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 $804 per month in La Romana vs $1,112 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,423 per month in La Romana vs $1,831 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,043 per month in La Romana vs $2,550 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

La Romana is about 28% cheaper than Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both La Romana and Santo Domingo are more affordable than the global median – La Romana 40% lower, Santo Domingo 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.45 DOP 499

$8.51 DOP 503

-0.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 DOP 2,984

$51.4 DOP 3,040

-1.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 DOP 429

$7.39 DOP 437

-1.89%

Cappuccino

$2.75 DOP 162

$2.67 DOP 158

3.00%

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

$1.00 DOP 59.0

$0.99 DOP 58.4

1.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 DOP 23.11

$0.84 DOP 49.53

-53.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 DOP 148

$2.50 DOP 147

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.23 DOP 309

$4.95 DOP 293

5.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 DOP 66.1

$1.40 DOP 82.6

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 DOP 106

$1.81 DOP 107

-1.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 DOP 92.8

$1.49 DOP 87.9

5.37%

Eggs

$2.23 DOP 132

$2.29 DOP 135

-2.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.00 DOP 414

$7.21 DOP 426

-2.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 DOP 294

$6.18 DOP 365

-19.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.99 DOP 295

$11.20 DOP 662

-55.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 DOP 197

$3.21 DOP 190

4.05%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 DOP 53.6

$0.87 DOP 51.3

4.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 DOP 173

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 DOP 113

$1.98 DOP 117

-3.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 DOP 145

$2.54 DOP 150

-3.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 DOP 137

$2.37 DOP 140

-2.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 DOP 66.5

$1.09 DOP 64.5

2.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 DOP 57.6

$0.92 DOP 54.2

5.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.15 DOP 304

$5.65 DOP 334

-8.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 DOP 686

$11.49 DOP 679

1.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 DOP 162

$2.61 DOP 154

4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 DOP 193

$3.21 DOP 189

1.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 DOP 35.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.4 DOP 4,039

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 DOP 198

$3.30 DOP 195

1.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 DOP 128

$2.14 DOP 127

1.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 DOP 345

$6.02 DOP 356

-2.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 DOP 78.9

$1.28 DOP 75.6

4.69%

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

$26.6K DOP 1.6M

$26.9K DOP 1.6M

-1.16%

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

$31.8K DOP 1.9M

$32.1K DOP 1.9M

-0.92%

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

$66.6 DOP 3,938

$74.8 DOP 4,421

-10.93%

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

$17.60 DOP 1,040

$25.08 DOP 1,482

-29.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.37 DOP 2,031

$35.59 DOP 2,103

-3.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.79 DOP 2,115

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.55 DOP 860

Cinema Ticket

$6.89 DOP 407

$6.84 DOP 404

0.73%

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

$266 DOP 15.7K

$273 DOP 16.1K

-2.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,181 DOP 483.4K

$8,074 DOP 477.1K

1.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 DOP 3,532

$60.6 DOP 3,579

-1.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 DOP 3,079

$52.7 DOP 3,114

-1.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 DOP 5,722

$94.4 DOP 5,576

2.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 DOP 6,761

$118 DOP 6,944

-2.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 DOP 11.9K

$572 DOP 33.8K

-64.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 DOP 7,952

$287 DOP 17.0K

-53.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$420 DOP 24.8K

$1,164 DOP 68.8K

-63.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 DOP 29.2K

$662 DOP 39.1K

-25.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,167 DOP 128.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,205 DOP 71.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 DOP 37.2K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Santo Domingo: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $202 in La Romana versus $572 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 $50.0 in La Romana versus $51.0 in Santo Domingo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $246 – making La Romana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 $1,206 per month in La Romana and $1,668 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 $804 in La Romana and $1,112 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 $273 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 $804, than in Santo Domingo at $1,112. 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.