Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo and San Francisco de Macoris Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo and San Francisco de Macoris

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,112 per month in Santo Domingo vs $614 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,831 per month in Santo Domingo vs $962 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,550 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,310 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.

Santo Domingo costs about 81% more than San Francisco de Macoris, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Santo Domingo and San Francisco de Macoris are more affordable than the global median – Santo Domingo 17% lower, San Francisco de Macoris 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.51 DOP 503
$3.72 DOP 220
128.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.4 DOP 3,040
$13.37 DOP 790
284.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 DOP 437
$6.91 DOP 408
6.95%
Cappuccino
$2.67 DOP 158
$2.48 DOP 147
7.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 DOP 58.4
$0.62 DOP 36.51
59.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 DOP 49.53
$0.49 DOP 28.94
71.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.50 DOP 147
$2.11 DOP 124
18.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.95 DOP 293
$2.50 DOP 148
98.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 DOP 82.6
$1.20 DOP 70.8
16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 DOP 107
$1.75 DOP 103
3.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.49 DOP 87.9
$1.13 DOP 66.8
31.86%
Eggs
$2.29 DOP 135
$1.45 DOP 85.5
57.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.21 DOP 426
$3.97 DOP 235
81.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 DOP 365
$3.39 DOP 200
82.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.20 DOP 662
$6.75 DOP 399
65.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.21 DOP 190
$2.63 DOP 155
22.05%
Banana (1kg)
$0.87 DOP 51.3
$0.80 DOP 46.99
8.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 DOP 173
$1.24 DOP 73.3
135.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 DOP 117
$0.82 DOP 48.44
141.46%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 DOP 150
$1.21 DOP 71.3
109.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 DOP 140
$1.24 DOP 73.2
91.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 DOP 64.5
$0.60 DOP 35.57
81.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 DOP 54.2
$0.88 DOP 52.3
4.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.65 DOP 334
$3.38 DOP 200
67.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.49 DOP 679
$11.55 DOP 683
-0.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 DOP 154
$2.66 DOP 157
-1.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 DOP 189
$3.12 DOP 184
2.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 DOP 35.94
$0.57 DOP 33.63
7.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.4 DOP 4,039
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 DOP 195
$3.32 DOP 196
-0.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 DOP 127
$2.01 DOP 119
6.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.02 DOP 356
$5.79 DOP 342
3.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 DOP 75.6
$1.16 DOP 68.4
10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K DOP 1.6M
$26.3K DOP 1.6M
2.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K DOP 1.9M
$31.6K DOP 1.9M
1.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.8 DOP 4,421
$38.98 DOP 2,303
91.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.08 DOP 1,482
$8.47 DOP 500
196.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.59 DOP 2,103
$36.30 DOP 2,145
-1.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.79 DOP 2,115
$17.21 DOP 1,017
107.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.55 DOP 860
$8.66 DOP 512
68.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.84 DOP 404
$4.18 DOP 247
63.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 DOP 16.1K
$172 DOP 10.2K
58.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,074 DOP 477.1K
$2,016 DOP 119.1K
300.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6 DOP 3,579
$25.03 DOP 1,479
141.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7 DOP 3,114
$51.8 DOP 3,062
1.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.4 DOP 5,576
$66.8 DOP 3,948
41.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 DOP 6,944
$68.4 DOP 4,042
71.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$572 DOP 33.8K
$159 DOP 9,419
259.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 DOP 17.0K
$106 DOP 6,247
171.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,164 DOP 68.8K
$333 DOP 19.7K
249.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$662 DOP 39.1K
$269 DOP 15.9K
146.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,167 DOP 128.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,205 DOP 71.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$629 DOP 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 San Francisco de Macoris: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $572 in Santo Domingo versus $159 in San Francisco de Macoris. 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 $13.00 in San Francisco de Macoris. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $178 – making San Francisco de Macoris the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 San Francisco de Macoris: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Santo Domingo or San Francisco de Macoris?
Santo Domingo costs about 81% more than San Francisco de Macoris, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 vs San Francisco de Macoris?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,668 per month in Santo Domingo and $921 in San Francisco de Macoris. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Santo Domingo or San Francisco de Macoris?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Francisco de Macoris, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Santo Domingo vs San Francisco de Macoris?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Santo Domingo and $13.00 in San Francisco de Macoris. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Santo Domingo or San Francisco de Macoris?
Groceries cost about 39% more in Santo Domingo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Santo Domingo or San Francisco de Macoris?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Francisco de Macoris, where all-in costs run around $614, than in Santo Domingo at $1,112. In San Francisco de Macoris it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santo Domingo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward San Francisco de Macoris – 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 San Francisco de Macoris?
If budget matters most, go with San Francisco de Macoris. 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.

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