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: $840 in Samana versus $888 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,348 in Samana versus $1,247 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Samana versus $1,606 in Azua.

Living in Samana costs roughly 5% less than in Azua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Samana 37% lower, Azua 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.21 DOP 251

$8.71 DOP 518

-51.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.30 DOP 2,160

$51.8 DOP 3,082

-29.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.60 DOP 452

$7.25 DOP 432

4.83%

Cappuccino

$1.71 DOP 102

$1.38 DOP 81.9

23.91%

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

$0.71 DOP 42.21

$1.03 DOP 61.4

-31.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 DOP 49.76

$0.79 DOP 46.76

6.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 DOP 147

$2.52 DOP 150

-1.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 DOP 247

$4.95 DOP 295

-16.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 DOP 82.4

$1.20 DOP 71.3

15.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 DOP 52.3

$1.74 DOP 104

-49.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 DOP 51.5

$1.08 DOP 64.5

-19.44%

Eggs

$2.03 DOP 121

$1.63 DOP 96.8

24.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.27 DOP 373

$7.16 DOP 426

-12.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 DOP 315

$6.14 DOP 366

-13.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.26 DOP 492

$10.81 DOP 643

-23.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 DOP 179

$3.34 DOP 199

-10.18%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 DOP 51.4

$0.85 DOP 50.8

1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 DOP 83.2

$3.01 DOP 179

-53.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 DOP 97.1

$1.95 DOP 116

-16.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 DOP 99.1

$2.55 DOP 152

-34.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 DOP 100

$2.36 DOP 140

-28.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 DOP 31.23

$1.12 DOP 66.7

-53.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 DOP 38.78

$0.95 DOP 56.4

-31.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.21 DOP 251

$5.91 DOP 352

-28.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.25 DOP 491

$11.59 DOP 690

-28.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 DOP 154

$2.61 DOP 156

-0.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 DOP 175

$3.15 DOP 187

-6.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 DOP 48.59

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 DOP 201

$3.33 DOP 198

1.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 DOP 63.3

$2.11 DOP 126

-49.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 DOP 355

$5.88 DOP 350

1.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 DOP 73.2

$1.33 DOP 79.1

-7.52%

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

$26.3K DOP 1.6M

$26.9K DOP 1.6M

-2.25%

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

$32.2K DOP 1.9M

$29.7K DOP 1.8M

8.53%

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

$50.8 DOP 3,026

$77.2 DOP 4,596

-34.16%

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

$16.94 DOP 1,008

$25.20 DOP 1,500

-32.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.28 DOP 2,159

$36.27 DOP 2,159

0.03%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 DOP 397

$6.83 DOP 406

-2.34%

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

$265 DOP 15.7K

$267 DOP 15.9K

-1.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,067 DOP 480.2K

$8,222 DOP 489.4K

-1.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.2 DOP 3,645

$60.7 DOP 3,613

0.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 DOP 3,097

$52.7 DOP 3,134

-1.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 DOP 5,820

$95.1 DOP 5,661

2.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 DOP 6,951

$115 DOP 6,825

1.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 DOP 18.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 DOP 15.2K

$207 DOP 12.3K

23.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 DOP 43.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 DOP 31.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,604 DOP 214.5K

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Azua: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $36.00 in Samana vs $52.0 in Azua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $239 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,260 in Samana and $1,332 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 25% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $840 per month in Samana versus $888 in Azua – a 6% 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 6% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.