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: $850 in Puerto Plata versus $890 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,285 in Puerto Plata versus $1,258 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,721 in Puerto Plata versus $1,625 in Azua.

Living in Puerto Plata costs roughly 5% less than in Azua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Puerto Plata 36% lower, Azua 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.00 DOP 291

$8.74 DOP 509

-42.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.64 DOP 2,193

$51.6 DOP 3,008

-27.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.33 DOP 427

$7.31 DOP 426

0.27%

Cappuccino

$1.34 DOP 77.9

$1.38 DOP 80.3

-2.90%

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

$0.97 DOP 56.4

$1.02 DOP 59.5

-4.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 DOP 41.95

$0.78 DOP 45.25

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 DOP 136

$2.50 DOP 146

-6.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 DOP 225

$5.06 DOP 295

-23.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 DOP 57.8

$1.25 DOP 73.0

-20.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 DOP 103

$1.78 DOP 104

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 DOP 57.7

$1.09 DOP 63.8

-9.17%

Eggs

$1.46 DOP 85.3

$1.64 DOP 95.6

-10.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.06 DOP 178

$7.17 DOP 418

-57.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 DOP 250

$6.14 DOP 358

-30.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.84 DOP 223

$11.06 DOP 644

-65.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.18 DOP 185

$3.27 DOP 191

-2.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 DOP 53.8

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 DOP 169

$2.88 DOP 168

0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 DOP 113

$2.03 DOP 118

-4.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 DOP 112

$2.46 DOP 143

-21.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 DOP 140

$2.36 DOP 137

1.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 DOP 65.8

$1.14 DOP 66.1

-0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.17 DOP 10.17

$0.89 DOP 51.8

-80.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 DOP 203

$5.67 DOP 330

-38.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.38 DOP 488

$17.30 DOP 1,007

-51.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 DOP 153

$2.61 DOP 152

0.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 DOP 191

$3.10 DOP 180

5.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 DOP 30.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.79 DOP 1,793

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 DOP 192

$3.37 DOP 196

-2.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 DOP 123

$2.21 DOP 129

-4.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 DOP 147

$5.89 DOP 343

-57.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 DOP 73.3

$1.33 DOP 77.3

-5.26%

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

$26.1K DOP 1.5M

$26.9K DOP 1.6M

-3.17%

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

$31.3K DOP 1.8M

$29.3K DOP 1.7M

6.98%

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

$50.2 DOP 2,921

$75.1 DOP 4,374

-33.21%

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

$25.73 DOP 1,499

$25.36 DOP 1,477

1.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.07 DOP 2,101

$36.58 DOP 2,131

-1.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.38 DOP 488

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.34 DOP 486

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 DOP 285

$6.97 DOP 406

-29.84%

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

$263 DOP 15.3K

$268 DOP 15.6K

-2.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,031 DOP 60.0K

$8,133 DOP 473.7K

-87.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.63 DOP 2,716

$61.1 DOP 3,558

-23.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.15 DOP 2,572

$52.2 DOP 3,042

-15.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 DOP 5,206

$96.8 DOP 5,641

-7.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.1 DOP 3,731

$115 DOP 6,701

-44.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 DOP 20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 DOP 15.8K

$200 DOP 11.7K

35.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$823 DOP 47.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$408 DOP 23.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,735 DOP 217.6K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Azua: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $38.00 in Puerto Plata vs $52.0 in Azua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $251 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,275 in Puerto Plata and $1,335 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 43% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $850 per month in Puerto Plata versus $890 in Azua – a 5% 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 5% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.