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 503

$8.51 DOP 507

-0.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 DOP 3,005

$51.4 DOP 3,062

-1.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 DOP 432

$7.39 DOP 440

-1.89%

Cappuccino

$2.75 DOP 164

$2.67 DOP 159

3.00%

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

$1.00 DOP 59.4

$0.99 DOP 58.8

1.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 DOP 23.28

$0.84 DOP 49.89

-53.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 DOP 149

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.23 DOP 312

$4.95 DOP 295

5.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 DOP 66.6

$1.40 DOP 83.2

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 DOP 107

$1.81 DOP 108

-1.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 DOP 93.5

$1.49 DOP 88.5

5.37%

Eggs

$2.23 DOP 133

$2.29 DOP 136

-2.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.00 DOP 417

$7.21 DOP 429

-2.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 DOP 297

$6.18 DOP 368

-19.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.99 DOP 297

$11.20 DOP 667

-55.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 DOP 199

$3.21 DOP 191

4.05%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 DOP 54.0

$0.87 DOP 51.7

4.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 DOP 174

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 DOP 114

$1.98 DOP 118

-3.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 DOP 146

$2.54 DOP 151

-3.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 DOP 138

$2.37 DOP 141

-2.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 DOP 66.9

$1.09 DOP 65.0

2.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 DOP 58.0

$0.92 DOP 54.6

5.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.15 DOP 306

$5.65 DOP 336

-8.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 DOP 691

$11.49 DOP 684

1.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 DOP 163

$2.61 DOP 156

4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 DOP 195

$3.21 DOP 191

1.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 DOP 36.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.4 DOP 4,068

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 DOP 199

$3.30 DOP 197

1.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 DOP 129

$2.14 DOP 127

1.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 DOP 347

$6.02 DOP 358

-2.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 DOP 79.5

$1.28 DOP 76.2

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 3,966

$74.8 DOP 4,453

-10.93%

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

$17.60 DOP 1,048

$25.08 DOP 1,493

-29.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.37 DOP 2,046

$35.59 DOP 2,118

-3.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.79 DOP 2,130

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.55 DOP 866

Cinema Ticket

$6.89 DOP 410

$6.84 DOP 407

0.73%

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

$266 DOP 15.8K

$273 DOP 16.2K

-2.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,181 DOP 486.9K

$8,074 DOP 480.6K

1.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 DOP 3,558

$60.6 DOP 3,605

-1.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 DOP 3,101

$52.7 DOP 3,137

-1.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 DOP 5,764

$94.4 DOP 5,616

2.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 DOP 6,811

$118 DOP 6,994

-2.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 DOP 12.0K

$572 DOP 34.1K

-64.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 DOP 8,010

$287 DOP 17.1K

-53.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$420 DOP 25.0K

$1,164 DOP 69.3K

-63.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 DOP 29.4K

$662 DOP 39.4K

-25.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,167 DOP 129.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,205 DOP 71.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$629 DOP 37.4K

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.