😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $648 in San Pedro de Macoris.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,037 in San Pedro de Macoris.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,427 in San Pedro de Macoris.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 90% more expensive than in San Pedro de Macoris, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, San Pedro de Macoris53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$6.01DOP 354
-26.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,073
$42.44DOP 2,501
-23.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$7.10DOP 418
25.77%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.3
$1.82DOP 108
59.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.27
$0.69DOP 40.67
27.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.00
$0.38DOP 22.65
26.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.2
$2.60DOP 153
-9.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$4.08DOP 241
-8.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.0
$1.20DOP 70.6
55.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.75
$1.86DOP 110
-20.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.59DOP 94.0
-2.52%
Eggs
$2.10฿69.9
$1.52DOP 89.6
38.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿651
$6.47DOP 382
202.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$3.56DOP 210
-3.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿378
$4.89DOP 288
132.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.2
$3.69DOP 218
-19.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.0
$1.49DOP 87.8
12.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$3.27DOP 193
-32.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿71.9
$2.28DOP 134
-5.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.7
$3.55DOP 209
-57.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.49
$2.91DOP 172
-53.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.53
$0.94DOP 55.5
20.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.17
$1.64DOP 96.7
-66.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$4.80DOP 283
-11.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$16.62DOP 980
14.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$2.91DOP 171
-38.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.5
$3.29DOP 194
-15.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.1
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿756
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$2.50DOP 147
21.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.02
$3.29DOP 194
-69.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿129
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.57
$1.27DOP 74.6
17.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿883.8K
$15.0KDOP 881.6K
77.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿898.7K
$26.1KDOP 1.5M
3.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,407
$96.4DOP 5,683
6.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$27.94DOP 1,646
-59.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿578
$31.01DOP 1,827
-43.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,732
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$5.22DOP 307
47.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.6K
$154DOP 9,085
263.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿382.6K
$5,596DOP 329.8K
105.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,096
$26.66DOP 1,571
136.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿982
$47.06DOP 2,773
-37.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,259
$62.9DOP 3,704
55.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,943
$68.0DOP 4,008
30.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.0K
$430DOP 25.3K
389.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
11
-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 San Pedro de Macoris: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $42.00 in San Pedro de Macoris. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $241, with San Pedro de Macoris cheaper for home cooking.
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 Pedro de Macoris: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Pedro de Macoris cheaper than Phuket?
San Pedro de Macoris is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 90% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $971 in San Pedro 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $154 in San Pedro 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 Pedro de Macoris?
Dining out is cheaper in San Pedro de Macoris – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in San Pedro de Macoris?
At $648 in San Pedro de Macoris versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Pedro de Macoris but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes San Pedro de Macoris the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or San Pedro de Macoris more family-friendly?
For families, San Pedro 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 Pedro de Macoris?
Safety-wise, Phuket and San Pedro 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 Pedro de Macoris gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.