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 $1,093 per month in Santo Domingo vs $600 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,825 per month in Santo Domingo vs $964 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,557 per month in Santo Domingo vs $1,329 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.

Santo Domingo costs about 82% 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 Domingo 19% lower, San Francisco de Macoris 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.70 DOP 510
$3.91 DOP 229
122.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.3 DOP 3,005
$13.38 DOP 784
283.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 DOP 433
$6.77 DOP 397
9.16%
Cappuccino
$2.64 DOP 155
$2.60 DOP 152
1.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 DOP 60.0
$0.57 DOP 33.38
78.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 DOP 48.16
$0.53 DOP 30.84
54.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 DOP 152
$2.17 DOP 127
19.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.24 DOP 307
$2.61 DOP 153
100.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 DOP 81.8
$1.15 DOP 67.7
21.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.78 DOP 104
$1.81 DOP 106
-1.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 DOP 91.1
$1.09 DOP 64.1
42.20%
Eggs
$2.21 DOP 130
$1.46 DOP 85.7
51.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 DOP 425
$4.01 DOP 235
81.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 DOP 380
$3.46 DOP 203
87.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.82 DOP 634
$6.82 DOP 400
58.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 DOP 191
$2.70 DOP 158
20.74%
Banana (1kg)
$0.92 DOP 53.8
$0.72 DOP 42.35
27.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.01 DOP 176
$1.30 DOP 76.2
131.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.01 DOP 118
$0.86 DOP 50.4
133.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 DOP 149
$1.19 DOP 69.8
114.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 DOP 138
$1.25 DOP 73.5
88.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 DOP 66.2
$0.61 DOP 35.65
85.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 DOP 56.5
$0.96 DOP 56.2
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.64 DOP 331
$3.32 DOP 194
69.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.87 DOP 637
$10.67 DOP 625
1.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 DOP 153
$2.76 DOP 161
-5.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 DOP 191
$3.20 DOP 187
1.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 DOP 33.11
$0.57 DOP 33.10
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.5 DOP 3,952
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.33 DOP 195
$3.43 DOP 201
-2.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.10 DOP 123
$1.94 DOP 114
8.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.89 DOP 345
$5.81 DOP 340
1.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 DOP 75.5
$1.15 DOP 67.5
12.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K DOP 1.5M
$26.4K DOP 1.5M
-0.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K DOP 1.9M
$32.2K DOP 1.9M
-1.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.6 DOP 4,547
$39.30 DOP 2,302
97.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.78 DOP 1,510
$8.73 DOP 511
195.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.34 DOP 2,070
$35.55 DOP 2,082
-0.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.18 DOP 2,061
$16.90 DOP 990
108.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.20 DOP 832
$8.32 DOP 487
70.67%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59 DOP 386
$4.28 DOP 250
53.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$271 DOP 15.9K
$171 DOP 10.0K
58.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,996 DOP 468.4K
$2,050 DOP 120.1K
290.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 DOP 3,452
$25.79 DOP 1,511
128.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.7 DOP 3,027
$51.6 DOP 3,020
0.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.3 DOP 5,583
$66.8 DOP 3,914
42.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 DOP 6,873
$66.6 DOP 3,902
76.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$560 DOP 32.8K
$160 DOP 9,394
249.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$285 DOP 16.7K
$109 DOP 6,383
162.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,177 DOP 68.9K
$343 DOP 20.1K
242.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$669 DOP 39.2K
$270 DOP 15.8K
147.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,164 DOP 126.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,193 DOP 69.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santo Domingo
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$651 DOP 38.1K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for San Francisco de Macoris: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $560 in Santo Domingo versus $160 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: $247 vs $179 – 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 82% 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 vs San Francisco de Macoris?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,640 per month in Santo Domingo and $900 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 38% 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 $600, than in Santo Domingo at $1,093. 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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