😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,096 in Santo Domingo versus $156 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,824 in Santo Domingo versus $237 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,552 in Santo Domingo versus $318 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.
🌍Living in Santo Domingo is roughly 601% more expensive than in Santa Cruz del Seibo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Santo Domingo18% lower, Santa Cruz del Seibo88% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santo Domingo
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.66DOP 504
$9.97DOP 581
-13.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9DOP 2,961
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23DOP 421
$5.14DOP 299
40.66%
Cappuccino
$2.63DOP 153
$1.95DOP 114
34.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99DOP 57.4
$0.98DOP 57.4
1.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82DOP 48.02
$0.51DOP 29.99
60.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.57DOP 150
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.99DOP 291
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santo Domingo
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34DOP 78.0
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.71DOP 99.6
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50DOP 87.4
-
-
Eggs
$2.27DOP 132
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.18DOP 418
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.29DOP 366
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.19DOP 652
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.21DOP 187
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$0.86DOP 49.84
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88DOP 168
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.93DOP 112
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$2.52DOP 147
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.36DOP 138
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09DOP 63.5
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90DOP 52.3
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.78DOP 337
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.70DOP 623
$17.03DOP 992
-37.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63DOP 153
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20DOP 186
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Santo Domingo
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57DOP 33.26
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.7DOP 4,000
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.36DOP 196
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19DOP 128
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98DOP 348
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33DOP 77.2
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KDOP 1.5M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3KDOP 1.9M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santo Domingo
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.6DOP 4,403
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.29DOP 1,473
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.48DOP 2,066
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santo Domingo
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.45DOP 2,123
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.32DOP 834
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.76DOP 394
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santo Domingo
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263DOP 15.3K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,020DOP 467.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santo Domingo
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3DOP 3,513
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0DOP 3,027
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.9DOP 5,641
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114DOP 6,656
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santo Domingo
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$564DOP 32.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$285DOP 16.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,175DOP 68.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$685DOP 39.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,168DOP 126.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,179DOP 68.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santo Domingo
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$621DOP 36.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.9
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santo Domingo: July 12, 2026
Last update for Santa Cruz del Seibo: July 13, 2026
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 Santa Cruz del Seibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Cruz del Seibo cheaper than Santo Domingo?
Santa Cruz del Seibo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 601% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,643 in Santo Domingo and $234 in Santa Cruz del Seibo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Santo Domingo and in Santa Cruz del Seibo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 613% higher in Santo Domingo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Santo Domingo and in Santa Cruz del Seibo?
All in, you'll spend $1,096 per month in Santo Domingo versus $156 in Santa Cruz del Seibo – a 601% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Santo Domingo or in Santa Cruz del Seibo?
At $156 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $1,096 in Santo Domingo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz del Seibo but tight or insufficient in Santo Domingo. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz del Seibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Santo Domingo or in Santa Cruz del Seibo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Santa Cruz del Seibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 601% less than in Santo Domingo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Santo Domingo vs other spots: cost of living compared