Cost of Living Comparison Between La Romana and Santo Domingo Cost of Living Comparison Between La Romana and Santo Domingo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $811 per month in La Romana vs $1,116 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,441 per month in La Romana vs $1,815 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,070 per month in La Romana vs $2,514 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

La Romana is about 27% cheaper than Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Romana and Santo Domingo are more affordable than the global median – La Romana 39% lower, Santo Domingo 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.66 DOP 503

$8.45 DOP 491

2.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.8 DOP 3,013

$51.4 DOP 2,987

0.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 DOP 425

$7.43 DOP 432

-1.48%

Cappuccino

$2.70 DOP 157

$2.63 DOP 153

2.66%

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

$1.03 DOP 59.9

$0.99 DOP 57.6

4.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 DOP 22.89

$0.77 DOP 44.90

-49.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 DOP 147

$2.51 DOP 146

0.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.16 DOP 300

$5.13 DOP 298

0.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 DOP 62.9

$1.33 DOP 77.1

-18.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 DOP 101

$1.79 DOP 104

-2.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 DOP 91.1

$1.48 DOP 86.3

6.08%

Eggs

$2.19 DOP 127

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.09 DOP 412

$7.23 DOP 420

-1.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 DOP 298

$6.26 DOP 364

-18.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 DOP 295

$10.85 DOP 631

-53.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 DOP 192

$3.34 DOP 194

-1.20%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 DOP 50.7

$0.93 DOP 53.9

-6.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 DOP 167

$3.00 DOP 175

-4.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.01 DOP 117

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 DOP 142

$2.48 DOP 144

-1.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 DOP 133

$2.40 DOP 139

-4.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 DOP 63.1

$1.09 DOP 63.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 DOP 55.4

$0.97 DOP 56.4

-2.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 DOP 301

$5.72 DOP 332

-9.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.16 DOP 997

$10.84 DOP 630

58.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 DOP 157

$2.77 DOP 161

-2.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 DOP 189

$3.12 DOP 181

3.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 DOP 32.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.3 DOP 3,912

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 DOP 193

$3.34 DOP 194

-0.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 DOP 127

$2.10 DOP 122

3.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 DOP 336

$5.99 DOP 348

-3.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 DOP 76.7

$1.34 DOP 77.7

-1.49%

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

$26.9K DOP 1.6M

$26.6K DOP 1.5M

1.17%

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

$32.1K DOP 1.9M

$31.8K DOP 1.8M

0.98%

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

$68.9 DOP 4,005

$77.2 DOP 4,483

-10.68%

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

$17.98 DOP 1,045

$25.62 DOP 1,489

-29.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.46 DOP 2,002

$36.56 DOP 2,125

-5.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.14 DOP 2,100

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.08 DOP 818

Cinema Ticket

$6.83 DOP 397

$6.67 DOP 388

2.40%

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

$266 DOP 15.4K

$272 DOP 15.8K

-2.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,155 DOP 473.9K

$8,123 DOP 472.0K

0.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 DOP 3,428

$59.2 DOP 3,442

-0.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 DOP 2,963

$52.3 DOP 3,041

-2.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 DOP 5,555

$96.1 DOP 5,584

-0.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 DOP 6,662

$115 DOP 6,676

-0.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$205 DOP 11.9K

$564 DOP 32.8K

-63.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 DOP 7,994

$286 DOP 16.6K

-51.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 DOP 25.0K

$1,189 DOP 69.1K

-63.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 DOP 29.1K

$666 DOP 38.7K

-24.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,172 DOP 126.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 DOP 68.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 DOP 35.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

12.9

-10.85%

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

Last update for La Romana: July 27, 2026

Last update for Santo Domingo: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $205 in La Romana versus $564 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 $52.0 in La Romana versus $51.0 in Santo Domingo. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in La Romana vs $246 in Santo Domingo – 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 Santo Domingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santo Domingo is pricier by about 38%, 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 $1,217 per month in La Romana and $1,674 in Santo Domingo. 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 $811 in La Romana and $1,116 in Santo Domingo. 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 $272 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 La Romana, where all-in costs run around $811, than in Santo Domingo at $1,116. In La Romana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santo Domingo 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.

If budget matters most, go with La Romana. 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.