Cost of Living Comparison Between Samana and Azua Cost of Living Comparison Between Samana and Azua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $817 in Samana versus $894 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,353 in Samana versus $1,248 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,889 in Samana versus $1,602 in Azua.

Living in Samana costs roughly 9% less than in Azua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Samana 39% lower, Azua 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 DOP 255

$8.24 DOP 483

-47.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.59 DOP 2,144

$50.9 DOP 2,979

-28.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.36 DOP 431

$7.54 DOP 442

-2.39%

Cappuccino

$1.73 DOP 101

$1.37 DOP 80.3

26.28%

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

$0.75 DOP 44.16

$1.00 DOP 58.4

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 DOP 49.57

$0.82 DOP 48.14

3.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 DOP 147

$2.54 DOP 149

-1.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 DOP 244

$5.23 DOP 306

-20.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 DOP 81.0

$1.20 DOP 70.3

15.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 DOP 48.04

$1.81 DOP 106

-54.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 DOP 51.1

$1.10 DOP 64.4

-20.91%

Eggs

$2.10 DOP 123

$1.65 DOP 96.6

27.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.33 DOP 371

$7.12 DOP 417

-11.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.31 DOP 311

$6.29 DOP 368

-15.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 DOP 495

$11.08 DOP 649

-23.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 DOP 175

$3.31 DOP 194

-9.67%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 DOP 50.3

$0.93 DOP 54.6

-7.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 DOP 81.7

$3.04 DOP 178

-54.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 DOP 95.3

$1.92 DOP 113

-15.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 DOP 98.9

$2.43 DOP 143

-30.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 DOP 101

$2.35 DOP 138

-26.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 DOP 30.96

$1.12 DOP 65.9

-52.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 DOP 39.06

$0.96 DOP 56.0

-30.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 DOP 244

$5.70 DOP 334

-27.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.76 DOP 513

$16.88 DOP 989

-48.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 DOP 151

$2.74 DOP 161

-5.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 DOP 170

$3.25 DOP 190

-10.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 DOP 47.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 DOP 194

$3.39 DOP 198

-2.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 DOP 62.6

$2.10 DOP 123

-49.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.00 DOP 351

$6.04 DOP 354

-0.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 DOP 72.2

$1.26 DOP 74.1

-2.38%

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

$26.9K DOP 1.6M

$26.5K DOP 1.6M

1.37%

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

$31.9K DOP 1.9M

$29.6K DOP 1.7M

7.49%

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

$50.4 DOP 2,954

$76.1 DOP 4,459

-33.76%

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

$16.85 DOP 987

$25.36 DOP 1,485

-33.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.71 DOP 2,150

$35.76 DOP 2,095

2.66%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 DOP 395

$6.99 DOP 409

-3.58%

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

$263 DOP 15.4K

$264 DOP 15.5K

-0.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,189 DOP 479.7K

$8,141 DOP 476.9K

0.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 DOP 3,474

$60.7 DOP 3,554

-2.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 DOP 3,068

$52.2 DOP 3,059

0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 DOP 5,566

$94.3 DOP 5,526

0.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 DOP 6,778

$115 DOP 6,730

0.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$310 DOP 18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 DOP 14.9K

$206 DOP 12.0K

23.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$746 DOP 43.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$539 DOP 31.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,671 DOP 215.1K

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 Samana: June 8, 2026

Last update for Azua: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $37.00 in Samana vs $51.0 in Azua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $253 per month, with Samana 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

Samana vs Azua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Samana is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,226 in Samana and $1,341 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 31% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $817 per month in Samana versus $894 in Azua – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Samana 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, Samana 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 Samana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.