Cost of Living Comparison Between La Romana and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between La Romana and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $804 per month in La Romana vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,423 per month in La Romana vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,043 per month in La Romana vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

La Romana is about 35% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both La Romana and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – La Romana 40% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.45 DOP 503

$4.63 ฿151

82.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 DOP 3,005

$46.84 ฿1,523

7.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 DOP 432

$8.84 ฿287

-17.99%

Cappuccino

$2.75 DOP 164

$3.00 ฿97.4

-8.33%

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

$1.00 DOP 59.4

$0.74 ฿24.11

35.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 DOP 23.28

$0.37 ฿11.88

5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 DOP 149

$2.44 ฿79.3

2.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.23 DOP 312

$3.61 ฿117

44.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 DOP 66.6

$2.26 ฿73.5

-50.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 DOP 107

$1.84 ฿59.8

-2.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 DOP 93.5

$2.24 ฿73.0

-29.91%

Eggs

$2.23 DOP 133

$2.32 ฿75.3

-3.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.00 DOP 417

$19.67 ฿639

-64.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 DOP 297

$3.65 ฿119

36.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.99 DOP 297

$13.10 ฿426

-61.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 DOP 199

$3.39 ฿110

-1.47%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 DOP 54.0

$1.64 ฿53.4

-44.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 DOP 174

$2.41 ฿78.5

21.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 DOP 114

$2.03 ฿66.0

-5.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 DOP 146

$1.56 ฿50.6

57.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 DOP 138

$1.50 ฿48.66

54.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 DOP 66.9

$1.02 ฿33.30

9.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 DOP 58.0

$0.49 ฿15.91

97.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.15 DOP 306

$4.45 ฿145

15.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 DOP 691

$18.88 ฿614

-38.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 DOP 163

$1.78 ฿57.7

53.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 DOP 195

$2.75 ฿89.5

18.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿373

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 DOP 199

$3.12 ฿101

7.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 DOP 129

$1.00 ฿32.48

117.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 DOP 347

$14.09 ฿458

-58.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 DOP 79.5

$1.35 ฿43.93

-0.74%

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

$26.6K DOP 1.6M

$27.2K ฿883.7K

-2.15%

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

$31.8K DOP 1.9M

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-3.54%

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

$66.6 DOP 3,966

$125 ฿4,063

-46.68%

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

$17.60 DOP 1,048

$13.57 ฿441

29.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.37 DOP 2,046

$18.52 ฿602

85.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿1,999

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$6.89 DOP 410

$9.19 ฿299

-25.03%

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

$266 DOP 15.8K

$698 ฿22.7K

-61.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,181 DOP 486.9K

$15.6K ฿506.9K

-47.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 DOP 3,558

$57.8 ฿1,878

3.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 DOP 3,101

$35.24 ฿1,146

47.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 DOP 5,764

$113 ฿3,677

-14.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 DOP 6,811

$86.4 ฿2,808

32.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 DOP 12.0K

$616 ฿20.0K

-67.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 DOP 8,010

$446 ฿14.5K

-69.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$420 DOP 25.0K

$2,048 ฿66.6K

-79.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 DOP 29.4K

$1,492 ฿48.5K

-66.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿122.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

5.33

115.76%

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

Last update for La Romana: April 28, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $202 in La Romana versus $616 in Phuket. 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 $50.0 in La Romana versus $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $220 in La Romana vs $292 in Phuket – so La Romana 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

La Romana vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 53%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,206 per month in La Romana and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in La Romana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $804 in La Romana and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $266 per month in La Romana and $698 in Phuket. 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 La Romana, where all-in costs run around $804, than in Phuket at $1,232. In La Romana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward La Romana – 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 La Romana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.