🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $656 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $931 in Higuey.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,049 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $1,524 in Higuey.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,442 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $2,116 in Higuey.
🌍Living in Santa Cruz del Seibo costs roughly 30% less than in Higuey, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Cruz del Seibo52% lower, Higuey32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Higuey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.27DOP 487
$9.98DOP 588
-17.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.76DOP 2,520
$50.6DOP 2,982
-15.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.10DOP 300
$8.00DOP 472
-36.25%
Cappuccino
$1.82DOP 107
$2.09DOP 123
-12.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73DOP 43.27
$1.08DOP 63.9
-32.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38DOP 22.59
$0.49DOP 28.94
-22.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50DOP 147
$2.56DOP 151
-2.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00DOP 235
$3.60DOP 212
11.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Higuey
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24DOP 73.3
$1.29DOP 75.9
-3.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78DOP 105
$1.56DOP 92.0
14.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54DOP 90.8
$1.42DOP 83.6
8.45%
Eggs
$1.52DOP 89.8
$2.00DOP 118
-24.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.40DOP 377
$7.55DOP 445
-15.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.60DOP 212
$5.52DOP 325
-34.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.71DOP 277
$6.84DOP 403
-31.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72DOP 219
$3.01DOP 177
23.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47DOP 86.5
$0.79DOP 46.56
86.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.34DOP 197
$1.50DOP 88.6
122.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21DOP 131
$1.37DOP 80.9
61.31%
Potato(1kg)
$3.71DOP 219
$1.20DOP 70.8
209.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.92DOP 172
$1.21DOP 71.2
141.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91DOP 53.8
$0.57DOP 33.51
59.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62DOP 95.7
$0.53DOP 31.07
205.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.97DOP 293
$5.42DOP 319
-8.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.05DOP 1,005
$10.40DOP 613
63.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.06DOP 180
$2.58DOP 152
18.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40DOP 200
$2.96DOP 174
14.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Higuey
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.83DOP 49.09
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$51.5DOP 3,032
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.48DOP 146
$3.37DOP 198
-26.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.38DOP 199
$2.34DOP 138
44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.83DOP 343
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42DOP 83.7
$1.37DOP 81.0
3.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.1KDOP 891.5K
$23.8KDOP 1.4M
-36.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4KDOP 1.5M
$31.5KDOP 1.9M
-19.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Higuey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.1DOP 5,782
$95.1DOP 5,606
3.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.13DOP 1,599
$17.15DOP 1,011
58.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.79DOP 2,345
$33.89DOP 1,997
17.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Higuey
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.44DOP 1,499
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$66.5DOP 3,916
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.19DOP 306
$7.74DOP 456
-32.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Higuey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154DOP 9,094
$101DOP 5,950
52.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,493DOP 323.7K
$2,257DOP 133.0K
143.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Higuey
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.50DOP 1,621
$46.76DOP 2,755
-41.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.34DOP 2,731
$47.87DOP 2,821
-3.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.5DOP 3,685
$87.8DOP 5,172
-28.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.5DOP 3,980
$81.5DOP 4,800
-17.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Higuey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$302DOP 17.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$219DOP 12.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$589DOP 34.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$415DOP 24.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,876DOP 110.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,294DOP 76.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Higuey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$454DOP 26.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
11.5
-4.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Cruz del Seibo: September 13, 2026
Last update for Higuey: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Santa Cruz del Seibo vs $51.0 in Higuey. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $200, with Higuey 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
Santa Cruz del Seibo vs Higuey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Higuey cheaper than Santa Cruz del Seibo?
Santa Cruz del Seibo is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $984 in Santa Cruz del Seibo and $1,397 in Higuey 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.
How do food prices compare in Santa Cruz del Seibo and in Higuey?
Shoppers in Higuey pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Santa Cruz del Seibo and in Higuey?
All in, you'll spend $656 per month in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $931 in Higuey – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Santa Cruz del Seibo or in Higuey?
At $656 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $931 in Higuey, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz del Seibo but tight or insufficient in Higuey. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz del Seibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Santa Cruz del Seibo or in Higuey?
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.
Which city is safer, Santa Cruz del Seibo or Higuey?
Safety-wise, Santa Cruz del Seibo and Higuey are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Santa Cruz del Seibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Higuey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Santa Cruz del Seibo vs other spots: cost of living compared