Cost of Living in Dominican Republic - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Dominican Republic
Address: DO

Monthly Cost of Living

Average monthly costs for a single person come to about $742 including rent across Dominican Republic.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,187 including rent across Dominican Republic.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $1,631 including rent across Dominican Republic.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.63 DOP 387

$3.32 DOP 194

$16.59 DOP 968

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 DOP 2,939

$30.23 DOP 1,763

$84.0 DOP 4,898

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.72 DOP 392

$5.88 DOP 343

$8.41 DOP 490

Cappuccino

$2.13 DOP 124

$0.84 DOP 49.07

$4.20 DOP 245

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 DOP 63.8

$0.60 DOP 35.19

$2.56 DOP 149

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 DOP 47.80

$0.41 DOP 24.19

$1.97 DOP 115

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 DOP 147

$1.84 DOP 107

$4.18 DOP 244

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 DOP 241

$2.81 DOP 164

$7.43 DOP 433

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 DOP 76.2

$1.03 DOP 60.0

$1.66 DOP 96.6

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 DOP 93.9

$0.83 DOP 48.69

$2.76 DOP 161

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 DOP 73.3

$0.75 DOP 43.50

$1.83 DOP 107

Eggs

$1.75 DOP 102

$1.17 DOP 68.4

$2.70 DOP 158

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.24 DOP 422

$4.08 DOP 238

$14.45 DOP 843

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 DOP 306

$2.17 DOP 127

$8.39 DOP 489

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.88 DOP 518

$5.16 DOP 301

$17.06 DOP 995

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 DOP 172

$1.34 DOP 78.2

$4.42 DOP 258

Banana (1kg)

$0.95 DOP 55.5

$0.62 DOP 36.20

$2.33 DOP 136

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 DOP 139

$0.65 DOP 38.03

$3.69 DOP 216

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 DOP 96.3

$0.69 DOP 40.41

$3.03 DOP 177

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 DOP 92.5

$0.75 DOP 43.61

$3.43 DOP 200

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 DOP 124

$1.16 DOP 67.8

$3.65 DOP 213

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 DOP 54.9

$0.46 DOP 26.84

$1.42 DOP 83.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 DOP 45.43

$0.41 DOP 23.85

$1.65 DOP 96.5

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.12 DOP 298

$3.42 DOP 199

$5.97 DOP 348

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 DOP 601

$6.73 DOP 392

$25.24 DOP 1,473

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 DOP 150

$1.69 DOP 98.6

$3.38 DOP 197

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 DOP 196

$2.10 DOP 122

$4.36 DOP 254

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 DOP 36.18

$0.49 DOP 28.83

$0.99 DOP 57.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.72 DOP 2,025

$24.01 DOP 1,401

$86.3 DOP 5,034

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 DOP 193

$4.13 DOP 241

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 DOP 138

$1.58 DOP 92.0

$3.95 DOP 231

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.62 DOP 328

$3.63 DOP 212

$6.92 DOP 403

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 DOP 77.1

$1.21 DOP 70.6

$1.34 DOP 78.3

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.3K DOP 1.5M

$22.3K DOP 1.3M

$32.6K DOP 1.9M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.0K DOP 1.8M

$28.6K DOP 1.7M

$35.2K DOP 2.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$68.0 DOP 3,967

$42.06 DOP 2,454

$146 DOP 8,513

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.53 DOP 1,197

$17.02 DOP 993

$42.53 DOP 2,481

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.79 DOP 2,263

$25.95 DOP 1,514

$56.2 DOP 3,280

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.06 DOP 1,521

$14.53 DOP 847

$60.4 DOP 3,524

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.67 DOP 798

$8.53 DOP 498

$17.06 DOP 995

Cinema Ticket

$6.23 DOP 364

$4.33 DOP 252

$8.66 DOP 505

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$240 DOP 14.0K

$164 DOP 9,579

$449 DOP 26.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,958 DOP 347.6K

$3,215 DOP 187.6K

$10.0K DOP 586.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.11 DOP 2,573

$17.22 DOP 1,005

$86.1 DOP 5,022

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 DOP 2,987

$25.15 DOP 1,467

$70.4 DOP 4,109

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 DOP 4,701

$51.0 DOP 2,973

$119 DOP 6,936

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.4 DOP 5,391

$42.10 DOP 2,456

$168 DOP 9,824

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 DOP 26.6K

$220 DOP 12.8K

$998 DOP 58.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 DOP 14.7K

$137 DOP 7,988

$655 DOP 38.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$879 DOP 51.3K

$373 DOP 21.7K

$1,738 DOP 101.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 DOP 27.3K

$256 DOP 14.9K

$1,110 DOP 64.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,187 DOP 127.6K

$1,308 DOP 76.3K

$3,230 DOP 188.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,179 DOP 68.8K

$913 DOP 53.2K

$1,734 DOP 101.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$593 DOP 34.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.16

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National average salary: $592. With average costs at $742, the gap is significant. Expats and remote workers with foreign income benefit most.

