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 $735 per month in Jarabacoa vs $1,093 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,223 per month in Jarabacoa vs $1,825 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,710 per month in Jarabacoa vs $2,557 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

Jarabacoa is about 33% cheaper than Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Jarabacoa and Santo Domingo are more affordable than the global median – Jarabacoa 45% lower, Santo Domingo 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.51 DOP 495

$8.70 DOP 506

-2.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.5 DOP 2,998

$51.3 DOP 2,984

0.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.41 DOP 431

$7.39 DOP 430

0.27%

Cappuccino

$2.63 DOP 153

$2.64 DOP 154

-0.38%

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

$1.04 DOP 60.5

$1.02 DOP 59.6

1.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 DOP 46.15

$0.82 DOP 47.82

-3.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 DOP 146

$2.59 DOP 151

-3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.17 DOP 301

$5.24 DOP 305

-1.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 DOP 78.2

$1.40 DOP 81.2

-4.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 DOP 105

$1.78 DOP 104

1.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 DOP 91.0

$1.55 DOP 90.4

0.65%

Eggs

$2.23 DOP 130

$2.21 DOP 129

0.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.34 DOP 427

$7.26 DOP 422

1.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.43 DOP 374

$6.48 DOP 377

-0.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 DOP 644

$10.82 DOP 629

2.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 DOP 192

$3.26 DOP 190

1.23%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 DOP 49.89

$0.92 DOP 53.5

-6.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 DOP 173

$3.01 DOP 175

-1.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 DOP 117

$2.01 DOP 117

0.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 DOP 147

$2.55 DOP 148

-0.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 DOP 140

$2.36 DOP 137

1.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 DOP 66.4

$1.13 DOP 65.7

0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 DOP 53.5

$0.96 DOP 56.1

-4.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.94 DOP 345

$5.64 DOP 328

5.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 DOP 619

$10.87 DOP 633

-2.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 DOP 161

$2.62 DOP 152

5.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 DOP 186

$3.26 DOP 190

-2.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 DOP 32.88

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.5 DOP 3,924

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 DOP 200

$3.33 DOP 194

3.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 DOP 129

$2.10 DOP 122

5.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 DOP 340

$5.89 DOP 343

-0.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 DOP 76.5

$1.29 DOP 74.9

2.33%

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

$26.2K DOP 1.5M

$26.3K DOP 1.5M

-0.31%

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

$31.4K DOP 1.8M

$31.6K DOP 1.8M

-0.76%

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

$77.1 DOP 4,482

$77.6 DOP 4,515

-0.72%

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

$25.24 DOP 1,468

$25.78 DOP 1,500

-2.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.72 DOP 2,136

$35.34 DOP 2,056

3.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.20 DOP 1,175

$35.18 DOP 2,046

-42.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.20 DOP 826

Cinema Ticket

$6.94 DOP 404

$6.59 DOP 383

5.31%

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

$268 DOP 15.6K

$271 DOP 15.7K

-0.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,157 DOP 474.5K

$7,996 DOP 465.1K

2.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.7 DOP 3,532

$58.9 DOP 3,428

3.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 DOP 3,041

$51.7 DOP 3,006

1.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 DOP 5,660

$95.3 DOP 5,544

2.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 DOP 6,601

$117 DOP 6,825

-3.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 DOP 32.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 DOP 16.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,177 DOP 68.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$669 DOP 38.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,164 DOP 125.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,193 DOP 69.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$651 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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Santo Domingo: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Jarabacoa versus $51.0 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 49%, 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 $1,103 per month in Jarabacoa and $1,640 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 $735 in Jarabacoa and $1,093 in Santo Domingo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $268 per month in Jarabacoa and $271 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 $735, than in Santo Domingo at $1,093. 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.