Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and San Francisco de Macoris Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and San Francisco de Macoris

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $618 in San Francisco de Macoris.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $979 in San Francisco de Macoris.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,341 in San Francisco de Macoris.

Living in Phuket is roughly 105% more expensive than in San Francisco de Macoris, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, San Francisco de Macoris 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48 ฿150
$3.71 DOP 216
20.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59 ฿1,521
$13.61 DOP 791
234.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿292
$6.67 DOP 387
31.33%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ฿99.0
$2.54 DOP 148
16.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.90
$0.58 DOP 33.68
18.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿13.04
$0.53 DOP 31.00
-26.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.4
$2.14 DOP 124
18.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿125
$2.48 DOP 144
51.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ฿71.6
$1.19 DOP 68.9
80.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿60.6
$1.74 DOP 101
4.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿72.9
$1.10 DOP 63.8
98.18%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.0
$1.40 DOP 81.3
60.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 ฿667
$4.01 DOP 233
398.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿121
$3.50 DOP 204
3.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿452
$6.66 DOP 387
103.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ฿108
$2.60 DOP 151
24.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.6
$0.77 DOP 44.99
112.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿77.8
$1.29 DOP 74.9
80.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ฿69.1
$0.86 DOP 50.2
140.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$1.16 DOP 67.4
33.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.54
$1.24 DOP 71.8
17.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.86
$0.58 DOP 33.61
68.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.09
$0.98 DOP 56.7
-51.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 ฿145
$3.47 DOP 202
25.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 ฿620
$10.60 DOP 616
75.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿61.9
$2.65 DOP 154
-29.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ฿88.6
$3.12 DOP 181
-15.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.28
$0.61 DOP 35.32
132.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 ฿386
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ฿106
$3.35 DOP 195
-5.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ฿34.41
$2.02 DOP 117
-49.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 ฿463
$5.84 DOP 340
137.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.84
$1.12 DOP 65.2
19.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿927.1K
$26.7K DOP 1.6M
3.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ฿1.1M
$31.5K DOP 1.8M
5.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,105
$39.55 DOP 2,298
211.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿459
$8.35 DOP 485
64.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 ฿611
$35.88 DOP 2,085
-48.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 ฿2,025
$16.84 DOP 979
260.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16 ฿573
$8.41 DOP 489
104.04%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿296
$4.34 DOP 252
104.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 ฿22.9K
$169 DOP 9,823
306.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿526.4K
$2,003 DOP 116.4K
687.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,978
$25.10 DOP 1,458
136.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69 ฿1,157
$52.0 DOP 3,020
-33.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,843
$67.2 DOP 3,904
71.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8 ฿2,794
$68.5 DOP 3,979
22.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 ฿20.7K
$161 DOP 9,363
285.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.9K
$107 DOP 6,215
317.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,034 ฿67.8K
$339 DOP 19.7K
499.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿49.9K
$261 DOP 15.2K
473.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,455 ฿115.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,531 ฿84.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
12.9
-58.68%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for San Francisco de Macoris: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $161 in San Francisco de Macoris. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $14.00 in San Francisco de Macoris for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $177 per month, with San Francisco de Macoris cheaper across the board.

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 San Francisco de Macoris: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Francisco de Macoris cheaper than Phuket?
San Francisco de Macoris is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $927 in San Francisco de Macoris to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and San Francisco de Macoris?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $161 in San Francisco de Macoris. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $169 in San Francisco de Macoris. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in San Francisco de Macoris?
Dining out is cheaper in San Francisco de Macoris – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in San Francisco de Macoris?
At $618 in San Francisco de Macoris versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San Francisco de Macoris but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes San Francisco de Macoris the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or San Francisco de Macoris more family-friendly?
For families, San Francisco de Macoris is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or San Francisco de Macoris?
Safety-wise, Phuket and San Francisco de Macoris are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find San Francisco de Macoris gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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