Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo and Quito Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo and Quito

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $783 per month in Santo Domingo vs $964 in Quito, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,215 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,468 in Quito, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,648 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,972 in Quito, rent included.

Santo Domingo is about 19% cheaper than Quito, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Santo Domingo and Quito are more affordable than the global median – Santo Domingo 42% lower, Quito 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 $3.47

$4.42 $4.42

-21.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.34 $48.34

$33.14 $33.14

45.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.35 $7.35

8.98%

Cappuccino

$2.04 $2.04

$2.90 $2.90

-29.66%

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

$0.90 $0.90

$1.11 $1.11

-18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.72 $0.72

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.02 $2.02

-3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.97 $3.97

14.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.09 $1.09

-6.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.51 $1.51

12.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.86 $1.86

-30.11%

Eggs

$2.04 $2.04

$2.23 $2.23

-8.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$8.85 $8.85

-49.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$7.71 $7.71

-61.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$7.99 $7.99

-56.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.22 $1.22

-14.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.02 $1.02

0.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.33 $1.33

-21.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.39 $1.39

-25.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.05 $1.05

-5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.80 $0.80

-13.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.01 $1.01

-3.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.13 $6.13

$5.92 $5.92

3.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.09 $5.09

$8.22 $8.22

-38.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.59 $1.59

1.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.96 $2.96

-27.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.33 $0.33

3.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.75 $23.75

$26.47 $26.47

-10.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.49 $1.49

87.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.46 $1.46

4.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.02 $10.02

$10.19 $10.19

-1.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.66 $0.66

-1.52%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$19.9K $19.9K

25.27%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$25.4K $25.4K

17.17%

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

$37.88 $37.88

$34.15 $34.15

10.92%

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

$10.13 $10.13

$14.26 $14.26

-28.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.68 $22.68

$29.42 $29.42

-22.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.47 $30.47

$41.02 $41.02

-25.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 $14.35

$16.95 $16.95

-15.34%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 $7.55

$6.89 $6.89

9.58%

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

$320 $320

$278 $278

14.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,880 $5,880

$8,696 $8,696

-32.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.81 $19.81

$57.3 $57.3

-65.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.34 $30.34

$42.95 $42.95

-29.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.4 $50.4

$102 $102

-50.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.76 $49.76

$87.2 $87.2

-42.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 $345

$448 $448

-22.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$318 $318

0.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$623 $623

$767 $767

-18.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 $503

$504 $504

-0.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,250 $1,250

$1,692 $1,692

-26.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$771 $771

$729 $729

5.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$404 $404

$612 $612

-33.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

11.19

-16.44%

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

Last update for Santo Domingo: June 2, 2026

Last update for Quito: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $345 in Santo Domingo versus $448 in Quito. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 51% higher in Quito, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Santo Domingo versus $33.00 in Quito. Groceries tell a different story – $147 in Santo Domingo vs $212 in Quito – so Santo Domingo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Santo Domingo vs Quito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Quito is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,174 per month in Santo Domingo and $1,446 in Quito. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santo Domingo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 11% less in Santo Domingo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $320 per month in Santo Domingo and $278 in Quito. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santo Domingo, where all-in costs run around $783, than in Quito at $964. In Santo Domingo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quito it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Santo Domingo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Santo Domingo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Quito makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.