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: $648 in Santo Domingo Este versus $683 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,061 in Santo Domingo Este versus $1,080 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,474 in Santo Domingo Este versus $1,477 in Azua.

Living in Santo Domingo Este costs roughly 5% less than in Azua, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santo Domingo Este 53% lower, Azua 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.10 DOP 300

$8.23 DOP 483

-38.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.40 DOP 2,492

$42.16 DOP 2,478

0.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.87 DOP 404

$7.40 DOP 435

-7.16%

Cappuccino

$0.99 DOP 58.4

$1.37 DOP 80.6

-27.74%

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

$1.08 DOP 63.5

$0.69 DOP 40.44

56.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 DOP 37.44

$0.39 DOP 22.69

64.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 DOP 152

$2.57 DOP 151

0.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 DOP 211

$3.99 DOP 235

-10.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 DOP 81.6

$1.21 DOP 70.9

14.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 DOP 89.3

$1.85 DOP 109

-17.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 DOP 96.9

$1.04 DOP 61.2

58.65%

Eggs

$2.45 DOP 144

$1.54 DOP 90.6

59.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 DOP 439

$6.58 DOP 387

13.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.77 DOP 339

$3.63 DOP 213

58.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.01 DOP 412

$4.79 DOP 281

46.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.18 DOP 187

$3.82 DOP 224

-16.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 DOP 47.44

$1.48 DOP 87.2

-45.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 DOP 165

$3.40 DOP 200

-17.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 DOP 107

$2.30 DOP 135

-20.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 DOP 122

$3.72 DOP 218

-44.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 DOP 131

$2.92 DOP 171

-23.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 DOP 62.9

$0.96 DOP 56.3

11.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 DOP 57.1

$1.69 DOP 99.5

-42.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.30 DOP 311

$4.79 DOP 282

10.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.61 DOP 623

$17.19 DOP 1,010

-38.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 DOP 157

$2.98 DOP 175

-10.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 DOP 181

$3.45 DOP 203

-10.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 DOP 203

$2.59 DOP 152

33.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.33 DOP 137

$3.32 DOP 195

-29.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.90 DOP 347

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 DOP 75.7

$1.37 DOP 80.3

-5.84%

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

$23.3K DOP 1.4M

$15.4K DOP 904.9K

51.30%

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

$34.1K DOP 2.0M

$25.5K DOP 1.5M

33.83%

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

$93.1 DOP 5,472

$95.2 DOP 5,593

-2.16%

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

$32.16 DOP 1,890

$27.28 DOP 1,603

17.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.97 DOP 2,173

$39.60 DOP 2,327

-6.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.68 DOP 1,215

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 DOP 460

$5.11 DOP 300

53.03%

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

$262 DOP 15.4K

$155 DOP 9,088

69.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,462 DOP 438.4K

$5,649 DOP 331.9K

32.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.06 DOP 2,765

$26.75 DOP 1,572

75.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.60 DOP 2,856

$46.02 DOP 2,704

5.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 DOP 5,290

$64.2 DOP 3,770

40.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 DOP 7,412

$68.4 DOP 4,018

84.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,661 DOP 215.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 DOP 35.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.56

23.27%

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

Last update for Santo Domingo Este: September 14, 2026

Last update for Azua: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $42.00 in Santo Domingo Este vs $42.00 in Azua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $226 vs $244 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $972 in Santo Domingo Este and $1,025 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 8% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $648 per month in Santo Domingo Este versus $683 in Azua – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Santo Domingo Este 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, 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 5% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.