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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $650 in San Pedro de Macoris.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,094 in San Pedro de Macoris.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,539 in San Pedro de Macoris.

Living in Phuket is roughly 95% more expensive than San Pedro de Macoris, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, San Pedro de Macoris 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$3.09 DOP 180
52.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$51.6 DOP 3,007
-11.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$6.69 DOP 390
26.01%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$1.05 DOP 61.0
179.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$0.99 DOP 57.5
-30.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.79 DOP 46.24
-53.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.62 DOP 153
-8.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$2.92 DOP 170
27.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.38 DOP 80.6
61.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$1.71 DOP 99.9
7.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.49 DOP 86.7
45.64%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$2.18 DOP 127
1.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$7.31 DOP 427
170.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$6.40 DOP 373
-43.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$10.92 DOP 637
23.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$3.16 DOP 184
3.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$0.85 DOP 49.60
89.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.96 DOP 173
-18.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$2.03 DOP 118
2.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$2.44 DOP 142
-37.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$2.40 DOP 140
-38.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$1.08 DOP 63.2
-8.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.89 DOP 52.0
-42.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$5.93 DOP 346
-25.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$10.56 DOP 616
83.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$2.75 DOP 160
-35.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$3.20 DOP 187
-15.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$3.45 DOP 201
-12.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$2.21 DOP 129
-55.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$5.97 DOP 348
136.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.32 DOP 76.8
3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$26.8K DOP 1.6M
5.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$32.0K DOP 1.9M
2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$75.1 DOP 4,381
62.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$22.83 DOP 1,332
-40.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$35.47 DOP 2,069
-48.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$25.92 DOP 1,512
132.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$6.97 DOP 406
24.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$269 DOP 15.7K
157.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$7,967 DOP 464.7K
96.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$60.7 DOP 3,543
-1.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$51.6 DOP 3,009
-32.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$97.9 DOP 5,711
17.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$117 DOP 6,820
-28.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
San Pedro de Macoris
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
-
-
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for San Pedro de Macoris: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $52.0 in San Pedro de Macoris. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $244, 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, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 95% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $975 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 $693 in Phuket versus $269 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 San Pedro de Macoris?
Dining out is cheaper in San Pedro de Macoris – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or San Pedro de Macoris?
At $650 in San Pedro de Macoris versus $1,265 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 95% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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