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: $835 in Samana versus $908 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,334 in Samana versus $1,262 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,834 in Samana versus $1,616 in Azua.

Living in Samana costs roughly 8% less than in Azua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Samana 37% lower, Azua 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.19 DOP 243

$8.44 DOP 491

-50.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.95 DOP 2,147

$49.97 DOP 2,904

-26.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.60 DOP 442

$7.24 DOP 420

4.97%

Cappuccino

$1.67 DOP 97.2

$1.33 DOP 77.3

25.56%

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

$0.76 DOP 43.87

$1.03 DOP 60.1

-26.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 DOP 44.88

$0.84 DOP 48.84

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 DOP 147

$2.51 DOP 146

1.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 DOP 250

$4.94 DOP 287

-12.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 DOP 77.0

$1.21 DOP 70.1

9.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 DOP 51.7

$1.71 DOP 99.6

-47.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 DOP 48.03

$1.08 DOP 63.0

-23.15%

Eggs

$2.00 DOP 116

$1.64 DOP 95.2

21.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.27 DOP 364

$7.23 DOP 420

-13.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 DOP 302

$6.49 DOP 377

-19.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.41 DOP 489

$10.80 DOP 628

-22.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 DOP 179

$3.30 DOP 192

-6.67%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 DOP 53.9

$0.93 DOP 54.1

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 DOP 78.1

$3.04 DOP 176

-55.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 DOP 91.3

$1.94 DOP 113

-19.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 DOP 102

$2.52 DOP 146

-30.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 DOP 102

$2.33 DOP 135

-24.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 DOP 30.54

$1.13 DOP 65.8

-53.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 DOP 38.86

$0.94 DOP 54.9

-28.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 DOP 250

$5.93 DOP 345

-27.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.34 DOP 485

$16.94 DOP 984

-50.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 DOP 144

$2.70 DOP 157

-8.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 DOP 175

$3.09 DOP 179

-2.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 DOP 48.07

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 DOP 198

$3.32 DOP 193

2.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 DOP 59.5

$2.14 DOP 124

-52.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 DOP 351

$5.88 DOP 342

2.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 DOP 74.4

$1.27 DOP 74.0

0.79%

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

$26.3K DOP 1.5M

$26.4K DOP 1.5M

-0.23%

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

$32.1K DOP 1.9M

$29.7K DOP 1.7M

8.10%

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

$51.9 DOP 3,015

$75.7 DOP 4,400

-31.48%

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

$16.97 DOP 986

$25.29 DOP 1,470

-32.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.25 DOP 2,107

$35.71 DOP 2,075

1.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.76 DOP 393

$6.65 DOP 387

1.65%

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

$266 DOP 15.4K

$273 DOP 15.8K

-2.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,990 DOP 464.3K

$7,993 DOP 464.4K

-0.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 DOP 3,470

$60.2 DOP 3,496

-0.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 DOP 2,975

$51.8 DOP 3,007

-1.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 DOP 5,655

$96.2 DOP 5,592

1.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 DOP 6,633

$115 DOP 6,707

-1.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 DOP 18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 DOP 14.7K

$206 DOP 11.9K

22.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 DOP 42.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$534 DOP 31.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,702 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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Azua: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $37.00 in Samana vs $50.0 in Azua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $252 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, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,253 in Samana 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $835 per month in Samana versus $908 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.