Cost of Living Comparison Between Punta Cana and Azua Cost of Living Comparison Between Punta Cana and Azua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,399 in Punta Cana versus $908 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,000 in Punta Cana versus $1,262 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,601 in Punta Cana versus $1,616 in Azua.

Living in Punta Cana is roughly 54% more expensive than in Azua, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Punta Cana is 5% above, Azua is 32% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.36 DOP 486

$8.44 DOP 491

-0.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 DOP 3,001

$49.97 DOP 2,904

3.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 DOP 433

$7.24 DOP 420

3.04%

Cappuccino

$2.61 DOP 151

$1.33 DOP 77.3

96.24%

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

$1.04 DOP 60.3

$1.03 DOP 60.1

0.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 DOP 48.73

$0.84 DOP 48.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 DOP 147

$2.51 DOP 146

0.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 DOP 298

$4.94 DOP 287

3.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 DOP 78.3

$1.21 DOP 70.1

11.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 DOP 84.6

$1.71 DOP 99.6

-14.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 DOP 88.2

$1.08 DOP 63.0

40.74%

Eggs

$2.27 DOP 132

$1.64 DOP 95.2

38.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.27 DOP 423

$7.23 DOP 420

0.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 DOP 368

$6.49 DOP 377

-2.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.32 DOP 600

$10.80 DOP 628

-4.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 DOP 175

$3.30 DOP 192

-8.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 DOP 54.2

$0.93 DOP 54.1

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 DOP 130

$3.04 DOP 176

-26.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 DOP 114

$1.94 DOP 113

1.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 DOP 61.3

$2.52 DOP 146

-57.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 DOP 84.1

$2.33 DOP 135

-37.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 DOP 42.03

$1.13 DOP 65.8

-36.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 DOP 53.3

$0.94 DOP 54.9

-2.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.91 DOP 343

$5.93 DOP 345

-0.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.20 DOP 999

$16.94 DOP 984

1.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 DOP 153

$2.70 DOP 157

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 DOP 181

$3.09 DOP 179

0.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 DOP 47.97

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 DOP 199

$3.32 DOP 193

3.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 DOP 126

$2.14 DOP 124

1.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.06 DOP 352

$5.88 DOP 342

3.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 DOP 76.9

$1.27 DOP 74.0

3.94%

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

$26.0K DOP 1.5M

$26.4K DOP 1.5M

-1.46%

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

$31.3K DOP 1.8M

$29.7K DOP 1.7M

5.43%

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

$75.1 DOP 4,365

$75.7 DOP 4,400

-0.79%

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

$19.74 DOP 1,147

$25.29 DOP 1,470

-21.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.22 DOP 2,105

$35.71 DOP 2,075

1.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.7 DOP 3,701

Cinema Ticket

$5.23 DOP 304

$6.65 DOP 387

-21.35%

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

$267 DOP 15.5K

$273 DOP 15.8K

-2.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,129 DOP 414.3K

$7,993 DOP 464.4K

-10.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.55 DOP 903

$60.2 DOP 3,496

-74.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 DOP 2,974

$51.8 DOP 3,007

-1.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 DOP 3,790

$96.2 DOP 5,592

-32.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 DOP 6,847

$115 DOP 6,707

2.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 DOP 48.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$666 DOP 38.7K

$206 DOP 11.9K

223.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 DOP 76.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$891 DOP 51.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,005 DOP 174.6K

$3,702 DOP 215.1K

-18.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,296 DOP 75.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.9

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

Last update for Punta Cana: July 27, 2026

Last update for Azua: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $52.0 in Punta Cana vs $50.0 in Azua. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $252, with Punta Cana 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

Punta Cana vs Azua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Azua is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,099 in Punta Cana and $1,363 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 Punta Cana pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,399 per month in Punta Cana versus $908 in Azua – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $908 in Azua versus $1,399 in Punta Cana, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Azua but tight or insufficient in Punta Cana. The gap between the two cities makes Azua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Punta Cana 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 54% less than in Punta Cana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.