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58₹341
$24.46DOP 1,493
-85.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.15₹681
$35.32DOP 2,156
-79.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Dominican Republic
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.00₹1,429
$30.52DOP 1,863
-50.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.17₹683
$22.31DOP 1,362
-67.86%
Cinema Ticket
$3.20₹304
$6.39DOP 390
-49.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Dominican Republic
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.8₹5,601
$209DOP 12.7K
-71.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,667₹158.7K
$6,527DOP 398.4K
-74.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Dominican Republic
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.03₹2,194
$39.92DOP 2,437
-42.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.17₹2,302
$45.07DOP 2,751
-46.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.20₹3,924
$81.1DOP 4,952
-49.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.62₹2,821
$105DOP 6,425
-71.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Dominican Republic
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$146₹14.0K
$595DOP 36.3K
-75.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.4₹9,178
$330DOP 20.1K
-70.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343₹32.7K
$1,245DOP 76.0K
-72.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234₹22.3K
$626DOP 38.2K
-62.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,177₹112.1K
$2,357DOP 143.8K
-50.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633₹60.3K
$1,245DOP 76.0K
-49.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Dominican Republic
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$409₹38.9K
$541DOP 33.0K
-24.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.93
12.99
-31.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Last update for the Dominican Republic: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$102 25.6%
Dominican Republic
$220 21.1% ↑ 116%$118
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$96 24.1%
Dominican Republic
$330 31.6% ↑ 242%$233
🍽Eating Out
India
$67 16.7%
Dominican Republic
$141 13.5% ↑ 112%$75
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$53 13.3%
Dominican Republic
$122 11.7% ↑ 130%$69
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$48 12%
Dominican Republic
$151 14.5% ↑ 217%$104
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$21 5.4%
Dominican Republic
$43 4.2% ↑ 102%$22
🚌Getting Around
India
$12 3%
Dominican Republic
$36 3.4% ↑ 200%$24
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$220 25.1%
Dominican Republic
$496 21.7% ↑ 125%$275
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$234 26.6%
Dominican Republic
$626 27.4% ↑ 168%$392
🍽Eating Out
India
$181 20.6%
Dominican Republic
$533 23.3% ↑ 194%$352
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$118 13.4%
Dominican Republic
$271 11.9% ↑ 130%$153
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$51 5.9%
Dominican Republic
$176 7.7% ↑ 242%$124
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$50 5.7%
Dominican Republic
$109 4.8% ↑ 118%$59
🚌Getting Around
India
$24 2.8%
Dominican Republic
$73 3.2% ↑ 199%$49
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $120 in India, $565 in the Dominican Republic. Capital cities: $277 in Delhi vs $709 in Santo Domingo.
💰National salary averages: $412 in India, $478 in the Dominican Republic. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 371% higher in the Dominican Republic.
⭐Dining out costs 291% more in the Dominican Republic.
⭐Public transport is 300% more expensive in the Dominican Republic.
⭐Salaries are 16% higher in the Dominican Republic, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
India→Dominican Republic13,700 km≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
India
Dominican Republic
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
India vs Dominican Republic: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: the Dominican Republic or India?
At $1,044 per month in the Dominican Republic and $399 in India, India comes out about 62% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: the Dominican Republic or India?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between the Dominican Republic and India?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $565 in the Dominican Republic and $120 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $1,000 go in the Dominican Republic compared to India?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in the Dominican Republic it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in the Dominican Republic and in India?
It depends on what you’re after: India wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.