😐A single person spends $1,112 per month in Santo Domingo vs $711 in Nagua, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,831 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,196 in Nagua, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,550 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,680 in Nagua, rent included.
😐Santo Domingo costs about 56% more than Nagua, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Santo Domingo and Nagua are more affordable than the global median – Santo Domingo17% lower, Nagua47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santo Domingo
Nagua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.51DOP 503
$8.67DOP 513
-1.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.4DOP 3,040
$50.5DOP 2,982
1.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.39DOP 437
$7.20DOP 426
2.64%
Cappuccino
$2.67DOP 158
$2.72DOP 161
-1.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99DOP 58.4
$0.99DOP 58.5
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84DOP 49.53
$0.77DOP 45.63
9.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50DOP 147
$2.59DOP 153
-3.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.95DOP 293
$4.98DOP 294
-0.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santo Domingo
Nagua
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40DOP 82.6
$1.38DOP 81.7
1.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81DOP 107
$1.72DOP 101
5.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49DOP 87.9
$1.51DOP 89.0
-1.32%
Eggs
$2.29DOP 135
$2.20DOP 130
4.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.21DOP 426
$6.94DOP 410
3.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18DOP 365
$6.46DOP 382
-4.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.20DOP 662
$11.09DOP 656
0.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21DOP 190
$3.31DOP 196
-3.02%
Banana(1kg)
$0.87DOP 51.3
$0.92DOP 54.3
-5.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.92DOP 173
$2.87DOP 170
1.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.98DOP 117
$1.99DOP 118
-0.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.54DOP 150
$2.46DOP 145
3.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37DOP 140
$2.32DOP 137
2.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09DOP 64.5
$1.14DOP 67.1
-4.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92DOP 54.2
$0.89DOP 52.3
3.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.65DOP 334
$5.76DOP 340
-1.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.49DOP 679
$11.76DOP 695
-2.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61DOP 154
$2.62DOP 155
-0.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21DOP 189
$3.22DOP 190
-0.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Santo Domingo
Nagua
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61DOP 35.94
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.4DOP 4,039
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.30DOP 195
$3.34DOP 198
-1.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14DOP 127
$2.21DOP 131
-3.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.02DOP 356
$5.79DOP 342
3.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28DOP 75.6
$1.27DOP 75.0
0.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9KDOP 1.6M
$26.1KDOP 1.5M
3.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KDOP 1.9M
$31.2KDOP 1.8M
2.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santo Domingo
Nagua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.8DOP 4,421
$77.1DOP 4,555
-2.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.08DOP 1,482
$25.79DOP 1,524
-2.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.59DOP 2,103
$35.94DOP 2,124
-0.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santo Domingo
Nagua
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.79DOP 2,115
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.55DOP 860
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.84DOP 404
$6.91DOP 408
-1.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santo Domingo
Nagua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273DOP 16.1K
$268DOP 15.8K
1.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,074DOP 477.1K
$8,150DOP 481.6K
-0.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santo Domingo
Nagua
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6DOP 3,579
$60.3DOP 3,561
0.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7DOP 3,114
$52.0DOP 3,071
1.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.4DOP 5,576
$96.5DOP 5,700
-2.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118DOP 6,944
$118DOP 6,948
-0.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santo Domingo
Nagua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$572DOP 33.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$287DOP 17.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,164DOP 68.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$662DOP 39.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,167DOP 128.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,205DOP 71.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santo Domingo
Nagua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$629DOP 37.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.9
12.9
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santo Domingo: April 25, 2026
Last update for Nagua: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Santo Domingo versus $50.0 in Nagua. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Santo Domingo vs $246 in Nagua – 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 Nagua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Santo Domingo and Nagua compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,112 in Santo Domingo, $711 in Nagua – roughly 56% apart. Santo Domingo costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Santo Domingo compared to Nagua?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,668 per month in Santo Domingo and $1,066 in Nagua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Santo Domingo or Nagua?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,112 in Santo Domingo and $711 in Nagua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Santo Domingo and Nagua?
Kindergarten costs $273 per month in Santo Domingo and $268 in Nagua. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nagua, where all-in costs run around $711, than in Santo Domingo at $1,112. In Nagua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santo Domingo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Santo Domingo or Nagua?
Families tend to lean toward Nagua – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Santo Domingo and Nagua?
If budget matters most, go with Nagua. 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.
Santo Domingo vs other spots: cost of living compared