🙂A single person spends $1,124 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,150 in Boca Chica, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,760 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,342 in Boca Chica, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,395 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,535 in Boca Chica, rent included.
🙂Santo Domingo is about 2% cheaper than Boca Chica, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Santo Domingo and Boca Chica are more affordable than the global median – Santo Domingo18% lower, Boca Chica16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santo Domingo
Boca Chica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.21DOP 598
$8.24DOP 482
23.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7DOP 3,026
$42.86DOP 2,509
20.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.97DOP 467
$7.36DOP 431
8.29%
Cappuccino
$2.40DOP 140
$1.82DOP 107
31.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13DOP 66.4
$0.68DOP 39.52
66.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64DOP 37.46
$0.41DOP 24.09
56.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61DOP 153
$2.61DOP 153
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60DOP 211
$4.12DOP 241
-12.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santo Domingo
Boca Chica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45DOP 84.8
$1.25DOP 73.2
16.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53DOP 89.5
$1.79DOP 105
-14.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61DOP 94.3
$1.55DOP 90.5
3.87%
Eggs
$2.46DOP 144
$1.55DOP 90.9
58.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.57DOP 443
$6.48DOP 379
16.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.87DOP 343
$3.69DOP 216
59.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.76DOP 396
$4.88DOP 286
38.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36DOP 197
$3.88DOP 227
-13.40%
Banana(1kg)
$0.81DOP 47.21
$1.42DOP 82.9
-42.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.71DOP 159
$3.46DOP 203
-21.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.91DOP 112
$2.20DOP 129
-13.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.10DOP 123
$3.71DOP 217
-43.40%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31DOP 135
$2.93DOP 171
-21.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02DOP 59.6
$0.91DOP 53.6
12.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03DOP 60.1
$1.69DOP 99.1
-39.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.47DOP 320
$5.04DOP 295
8.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52DOP 616
$8.37DOP 490
25.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62DOP 153
$3.08DOP 180
-14.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04DOP 178
$3.54DOP 207
-14.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Santo Domingo
Boca Chica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61DOP 35.91
$1.73DOP 102
-64.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.63DOP 1,091
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.32DOP 195
$2.58DOP 151
28.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.24DOP 131
$3.30DOP 193
-32.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.11DOP 358
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35DOP 79.0
$1.42DOP 83.2
-4.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KDOP 1.4M
$15.2KDOP 891.3K
53.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KDOP 2.0M
$26.2KDOP 1.5M
32.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santo Domingo
Boca Chica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.3DOP 5,579
$97.2DOP 5,693
-2.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.73DOP 1,858
$15.12DOP 885
109.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.90DOP 2,161
$17.03DOP 997
116.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santo Domingo
Boca Chica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.78DOP 1,743
$41.89DOP 2,453
-28.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.29DOP 1,481
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.84DOP 459
$5.02DOP 294
56.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santo Domingo
Boca Chica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$262DOP 15.3K
$150DOP 8,790
74.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,076DOP 414.3K
$5,658DOP 331.3K
25.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santo Domingo
Boca Chica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.44DOP 2,719
$27.60DOP 1,616
68.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.90DOP 2,746
$46.91DOP 2,747
-0.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.4DOP 5,295
$64.7DOP 3,791
39.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125DOP 7,300
$68.1DOP 3,986
83.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santo Domingo
Boca Chica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$728DOP 42.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$354DOP 20.7K
$464DOP 27.2K
-23.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,475DOP 86.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$630DOP 36.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,265DOP 132.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,209DOP 70.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santo Domingo
Boca Chica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$610DOP 35.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.56
11
23.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santo Domingo: August 30, 2026
Last update for Boca Chica: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Santo Domingo versus $43.00 in Boca Chica. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Santo Domingo vs $228 in Boca Chica – 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 Boca Chica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Santo Domingo or Boca Chica?
Boca Chica costs about 2% more than Santo Domingo, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Santo Domingo and in Boca Chica?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,685 per month in Santo Domingo and $1,725 in Boca Chica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Santo Domingo compared to Boca Chica?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,124 in Santo Domingo and $1,150 in Boca Chica. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Santo Domingo and in Boca Chica?
Kindergarten costs $262 per month in Santo Domingo and $150 in Boca Chica. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Santo Domingo or in Boca Chica?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santo Domingo, where all-in costs run around $1,124, than in Boca Chica at $1,150. In Santo Domingo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boca Chica it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
Should I move to Santo Domingo or to Boca Chica?
If budget matters most, go with Santo Domingo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boca Chica makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Santo Domingo vs other spots: cost of living compared