Expect to spend about $199 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $38.00 for two.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($742) is 44% below the global median of $1,336.

Average rent ($229) is 64% below the global median of $632.

Dining out ($38.00) is 21% below the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($8.00) is 76% below the global median of $33.00.

By City in Dominican Republic

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Azua	128264	45	$539	$890	$1,669	$1,633	42.78	33.91
2	Bajos de Haina	232557	36	$709	$707	$1,677	$1,682	117.9	60.09
3	Barahona	138159						31.12	31.6
4	Boca Chica	-	36	$586	$727	$1,430	$1,626	136.56	31.12
5	Bonao	158034	35	$473	$687	$1,055	$1,487	15.95	37.01
6	Cabarete	-	44	$617	$864	$1,261	$1,767	126.95	76.42
7	Esperanza	51694	36	$657	$717	$1,593	$1,655	149.07	24.81
8	Hato Mayor del Rey	61517	35	$563	$718	$1,527	$1,529	187.16	27.19
9	Higuey	-	34	$452	$667	$1,133	$1,467	136.89	54.71
10	Jarabacoa	69855	37	$611	$715	$1,599	$1,677	52.35	33.8
11	La Romana	567431	41	$611	$816	$1,387	$2,085	173.06	86.09
12	La Vega	220279	27	$467	$548	$1,012	$1,469	265.74	39.24
13	Las Terrenas	-	56	$537	$1,117	$1,442	$2,227	117.03	65.74
14	Miches	25994	39	$486	$767	$1,257	$1,580	71.63	24.04
15	Moca	172294	38	$586	$754	$1,600	$1,569	55.99	47.52
16	Nagua	79420	36	$737	$735	$1,622	$1,670	166.75	26.94
17	Puerto Plata	130000	42	$575	$846	$1,180	$1,740	77.53	39.13
18	Punta Cana	-	69	$611	$1,371	$1,809	$2,574	156.34	93.08
19	Samana	108179	41	$592	$823	$1,154	$1,867	224.58	43.11
20	San Francisco de Macoris	245397	30	$482	$614	$1,014	$1,293	27.88	41.86
21	San Jose de Ocoa	57174	44	$678	$895	$1,599	$1,968	298.58	34.35
22	San Juan de la Maguana	589256						73.11	31.72
23	San Pedro de Macoris	217141	34	$517	$665	$1,456	$1,600	237.9	54.89
24	Santa Cruz del Seibo	-		$158	$158	$321	$309	-	-
25	Santiago de los Caballeros	1836778	45	$543	$901	$1,334	$1,859	49.51	42.45
26	Santo Domingo	965040	55	$743	$1,092	$1,867	$2,524	247.33	116.04
27	Santo Domingo Este	1000230	39	$509	$794	$1,206	$1,912	16.41	70.85
28	Sosua	-	59	$712	$1,191	$1,792	$2,889	12.99	76.42

Dominican Republic Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Dominican Republic - Frequently Asked Questions

Compared with many Caribbean destinations, Cost of Living in Dominican Republic can feel approachable, especially if you adjust expectations on luxury versus value. You’ll find options from budget guesthouses to mid-range apartments, with costs tied to location and season. Outside resort zones, daily expenses for groceries, utilities, and local transport remain reasonable, while imported goods or premium neighborhoods push prices higher. The variation across towns means you can trade beachfront access for quieter streets or shorter commutes. Tip: map neighborhoods by lifestyle and rent threshold, then visit during shoulder season to test real costs.

Daily life in the Dominican Republic centers on finding a neighborhood that fits your routine. Look for airy, well-located apartments with reliable internet and reasonable utilities. Food options range from vibrant street stalls to grocery stores, so you can mix local staples with occasional treats without overspending. For transport, expect affordable buses and ride-hailing, with car use optional outside peak season. Co-working spaces offer community and predictable Wi-Fi for remote work. Dominican Republic living cost varies by area, so test a few neighborhoods before committing. Tip: spend a week in each area during different days to gauge daily costs and convenience.

Quality of life in the Dominican Republic means balancing climate, safety, and access to services. Build a simple budgeting framework: separate fixed costs from flexible ones, track weekly groceries, and plan for shoulder-season travel to reduce crowding. Neighborhood fit matters: leafy suburbs may offer calmer routines; city centers provide faster access to amenities but higher noise and rents. Consider healthcare access, internet reliability, and community vibes when choosing a base. Seasonal shifts in tourism can affect availability and crowds, so factor in peak times if you’re staying long term. Tip: pick a home base that minimizes commute while maximizing the lifestyle you value.

As a lower-cost destination, Dominican Republic attracts expats, retirees, and long-term visitors on fixed budgets. Smaller cities are especially wallet-friendly, while bigger centers charge more but remain competitive globally.

Outside the capital and tourist areas, costs in Dominican Republic drop fast. Barahona is one of the best budget options – lower costs without giving up access to essential services and everyday amenities.

$1,200 a month goes far in Dominican Republic, especially outside the big cities. It's a realistic single-person budget that covers housing, food, transport, and leisure comfortably.