Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and La Romana Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and La Romana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $646 in La Romana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,050 in La Romana, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,454 in La Romana, rent included.

Phuket costs about 91% more than La Romana, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Phuket and La Romana are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, La Romana 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$8.35 DOP 490

-47.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$43.03 DOP 2,528

-25.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$7.32 DOP 430

21.99%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.89 DOP 111

53.44%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$0.74 DOP 43.32

18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.35 DOP 20.74

37.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$2.61 DOP 153

-9.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$4.08 DOP 240

-8.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.11 DOP 65.4

68.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$1.79 DOP 105

-17.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$1.60 DOP 94.0

-3.13%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$1.50 DOP 87.9

40.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$6.43 DOP 378

204.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$3.73 DOP 219

-8.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$4.72 DOP 277

141.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$3.71 DOP 218

-19.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.47 DOP 86.2

14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$3.42 DOP 201

-35.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$2.27 DOP 133

-4.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$3.54 DOP 208

-57.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$3.05 DOP 179

-56.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$0.95 DOP 55.8

18.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$1.71 DOP 100

-67.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$4.96 DOP 292

-14.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$16.72 DOP 983

14.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$3.13 DOP 184

-43.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$3.56 DOP 209

-21.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$2.52 DOP 148

20.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$3.45 DOP 202

-70.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$1.43 DOP 84.1

4.20%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$15.0K DOP 879.1K

77.68%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$26.0K DOP 1.5M

3.85%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$95.8 DOP 5,631

6.92%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$10.21 DOP 600

10.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$38.84 DOP 2,282

-55.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$5.16 DOP 303

49.03%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$149 DOP 8,780

275.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$5,568 DOP 327.2K

106.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$27.41 DOP 1,611

129.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$46.66 DOP 2,742

-36.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$64.8 DOP 3,806

51.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$66.5 DOP 3,905

33.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-49.36%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for La Romana: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $43.00 in La Romana. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $243 in La Romana – 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

Phuket vs La Romana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 91%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $969 in La Romana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $646 in La Romana. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $149 in La Romana. 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 $646, than in Phuket at $1,232. In La Romana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket 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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with La Romana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.