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: $738 in Punta Cana versus $683 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,703 in Punta Cana versus $1,080 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,668 in Punta Cana versus $1,477 in Azua.

Living in Punta Cana is roughly 8% more expensive than in Azua, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Punta Cana 46% lower, Azua 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.21 DOP 483

$8.23 DOP 483

-0.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.55 DOP 2,441

$42.16 DOP 2,478

-1.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.22 DOP 424

$7.40 DOP 435

-2.43%

Cappuccino

$1.89 DOP 111

$1.37 DOP 80.6

37.96%

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

$0.67 DOP 39.63

$0.69 DOP 40.44

-2.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 DOP 24.23

$0.39 DOP 22.69

5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.62 DOP 154

$2.57 DOP 151

1.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.18 DOP 246

$3.99 DOP 235

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 DOP 73.0

$1.21 DOP 70.9

2.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 DOP 104

$1.85 DOP 109

-4.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 DOP 86.4

$1.04 DOP 61.2

41.35%

Eggs

$1.48 DOP 87.1

$1.54 DOP 90.6

-3.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.56 DOP 386

$6.58 DOP 387

-0.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 DOP 218

$3.63 DOP 213

2.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.80 DOP 282

$4.79 DOP 281

0.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 DOP 177

$3.82 DOP 224

-21.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 DOP 83.6

$1.48 DOP 87.2

-4.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 DOP 200

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 DOP 133

$2.30 DOP 135

-1.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.64 DOP 214

$3.72 DOP 218

-2.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 DOP 173

$2.92 DOP 171

1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 DOP 57.0

$0.96 DOP 56.3

1.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 DOP 99.4

$1.69 DOP 99.5

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.79 DOP 282

Wine (Bottle)

$16.67 DOP 980

$17.19 DOP 1,010

-3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 DOP 175

$2.98 DOP 175

-0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 DOP 203

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 DOP 86.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 DOP 152

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.36 DOP 198

$3.32 DOP 195

1.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 DOP 79.5

$1.37 DOP 80.3

-1.46%

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

$15.0K DOP 883.2K

$15.4K DOP 904.9K

-2.40%

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

$26.2K DOP 1.5M

$25.5K DOP 1.5M

2.92%

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

$96.0 DOP 5,642

$95.2 DOP 5,593

0.87%

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

$27.61 DOP 1,622

$27.28 DOP 1,603

1.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.28 DOP 2,308

$39.60 DOP 2,327

-0.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.3 DOP 4,892

$20.68 DOP 1,215

302.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.75 DOP 984

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 DOP 296

$5.11 DOP 300

-1.37%

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

$152 DOP 8,920

$155 DOP 9,088

-1.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,601 DOP 329.1K

$5,649 DOP 331.9K

-0.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.58 DOP 1,620

$26.75 DOP 1,572

3.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.11 DOP 2,709

$46.02 DOP 2,704

0.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 DOP 3,568

$64.2 DOP 3,770

-5.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.3 DOP 3,955

$68.4 DOP 4,018

-1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 DOP 55.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 DOP 159.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,013 DOP 59.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,027 DOP 177.9K

$3,661 DOP 215.1K

-17.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,261 DOP 74.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Punta Cana: September 13, 2026

Last update for Azua: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $42.00 in Punta Cana vs $42.00 in Azua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $244 per month, with Punta Cana 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

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

Azua is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,107 in Punta Cana and $1,025 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 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $738 per month in Punta Cana versus $683 in Azua – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $683 in Azua versus $738 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 8% less than in Punta Cana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.