Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Plata and Azua Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Plata and Azua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $836 in Puerto Plata versus $667 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,299 in Puerto Plata versus $1,075 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,761 in Puerto Plata versus $1,482 in Azua.

Living in Puerto Plata is roughly 25% more expensive than in Azua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Puerto Plata 39% lower, Azua 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.10 DOP 360

$8.65 DOP 510

-29.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.74 DOP 2,286

$43.01 DOP 2,538

-9.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 DOP 408

$7.05 DOP 416

-1.99%

Cappuccino

$1.24 DOP 73.0

$1.38 DOP 81.7

-10.14%

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

$0.50 DOP 29.47

$0.68 DOP 40.10

-26.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 DOP 37.53

$0.38 DOP 22.51

68.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 DOP 148

$2.49 DOP 147

0.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 DOP 199

$4.09 DOP 241

-17.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 DOP 75.9

$1.24 DOP 73.1

4.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 DOP 92.8

$1.83 DOP 108

-14.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 DOP 42.07

$1.09 DOP 64.3

-34.86%

Eggs

$1.43 DOP 84.4

$1.47 DOP 86.9

-2.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.51 DOP 266

$6.30 DOP 371

-28.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 DOP 230

$3.73 DOP 220

4.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.42 DOP 202

$4.81 DOP 284

-28.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 DOP 78.5

$3.82 DOP 225

-65.18%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 DOP 38.34

$1.44 DOP 84.9

-54.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 DOP 49.50

$3.28 DOP 194

-74.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 DOP 41.03

$2.29 DOP 135

-69.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 DOP 38.12

$3.67 DOP 216

-82.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 DOP 52.6

$2.90 DOP 171

-69.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 DOP 36.61

$0.92 DOP 54.2

-32.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 DOP 57.8

$1.63 DOP 96.1

-39.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.51 DOP 148

$4.94 DOP 291

-49.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.71 DOP 514

$17.11 DOP 1,009

-49.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 DOP 136

$3.11 DOP 184

-25.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 DOP 181

$3.42 DOP 202

-10.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 DOP 61.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 DOP 205

$2.50 DOP 148

38.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 DOP 137

$3.29 DOP 194

-29.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 DOP 341

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 DOP 72.4

$1.39 DOP 81.8

-11.51%

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

$24.0K DOP 1.4M

$15.5K DOP 911.8K

55.03%

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

$34.7K DOP 2.0M

$26.0K DOP 1.5M

33.67%

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

$93.3 DOP 5,501

$98.3 DOP 5,799

-5.14%

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

$17.30 DOP 1,021

$27.86 DOP 1,644

-37.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.20 DOP 2,195

$39.86 DOP 2,351

-6.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.21 DOP 1,192

Cinema Ticket

$7.65 DOP 452

$5.21 DOP 308

46.83%

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

$255 DOP 15.1K

$152 DOP 8,940

68.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,105 DOP 419.2K

$5,515 DOP 325.4K

28.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.45 DOP 1,088

$26.70 DOP 1,575

-30.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.35 DOP 788

$47.53 DOP 2,804

-71.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 DOP 5,164

$64.5 DOP 3,802

35.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 DOP 7,444

$69.1 DOP 4,079

82.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$419 DOP 24.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 DOP 17.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 DOP 59.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 DOP 32.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,649 DOP 215.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.56

23.27%

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

Last update for Puerto Plata: August 31, 2026

Last update for Azua: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $39.00 in Puerto Plata vs $43.00 in Azua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $151 vs $242 per month, with Puerto Plata 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

Puerto Plata vs Azua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Azua is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,255 in Puerto Plata and $1,001 in Azua 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.

Shoppers in Puerto Plata pay roughly 60% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $836 per month in Puerto Plata versus $667 in Azua – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Azua gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Puerto Plata and Azua are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Azua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Puerto Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.