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 $646 per month in La Romana vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,050 per month in La Romana vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,454 per month in La Romana vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

La Romana is about 48% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both La Romana and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – La Romana 53% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.35 DOP 490

$4.41 ฿147

89.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.03 DOP 2,528

$32.26 ฿1,077

33.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 DOP 430

$8.93 ฿298

-18.03%

Cappuccino

$1.89 DOP 111

$2.90 ฿96.6

-34.83%

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

$0.74 DOP 43.32

$0.88 ฿29.38

-15.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 DOP 20.74

$0.48 ฿16.06

-27.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 DOP 153

$2.35 ฿78.5

11.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 DOP 240

$3.72 ฿124

9.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 DOP 65.4

$1.87 ฿62.3

-40.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 DOP 105

$1.47 ฿48.94

21.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 DOP 94.0

$1.55 ฿51.8

3.23%

Eggs

$1.50 DOP 87.9

$2.10 ฿70.1

-28.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.43 DOP 378

$19.59 ฿654

-67.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 DOP 219

$3.42 ฿114

9.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 DOP 277

$11.38 ฿380

-58.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 DOP 218

$2.98 ฿99.6

24.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 DOP 86.2

$1.68 ฿56.2

-12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 DOP 201

$2.21 ฿73.7

54.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 DOP 133

$2.16 ฿72.1

5.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 DOP 208

$1.52 ฿50.9

132.89%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 DOP 179

$1.34 ฿44.67

127.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 DOP 55.8

$1.13 ฿37.67

-15.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 DOP 100

$0.55 ฿18.24

210.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.96 DOP 292

$4.26 ฿142

16.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.72 DOP 983

$19.09 ฿637

-12.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 DOP 184

$1.78 ฿59.4

75.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 DOP 209

$2.78 ฿92.9

28.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 DOP 148

$3.03 ฿101

-16.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.45 DOP 202

$1.02 ฿34.15

238.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 DOP 84.1

$1.49 ฿49.77

-4.03%

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

$15.0K DOP 879.1K

$26.6K ฿887.3K

-43.72%

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

$26.0K DOP 1.5M

$27.0K ฿902.2K

-3.71%

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

$95.8 DOP 5,631

$102 ฿3,420

-6.47%

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

$10.21 DOP 600

$11.33 ฿378

-9.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.84 DOP 2,282

$17.40 ฿581

123.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$5.16 DOP 303

$7.69 ฿257

-32.90%

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

$149 DOP 8,780

$561 ฿18.7K

-73.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,568 DOP 327.2K

$11.5K ฿384.1K

-51.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.41 DOP 1,611

$63.0 ฿2,104

-56.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 DOP 2,742

$29.52 ฿986

58.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.8 DOP 3,806

$98.0 ฿3,272

-33.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.5 DOP 3,905

$88.5 ฿2,954

-24.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

97.49%

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

Last update for La Romana: September 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in La Romana versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in La Romana vs $274 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 91%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $969 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $646 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 $149 per month in La Romana and $561 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 $646, 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.