Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo Este and Azua Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo Este and Azua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $792 in Santo Domingo Este versus $890 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Santo Domingo Este versus $1,258 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,916 in Santo Domingo Este versus $1,625 in Azua.

Living in Santo Domingo Este costs roughly 11% less than in Azua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santo Domingo Este 41% lower, Azua 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.60 DOP 501

$8.74 DOP 510

-1.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.02 DOP 2,508

$51.6 DOP 3,011

-16.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 DOP 442

$7.31 DOP 426

3.83%

Cappuccino

$1.28 DOP 74.4

$1.38 DOP 80.4

-7.25%

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

$1.00 DOP 58.3

$1.02 DOP 59.6

-1.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 DOP 29.15

$0.78 DOP 45.30

-35.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 DOP 150

$2.50 DOP 146

2.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 DOP 201

$5.06 DOP 295

-32.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 DOP 71.3

$1.25 DOP 73.1

-2.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 DOP 99.6

$1.78 DOP 104

-3.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 DOP 91.8

$1.09 DOP 63.8

44.04%

Eggs

$1.69 DOP 98.8

$1.64 DOP 95.7

3.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 DOP 425

$7.17 DOP 418

1.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 DOP 211

$6.14 DOP 358

-41.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.66 DOP 389

$11.06 DOP 645

-39.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 DOP 193

$3.27 DOP 191

1.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 DOP 42.98

$0.92 DOP 53.9

-19.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 DOP 113

$2.88 DOP 168

-32.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.33 DOP 77.5

$2.03 DOP 118

-34.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 DOP 54.8

$2.46 DOP 144

-61.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 DOP 102

$2.36 DOP 137

-25.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 DOP 64.0

$1.14 DOP 66.2

-3.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 DOP 52.7

$0.89 DOP 51.9

1.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.70 DOP 332

$5.67 DOP 331

0.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.80 DOP 630

$17.30 DOP 1,009

-37.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 DOP 97.0

$2.61 DOP 152

-36.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 DOP 137

$3.10 DOP 181

-23.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 DOP 48.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.34 DOP 1,944

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 DOP 199

$3.37 DOP 197

1.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 DOP 123

$2.21 DOP 129

-4.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 DOP 354

$5.89 DOP 343

3.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 DOP 71.6

$1.33 DOP 77.4

-7.52%

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

$27.0K DOP 1.6M

$26.9K DOP 1.6M

0.11%

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

$31.3K DOP 1.8M

$29.3K DOP 1.7M

6.78%

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

$40.76 DOP 2,377

$75.1 DOP 4,378

-45.72%

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

$17.60 DOP 1,026

$25.36 DOP 1,479

-30.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.67 DOP 2,080

$36.58 DOP 2,133

-2.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.03 DOP 1,634

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.44 DOP 492

Cinema Ticket

$5.89 DOP 343

$6.97 DOP 407

-15.49%

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

$268 DOP 15.6K

-0.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,898 DOP 343.9K

$8,133 DOP 474.2K

-27.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.90 DOP 2,443

$61.1 DOP 3,562

-31.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 DOP 2,980

$52.2 DOP 3,045

-2.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 DOP 3,844

$96.8 DOP 5,647

-31.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.7 DOP 3,424

$115 DOP 6,708

-48.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 DOP 26.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 DOP 9,835

$200 DOP 11.7K

-15.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,070 DOP 62.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$473 DOP 27.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,735 DOP 217.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 DOP 34.9K

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 Santo Domingo Este: July 11, 2026

Last update for Azua: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $43.00 in Santo Domingo Este vs $52.0 in Azua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $251 per month, with Santo Domingo Este 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

Santo Domingo Este vs Azua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santo Domingo Este is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,188 in Santo Domingo Este and $1,335 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 30% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $792 per month in Santo Domingo Este versus $890 in Azua – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $792 in Santo Domingo Este versus $890 in Azua, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santo Domingo Este but tight or insufficient in Azua. The gap between the two cities makes Santo Domingo Este the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Santo Domingo Este 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 Santo Domingo Este gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.