😐A single person spends $836 per month in Puerto Plata vs $659 in Santa Cruz del Seibo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,299 per month in Puerto Plata vs $1,064 in Santa Cruz del Seibo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,761 per month in Puerto Plata vs $1,470 in Santa Cruz del Seibo, rent included.
😐Puerto Plata costs about 27% more than Santa Cruz del Seibo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Puerto Plata and Santa Cruz del Seibo are more affordable than the global median – Puerto Plata39% lower, Santa Cruz del Seibo52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto Plata
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.10DOP 360
$8.72DOP 515
-30.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.74DOP 2,286
$42.55DOP 2,510
-8.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.91DOP 408
$4.98DOP 294
38.76%
Cappuccino
$1.24DOP 73.0
$1.87DOP 110
-33.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50DOP 29.47
$0.69DOP 40.91
-27.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64DOP 37.53
$0.38DOP 22.67
68.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51DOP 148
$2.58DOP 152
-2.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38DOP 199
$4.13DOP 244
-18.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto Plata
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29DOP 75.9
$1.20DOP 70.7
7.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57DOP 92.8
$1.82DOP 108
-13.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.71DOP 42.07
$1.61DOP 94.9
-55.90%
Eggs
$1.43DOP 84.4
$1.53DOP 90.3
-6.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.51DOP 266
$6.27DOP 370
-28.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.89DOP 230
$3.60DOP 212
8.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.42DOP 202
$4.98DOP 294
-31.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.33DOP 78.5
$3.79DOP 223
-64.91%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65DOP 38.34
$1.49DOP 87.9
-56.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.84DOP 49.50
$3.40DOP 201
-75.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.70DOP 41.03
$2.26DOP 134
-69.03%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65DOP 38.12
$3.56DOP 210
-81.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89DOP 52.6
$3.05DOP 180
-70.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62DOP 36.61
$0.94DOP 55.5
-34.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98DOP 57.8
$1.71DOP 101
-42.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51DOP 148
$4.97DOP 293
-49.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.71DOP 514
$16.77DOP 989
-48.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31DOP 136
$3.06DOP 181
-24.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07DOP 181
$3.45DOP 204
-11.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto Plata
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05DOP 61.8
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.47DOP 205
$2.57DOP 152
35.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.33DOP 137
$3.31DOP 195
-29.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78DOP 341
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23DOP 72.4
$1.39DOP 82.0
-11.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0KDOP 1.4M
$15.4KDOP 907.6K
55.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KDOP 2.0M
$25.9KDOP 1.5M
34.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Plata
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.3DOP 5,501
$96.3DOP 5,682
-3.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.30DOP 1,021
$27.24DOP 1,607
-36.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.20DOP 2,195
$39.43DOP 2,326
-5.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Plata
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Cinema Ticket
$7.65DOP 452
$5.10DOP 301
50.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto Plata
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$255DOP 15.1K
$150DOP 8,876
69.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,105DOP 419.2K
$5,570DOP 328.6K
27.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Plata
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.45DOP 1,088
$27.18DOP 1,604
-32.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.35DOP 788
$46.99DOP 2,772
-71.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.5DOP 5,164
$64.2DOP 3,786
36.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126DOP 7,444
$68.4DOP 4,034
84.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto Plata
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$419DOP 24.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$298DOP 17.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,010DOP 59.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$552DOP 32.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto Plata
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.56
11
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 Santa Cruz del Seibo: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Puerto Plata versus $43.00 in Santa Cruz del Seibo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $244 – making Puerto Plata the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Santa Cruz del Seibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Cruz del Seibo cheaper than Puerto Plata?
Yes – Puerto Plata is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,255 per month in Puerto Plata and $988 in Santa Cruz del Seibo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Puerto Plata or in Santa Cruz del Seibo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Puerto Plata and $43.00 in Santa Cruz del Seibo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Puerto Plata and in Santa Cruz del Seibo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 62% cheaper in Puerto Plata – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 enough for either Puerto Plata or Santa Cruz del Seibo?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $836 in Puerto Plata and $659 in Santa Cruz del Seibo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Puerto Plata or Santa Cruz del Seibo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Santa Cruz del Seibo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Santa Cruz del Seibo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Puerto Plata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Puerto Plata vs other spots: cost of living compared