😐A single person spends $1,116 per month in Santo Domingo vs $618 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,815 per month in Santo Domingo vs $979 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,514 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,341 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.
😐Santo Domingo costs about 81% more than San Francisco de Macoris, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Santo Domingo and San Francisco de Macoris are more affordable than the global median – Santo Domingo16% lower, San Francisco de Macoris54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.45DOP 491
$3.71DOP 216
127.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.4DOP 2,987
$13.61DOP 791
277.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43DOP 432
$6.67DOP 387
11.39%
Cappuccino
$2.63DOP 153
$2.54DOP 148
3.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99DOP 57.6
$0.58DOP 33.68
70.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77DOP 44.90
$0.53DOP 31.00
45.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51DOP 146
$2.14DOP 124
17.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13DOP 298
$2.48DOP 144
106.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33DOP 77.1
$1.19DOP 68.9
11.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79DOP 104
$1.74DOP 101
2.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.48DOP 86.3
$1.10DOP 63.8
34.55%
Eggs
$2.19DOP 127
$1.40DOP 81.3
56.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.23DOP 420
$4.01DOP 233
80.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26DOP 364
$3.50DOP 204
78.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.85DOP 631
$6.66DOP 387
62.91%
Apples(1kg)
$3.34DOP 194
$2.60DOP 151
28.46%
Banana(1kg)
$0.93DOP 53.9
$0.77DOP 44.99
20.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.00DOP 175
$1.29DOP 74.9
132.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.01DOP 117
$0.86DOP 50.2
133.72%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48DOP 144
$1.16DOP 67.4
113.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.40DOP 139
$1.24DOP 71.8
93.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09DOP 63.6
$0.58DOP 33.61
87.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97DOP 56.4
$0.98DOP 56.7
-1.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.72DOP 332
$3.47DOP 202
64.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.84DOP 630
$10.60DOP 616
2.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.77DOP 161
$2.65DOP 154
4.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12DOP 181
$3.12DOP 181
-
🚌 Getting Around
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57DOP 32.87
$0.61DOP 35.32
-6.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.3DOP 3,912
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.34DOP 194
$3.35DOP 195
-0.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.10DOP 122
$2.02DOP 117
3.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.99DOP 348
$5.84DOP 340
2.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34DOP 77.7
$1.12DOP 65.2
19.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KDOP 1.5M
$26.7KDOP 1.6M
-0.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8KDOP 1.8M
$31.5KDOP 1.8M
0.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.2DOP 4,483
$39.55DOP 2,298
95.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.62DOP 1,489
$8.35DOP 485
206.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.56DOP 2,125
$35.88DOP 2,085
1.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.14DOP 2,100
$16.84DOP 979
114.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.08DOP 818
$8.41DOP 489
67.42%
Cinema Ticket
$6.67DOP 388
$4.34DOP 252
53.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$272DOP 15.8K
$169DOP 9,823
61.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,123DOP 472.0K
$2,003DOP 116.4K
305.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2DOP 3,442
$25.10DOP 1,458
136.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.3DOP 3,041
$52.0DOP 3,020
0.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.1DOP 5,584
$67.2DOP 3,904
43.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115DOP 6,676
$68.5DOP 3,979
67.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$564DOP 32.8K
$161DOP 9,363
250.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286DOP 16.6K
$107DOP 6,215
167.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,189DOP 69.1K
$339DOP 19.7K
250.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$666DOP 38.7K
$261DOP 15.2K
155.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,172DOP 126.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,180DOP 68.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$603DOP 35.0K
-
-
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for San Francisco de Macoris: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $564 in Santo Domingo versus $161 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 $14.00 in San Francisco de Macoris. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $177 – 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 Groceries & Markets. 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 San Francisco de Macoris?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,674 per month in Santo Domingo and $927 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 and in San Francisco de Macoris?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Santo Domingo and $14.00 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 in 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 in San Francisco de Macoris?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Francisco de Macoris, where all-in costs run around $618, than in Santo Domingo at $1,116. 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 to 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.
Santo Domingo vs other spots: cost of living compared