🙂A single person spends $661 per month in Nagua vs $1,125 in Santo Domingo, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,066 per month in Nagua vs $1,765 in Santo Domingo, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,472 per month in Nagua vs $2,406 in Santo Domingo, rent included.
🙂Nagua is about 41% cheaper than Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Nagua and Santo Domingo are more affordable than the global median – Nagua52% lower, Santo Domingo18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nagua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.41DOP 496
$10.19DOP 601
-17.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.88DOP 2,528
$49.77DOP 2,934
-13.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23DOP 426
$7.99DOP 471
-9.51%
Cappuccino
$1.81DOP 107
$2.40DOP 142
-24.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74DOP 43.62
$1.12DOP 66.3
-33.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41DOP 24.39
$0.64DOP 37.71
-35.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.56DOP 151
$2.57DOP 151
-0.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09DOP 241
$3.45DOP 204
18.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nagua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19DOP 70.3
$1.39DOP 82.2
-14.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78DOP 105
$1.58DOP 92.9
12.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59DOP 93.5
$1.66DOP 97.6
-4.22%
Eggs
$1.52DOP 89.7
$2.40DOP 141
-36.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.63DOP 391
$7.33DOP 432
-9.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.76DOP 222
$5.80DOP 342
-35.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.92DOP 290
$7.00DOP 413
-29.71%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84DOP 227
$3.32DOP 196
15.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41DOP 83.4
$0.84DOP 49.82
67.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.45DOP 203
$2.76DOP 163
25.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30DOP 135
$1.85DOP 109
24.32%
Potato(1kg)
$3.65DOP 215
$2.10DOP 124
73.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.97DOP 175
$2.23DOP 131
33.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96DOP 56.4
$1.02DOP 59.9
-5.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65DOP 97.0
$0.99DOP 58.3
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.94DOP 291
$5.46DOP 322
-9.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.05DOP 1,006
$10.41DOP 614
63.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.03DOP 179
$2.70DOP 159
12.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45DOP 204
$2.97DOP 175
16.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Nagua
Santo Domingo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.58DOP 33.98
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.62DOP 1,098
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.50DOP 148
$3.40DOP 201
-26.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.38DOP 199
$2.24DOP 132
50.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.78DOP 341
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44DOP 84.9
$1.42DOP 83.7
1.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.5KDOP 913.7K
$23.4KDOP 1.4M
-33.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KDOP 1.5M
$33.7KDOP 2.0M
-22.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nagua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.1DOP 5,845
$93.1DOP 5,492
6.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.06DOP 1,654
$32.61DOP 1,922
-13.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.31DOP 2,318
$36.86DOP 2,173
6.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nagua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$30.74DOP 1,812
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.70DOP 1,456
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05DOP 298
$7.58DOP 447
-33.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nagua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153DOP 9,045
$261DOP 15.4K
-41.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,637DOP 332.3K
$6,954DOP 410.0K
-18.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nagua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.49DOP 1,621
$46.39DOP 2,735
-40.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.90DOP 2,707
$47.01DOP 2,771
-2.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.6DOP 3,811
$87.2DOP 5,141
-25.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.0DOP 3,948
$125DOP 7,399
-46.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nagua
Santo Domingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$735DOP 43.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$357DOP 21.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,478DOP 87.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$647DOP 38.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,203DOP 129.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,191DOP 70.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nagua
Santo Domingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$616DOP 36.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
13.56
-18.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nagua: September 8, 2026
Last update for Santo Domingo: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Nagua versus $50.0 in Santo Domingo. Groceries tell a different story – $245 in Nagua vs $227 in Santo Domingo – so Santo Domingo 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
Nagua vs Santo Domingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nagua and in Santo Domingo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $661 in Nagua, $1,125 in Santo Domingo – roughly 70% apart. Santo Domingo costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Nagua compared to Santo Domingo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $992 per month in Nagua and $1,687 in Santo Domingo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nagua or Santo Domingo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $661 in Nagua and $1,125 in Santo Domingo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nagua and Santo Domingo?
Kindergarten costs $153 per month in Nagua and $261 in Santo Domingo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nagua, where all-in costs run around $661, than in Santo Domingo at $1,125. In Nagua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santo Domingo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Nagua or Santo Domingo?
Families tend to lean toward Nagua – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Nagua and Santo Domingo?
If budget matters most, go with Nagua. 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.