Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo and La Romana Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo and La Romana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,116 per month in Santo Domingo vs $811 in La Romana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,815 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,441 in La Romana, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,514 per month in Santo Domingo vs $2,070 in La Romana, rent included.

Santo Domingo costs about 38% more than La Romana, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Santo Domingo and La Romana are more affordable than the global median – Santo Domingo 16% lower, La Romana 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.45 DOP 491

$8.66 DOP 503

-2.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.4 DOP 2,987

$51.8 DOP 3,013

-0.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 DOP 432

$7.32 DOP 425

1.50%

Cappuccino

$2.63 DOP 153

$2.70 DOP 157

-2.59%

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

$0.99 DOP 57.6

$1.03 DOP 59.9

-3.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 DOP 44.90

$0.39 DOP 22.89

97.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 DOP 146

$2.53 DOP 147

-0.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 DOP 298

$5.16 DOP 300

-0.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 DOP 77.1

$1.08 DOP 62.9

23.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 DOP 104

$1.74 DOP 101

2.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 DOP 86.3

$1.57 DOP 91.1

-5.73%

Eggs

$2.19 DOP 127

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 DOP 420

$7.09 DOP 412

1.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 DOP 364

$5.13 DOP 298

22.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 DOP 631

$5.07 DOP 295

114.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 DOP 194

$3.30 DOP 192

1.21%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 DOP 53.9

$0.87 DOP 50.7

6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 DOP 175

$2.87 DOP 167

4.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.01 DOP 117

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 DOP 144

$2.45 DOP 142

1.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 DOP 139

$2.29 DOP 133

4.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 DOP 63.6

$1.09 DOP 63.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 DOP 56.4

$0.95 DOP 55.4

2.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.72 DOP 332

$5.18 DOP 301

10.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.84 DOP 630

$17.16 DOP 997

-36.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 DOP 161

$2.71 DOP 157

2.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 DOP 181

$3.24 DOP 189

-3.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 DOP 32.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.3 DOP 3,912

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 DOP 194

$3.32 DOP 193

0.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 DOP 122

$2.18 DOP 127

-3.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.99 DOP 348

$5.78 DOP 336

3.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 DOP 77.7

$1.32 DOP 76.7

1.52%

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

$26.6K DOP 1.5M

$26.9K DOP 1.6M

-1.16%

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

$31.8K DOP 1.8M

$32.1K DOP 1.9M

-0.97%

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

$77.2 DOP 4,483

$68.9 DOP 4,005

11.96%

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

$25.62 DOP 1,489

$17.98 DOP 1,045

42.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.56 DOP 2,125

$34.46 DOP 2,002

6.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.14 DOP 2,100

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.08 DOP 818

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 DOP 388

$6.83 DOP 397

-2.34%

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

$272 DOP 15.8K

$266 DOP 15.4K

2.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,123 DOP 472.0K

$8,155 DOP 473.9K

-0.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 DOP 3,442

$59.0 DOP 3,428

0.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 DOP 3,041

$51.0 DOP 2,963

2.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 DOP 5,584

$95.6 DOP 5,555

0.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 DOP 6,676

$115 DOP 6,662

0.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$564 DOP 32.8K

$205 DOP 11.9K

175.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 DOP 16.6K

$138 DOP 7,994

107.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,189 DOP 69.1K

$429 DOP 25.0K

176.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$666 DOP 38.7K

$501 DOP 29.1K

32.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,172 DOP 126.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 DOP 68.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 DOP 35.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.9

11.5

12.17%

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

Last update for Santo Domingo: July 28, 2026

Last update for La Romana: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $564 in Santo Domingo versus $205 in La Romana. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Santo Domingo versus $52.0 in La Romana. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Santo Domingo vs $231 in La Romana – so La Romana 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 La Romana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santo Domingo is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,674 per month in Santo Domingo and $1,217 in La Romana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,116 in Santo Domingo and $811 in La Romana. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $272 per month in Santo Domingo and $266 in La Romana. 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 La Romana, where all-in costs run around $811, than in Santo Domingo at $1,116. In La Romana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santo Domingo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward La Romana – 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 La Romana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santo Domingo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.