For one person, living is cheaper in Dominica: $1,260 a month against $2,701 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $17,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the United States and in Dominica
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in Dominica actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,701 per month in the United States vs $1,260 in Dominica, rent included.
United States $2,701
Dominica $1,260
A couple spends around $3,980 per month in the United States vs $2,106 in Dominica, rent included.
United States $3,980
Dominica $2,106
A family of three spends $5,258 per month in the United States vs $2,952 in Dominica, rent included.
United States $5,258
Dominica $2,952
🌍
The cost of living in the United States is about 114% higher than in Dominica on average.
📊
The United States sits 100% above the global median, while Dominica is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Dominica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.92$19.92
$7.28EC$19.66
173.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0$81.0
$54.9EC$148
47.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.07$12.07
$7.24EC$19.55
66.71%
Cappuccino
$5.55$5.55
$3.70EC$9.99
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67$2.67
$2.45EC$6.61
8.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$2.10EC$5.67
-0.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.96$5.96
$1.80EC$4.87
231.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.76$7.76
$3.31EC$8.94
134.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Dominica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05$1.05
$3.20EC$8.65
-67.19%
White Bread(500g)
$3.55$3.55
$2.25EC$6.07
57.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.64$4.64
$1.50EC$4.04
209.33%
Eggs
$4.18$4.18
$5.45EC$14.71
-23.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.76$12.76
$2.42EC$6.55
427.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.63$12.63
$10.47EC$28.28
20.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.22$17.22
$12.99EC$35.07
32.56%
Apples(1kg)
$5.15$5.15
$7.46EC$20.13
-30.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64$1.64
$2.84EC$7.67
-42.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.46$4.46
$4.64EC$12.54
-3.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.98$4.98
$5.02EC$13.56
-0.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.84$2.84
$3.29EC$8.88
-13.68%
Onion(1kg)
$3.09$3.09
$3.08EC$8.31
0.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.19$2.19
$1.97EC$5.31
11.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27$2.27
$2.58EC$6.96
-12.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.61$10.61
$7.29EC$19.69
45.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.71$14.71
$11.03EC$29.77
33.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$2.39EC$6.46
-12.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82$3.82
$2.84EC$7.66
34.51%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Dominica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35$2.35
$1.29EC$3.47
82.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.1$64.1
$53.1EC$143
20.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57$3.57
$3.62EC$9.77
-1.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85$1.85
$3.77EC$10.18
-50.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.19$30.19
$10.36EC$27.98
191.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07$1.07
$1.45EC$3.91
-26.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K$35.3K
$35.1KEC$94.8K
0.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$30.0KEC$81.0K
-13.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Dominica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217$217
$139EC$376
55.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.4$61.4
$46.25EC$125
32.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.4$74.4
$69.9EC$189
6.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Dominica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.08$45.08
$45.52EC$123
-0.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.07$23.07
$22.50EC$60.7
2.53%
Cinema Ticket
$14.79$14.79
$9.81EC$26.48
50.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Dominica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,480$1,480
$128EC$346
1056.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.5K$25.5K
$4,355EC$11.8K
484.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Dominica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0$53.0
$55.7EC$150
-4.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75$42.75
$30.13EC$81.4
41.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.3$94.3
$67.2EC$181
40.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115$115
$80.5EC$217
43.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Dominica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,678$1,678
$284EC$766
491.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,313$1,313
$222EC$598
492.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,649$2,649
$816EC$2,202
224.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,183$2,183
$640EC$1,727
241.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,374$3,374
$100EC$270
3270.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,661$2,661
$36.73EC$99.2
7143.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Dominica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,404$4,404
$560EC$1,512
686.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
7.6
-13.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: October 10, 2026
Last update for Dominica: October 11, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.3K 48.6%
Dominica
$222 17.6% ↓ 83.1%$1.1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$411 15.2%
Dominica
$373 29.7% ↓ 9.1%$37
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$352 13%
Dominica
$256 20.3% ↓ 27.5%$97
🍽Eating Out
United States
$327 12.1%
Dominica
$158 12.6% ↓ 51.5%$168
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137 5.1%
Dominica
$105 8.3% ↓ 23.6%$32
🚌Getting Around
United States
$86 3.2%
Dominica
$81 6.4% ↓ 6.5%$5.6
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$75 2.8%
Dominica
$65 5.2% ↓ 12.7%$9.5
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$2.2K 41.5%
Dominica
$640 21.7% ↓ 70.7%$1.5K
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$942 17.9%
Dominica
$875 29.6% ↓ 7.1%$67
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$414 7.9%
Dominica
$302 10.2% ↓ 27%$112
🍽Eating Out
United States
$1.1K 20.3%
Dominica
$585 19.8% ↓ 45%$479
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$305 5.8%
Dominica
$233 7.9% ↓ 23.6%$72
🚌Getting Around
United States
$177 3.4%
Dominica
$164 5.6% ↓ 7.5%$13
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$172 3.3%
Dominica
$153 5.2% ↓ 11.4%$20
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,609 in the United States vs $89.0 in Dominica. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,730 in Washington, DC and $278 in Roseau.
💰Average salary: $4,533 in the United States vs $561 in Dominica. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1708% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 295% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 200% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are 708% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
United States→Dominica3,410 km≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
United States
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
United States vs Dominica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dominica more expensive than the United States?
Dominica is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 114% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,609 versus $89.0 in Dominica.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Dominica, adding to the overall 114% price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Dominica or in the United States?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Dominica, but in the United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Dominica or to the United States?
Dominica is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
United States vs other spots: cost of living compared