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 $816 per month in La Romana vs $1,093 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,450 per month in La Romana vs $1,825 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,084 per month in La Romana vs $2,557 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

La Romana is about 25% 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 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.45 DOP 495

$8.70 DOP 510

-2.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.8 DOP 3,036

$51.3 DOP 3,005

1.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.22 DOP 423

$7.39 DOP 433

-2.30%

Cappuccino

$2.63 DOP 154

$2.64 DOP 155

-0.38%

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

$0.99 DOP 57.7

$1.02 DOP 60.0

-2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 DOP 23.31

$0.82 DOP 48.16

-51.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 DOP 148

$2.59 DOP 152

-2.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.17 DOP 303

$5.24 DOP 307

-1.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 DOP 63.3

$1.40 DOP 81.8

-22.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 DOP 105

$1.78 DOP 104

0.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 DOP 92.3

$1.55 DOP 91.1

1.94%

Eggs

$2.19 DOP 129

$2.21 DOP 130

-0.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 DOP 423

$7.26 DOP 425

-0.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 DOP 299

$6.48 DOP 380

-21.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.11 DOP 300

$10.82 DOP 634

-52.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 DOP 194

$3.26 DOP 191

1.84%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 DOP 53.8

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 DOP 173

$3.01 DOP 176

-1.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 DOP 114

$2.01 DOP 118

-2.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 DOP 149

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 DOP 139

$2.36 DOP 138

0.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 DOP 66.7

$1.13 DOP 66.2

0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 DOP 52.0

$0.96 DOP 56.5

-7.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.28 DOP 309

$5.64 DOP 331

-6.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.84 DOP 986

$10.87 DOP 637

54.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 DOP 155

$2.62 DOP 153

0.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 DOP 181

$3.26 DOP 191

-5.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 DOP 33.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.5 DOP 3,952

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 DOP 205

$3.33 DOP 195

5.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 DOP 130

$2.10 DOP 123

5.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 DOP 353

$5.89 DOP 345

2.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 DOP 74.0

$1.29 DOP 75.5

-2.33%

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

$26.1K DOP 1.5M

$26.3K DOP 1.5M

-0.78%

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

$32.2K DOP 1.9M

$31.6K DOP 1.9M

1.75%

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

$68.9 DOP 4,037

$77.6 DOP 4,547

-11.21%

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

$18.00 DOP 1,055

$25.78 DOP 1,510

-30.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.32 DOP 2,011

$35.34 DOP 2,070

-2.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.18 DOP 2,061

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.20 DOP 832

Cinema Ticket

$6.76 DOP 396

$6.59 DOP 386

2.58%

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

$263 DOP 15.4K

$271 DOP 15.9K

-2.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,092 DOP 474.0K

$7,996 DOP 468.4K

1.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 DOP 3,496

$58.9 DOP 3,452

1.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 DOP 3,010

$51.7 DOP 3,027

-0.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.5 DOP 5,650

$95.3 DOP 5,583

1.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 DOP 6,708

$117 DOP 6,873

-2.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$207 DOP 12.1K

$560 DOP 32.8K

-63.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$137 DOP 8,015

$285 DOP 16.7K

-52.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 DOP 24.9K

$1,177 DOP 68.9K

-63.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 DOP 30.0K

$669 DOP 39.2K

-23.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,164 DOP 126.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,193 DOP 69.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$651 DOP 38.1K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Santo Domingo: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $207 in La Romana versus $560 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 $247 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 34%, 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 $1,224 per month in La Romana and $1,640 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 $816 in La Romana and $1,093 in Santo Domingo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $263 per month in La Romana 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 La Romana, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Santo Domingo at $1,093. 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.