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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $717 per month in Jarabacoa vs $1,117 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,218 per month in Jarabacoa vs $1,853 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,718 per month in Jarabacoa vs $2,590 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

Jarabacoa is about 36% cheaper than Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Jarabacoa and Santo Domingo are more affordable than the global median – Jarabacoa 46% lower, Santo Domingo 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.56 DOP 516

$8.28 DOP 499

3.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.9 DOP 3,126

$51.0 DOP 3,074

1.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 DOP 456

$7.34 DOP 442

3.13%

Cappuccino

$2.65 DOP 160

$2.62 DOP 158

1.15%

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

$1.00 DOP 60.1

$1.03 DOP 61.9

-2.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 DOP 50.4

$0.80 DOP 48.02

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 DOP 150

$2.57 DOP 155

-3.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.04 DOP 304

$5.17 DOP 312

-2.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 DOP 83.7

$1.39 DOP 83.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 DOP 109

$1.72 DOP 103

5.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 DOP 89.7

$1.57 DOP 94.5

-5.10%

Eggs

$2.20 DOP 133

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.04 DOP 424

$7.08 DOP 426

-0.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.43 DOP 387

$6.40 DOP 385

0.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.11 DOP 669

$11.13 DOP 671

-0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 DOP 194

$3.17 DOP 191

1.58%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 DOP 55.6

$0.93 DOP 56.2

-1.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 DOP 174

$3.03 DOP 182

-4.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 DOP 115

$1.92 DOP 116

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 DOP 153

$2.54 DOP 153

0.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 DOP 140

$2.40 DOP 145

-3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 DOP 67.8

$1.14 DOP 68.6

-0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 DOP 58.7

$0.90 DOP 54.1

8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.67 DOP 341

$5.79 DOP 349

-2.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.51 DOP 693

$11.58 DOP 698

-0.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 DOP 163

$2.73 DOP 165

-1.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 DOP 188

$3.24 DOP 195

-3.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 DOP 34.72

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.8 DOP 4,084

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 DOP 204

$3.36 DOP 202

0.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 DOP 134

$2.21 DOP 133

0.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 DOP 366

$5.76 DOP 347

5.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 DOP 76.4

$1.34 DOP 80.6

-5.22%

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

$26.8K DOP 1.6M

$26.5K DOP 1.6M

1.16%

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

$31.4K DOP 1.9M

$32.1K DOP 1.9M

-2.08%

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

$76.2 DOP 4,591

$75.6 DOP 4,555

0.79%

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

$25.02 DOP 1,507

$24.94 DOP 1,502

0.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.51 DOP 2,139

$36.50 DOP 2,198

-2.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.68 DOP 1,245

$36.49 DOP 2,198

-43.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.15 DOP 852

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 DOP 403

$6.62 DOP 399

1.06%

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

$271 DOP 16.3K

$267 DOP 16.1K

1.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,209 DOP 494.5K

$8,171 DOP 492.2K

0.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.0 DOP 3,672

$60.4 DOP 3,635

1.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 DOP 3,156

$51.9 DOP 3,128

0.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 DOP 5,751

$95.7 DOP 5,763

-0.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 DOP 6,837

$115 DOP 6,905

-0.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 DOP 34.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 DOP 16.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 DOP 69.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$682 DOP 41.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,206 DOP 132.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,200 DOP 72.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 DOP 37.9K

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 Jarabacoa: April 20, 2026

Last update for Santo Domingo: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $0 in Jarabacoa versus $572 in Santo Domingo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52 in Jarabacoa versus $51 in Santo Domingo. Groceries tell a different story – $247 in Jarabacoa vs $247 in Santo Domingo – so Jarabacoa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Jarabacoa vs Santo Domingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santo Domingo is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,075 per month in Jarabacoa and $1,675 in Santo Domingo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $717 in Jarabacoa and $1,117 in Santo Domingo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $271 per month in Jarabacoa and $267 in Santo Domingo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jarabacoa, where all-in costs run around $717, than in Santo Domingo at $1,117. In Jarabacoa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santo Domingo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jarabacoa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jarabacoa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santo Domingo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.