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: $830 in Puerto Plata versus $897 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,281 in Puerto Plata versus $1,259 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,733 in Puerto Plata versus $1,621 in Azua.

Living in Puerto Plata costs roughly 7% less than in Azua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Puerto Plata 38% lower, Azua 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.00 DOP 291

$8.58 DOP 500

-41.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.71 DOP 2,195

$51.0 DOP 2,967

-26.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.28 DOP 424

$7.24 DOP 422

0.55%

Cappuccino

$1.31 DOP 76.1

$1.40 DOP 81.4

-6.43%

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

$0.89 DOP 51.9

$1.04 DOP 60.4

-14.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 DOP 42.12

$0.79 DOP 45.77

-8.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 DOP 141

$2.59 DOP 151

-6.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 DOP 227

$5.12 DOP 298

-23.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 DOP 57.7

$1.24 DOP 72.3

-20.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 DOP 105

$1.73 DOP 101

4.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 DOP 60.5

$1.05 DOP 61.0

-0.95%

Eggs

$1.41 DOP 82.2

$1.70 DOP 98.9

-17.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.06 DOP 178

$7.34 DOP 427

-58.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.15 DOP 242

$6.37 DOP 371

-34.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.71 DOP 216

$11.13 DOP 648

-66.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 DOP 195

$3.27 DOP 190

2.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 DOP 53.9

$0.86 DOP 50.0

8.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.93 DOP 171

$2.89 DOP 168

1.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 DOP 114

$2.02 DOP 118

-2.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 DOP 110

$2.43 DOP 141

-22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 DOP 137

$2.32 DOP 135

1.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 DOP 65.6

$1.14 DOP 66.5

-0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.15 DOP 8.71

$0.97 DOP 56.5

-84.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 DOP 195

$5.67 DOP 330

-40.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.35 DOP 486

$10.53 DOP 613

-20.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 DOP 153

$2.65 DOP 154

-0.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 DOP 184

$3.21 DOP 187

-1.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 DOP 28.90

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.04 DOP 1,749

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 DOP 192

$3.31 DOP 193

-0.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 DOP 123

$2.18 DOP 127

-2.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 DOP 146

$6.11 DOP 355

-58.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 DOP 73.5

$1.33 DOP 77.1

-5.26%

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

$26.6K DOP 1.5M

$26.8K DOP 1.6M

-0.57%

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

$31.2K DOP 1.8M

$29.6K DOP 1.7M

5.47%

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

$51.6 DOP 3,004

$76.2 DOP 4,437

-32.29%

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

$24.92 DOP 1,451

$25.83 DOP 1,503

-3.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.22 DOP 2,109

$36.41 DOP 2,120

-0.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.34 DOP 485

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 DOP 500

Cinema Ticket

$4.69 DOP 273

$6.86 DOP 399

-31.63%

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

$269 DOP 15.7K

$266 DOP 15.5K

0.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,037 DOP 60.4K

$8,174 DOP 475.8K

-87.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.63 DOP 2,656

$60.1 DOP 3,500

-24.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.35 DOP 2,581

$51.0 DOP 2,969

-13.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 DOP 5,096

$95.7 DOP 5,569

-8.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.6 DOP 3,644

$118 DOP 6,846

-46.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 DOP 20.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 DOP 16.0K

$204 DOP 11.9K

34.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 DOP 48.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$416 DOP 24.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,709 DOP 215.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.15

12.9

-44.57%

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

Last update for Puerto Plata: June 2, 2026

Last update for Azua: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $38.00 in Puerto Plata vs $51.0 in Azua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $240 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

Puerto Plata is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,245 in Puerto Plata and $1,345 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $830 per month in Puerto Plata versus $897 in Azua – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Puerto Plata 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 Puerto Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.