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: $1,189 including rent across Dominican Republic.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $1,636 including rent across Dominican Republic.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.90 DOP 403

$3.46 DOP 202

$17.27 DOP 1,007

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 DOP 2,979

$30.64 DOP 1,787

$85.1 DOP 4,964

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 DOP 406

$6.10 DOP 356

$8.71 DOP 508

Cappuccino

$2.10 DOP 122

$0.83 DOP 48.39

$4.14 DOP 241

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

$1.04 DOP 60.9

$0.58 DOP 33.56

$2.44 DOP 142

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 DOP 47.46

$0.41 DOP 24.02

$1.96 DOP 114

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 DOP 145

$1.82 DOP 106

$4.13 DOP 241

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 DOP 242

$2.83 DOP 165

$7.48 DOP 436

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 DOP 75.7

$1.02 DOP 59.6

$1.65 DOP 96.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 DOP 94.1

$0.84 DOP 48.79

$2.77 DOP 161

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 DOP 76.4

$0.78 DOP 45.33

$1.91 DOP 112

Eggs

$1.73 DOP 101

$1.16 DOP 67.5

$2.67 DOP 155

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.17 DOP 418

$4.04 DOP 236

$14.33 DOP 836

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 DOP 302

$2.15 DOP 125

$8.30 DOP 484

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 DOP 513

$5.10 DOP 297

$16.87 DOP 984

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 DOP 179

$1.39 DOP 81.3

$4.60 DOP 268

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 DOP 51.5

$0.58 DOP 33.56

$2.16 DOP 126

Oranges (1kg)

$2.40 DOP 140

$0.65 DOP 38.13

$3.70 DOP 216

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 DOP 95.4

$0.69 DOP 40.02

$3.00 DOP 175

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 DOP 89.2

$0.72 DOP 42.03

$3.31 DOP 193

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 DOP 128

$1.20 DOP 70.0

$3.77 DOP 220

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 DOP 51.3

$0.43 DOP 25.08

$1.33 DOP 77.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 DOP 45.91

$0.41 DOP 24.10

$1.67 DOP 97.6

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.01 DOP 292

$3.35 DOP 195

$5.85 DOP 341

Wine (Bottle)

$10.57 DOP 617

$6.91 DOP 403

$25.92 DOP 1,512

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 DOP 154

$1.75 DOP 102

$3.49 DOP 204

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 DOP 194

$2.08 DOP 121

$4.32 DOP 252

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 DOP 35.95

$0.49 DOP 28.65

$0.98 DOP 57.3

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.13 DOP 1,991

$23.60 DOP 1,377

$84.8 DOP 4,948

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 DOP 196

$4.19 DOP 244

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 DOP 137

$1.56 DOP 91.1

$3.91 DOP 228

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.49 DOP 320

$3.54 DOP 206

$6.75 DOP 394

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 DOP 73.6

$1.15 DOP 67.4

$1.28 DOP 74.7

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

$26.0K DOP 1.5M

$22.1K DOP 1.3M

$32.3K DOP 1.9M

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

$31.9K DOP 1.9M

$29.3K DOP 1.7M

$36.1K DOP 2.1M

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

$67.0 DOP 3,908

$41.44 DOP 2,417

$144 DOP 8,387

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

$20.60 DOP 1,202

$17.08 DOP 996

$42.69 DOP 2,490

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.53 DOP 2,247

$25.77 DOP 1,503

$55.9 DOP 3,258

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.90 DOP 1,511

$14.44 DOP 842

$60.0 DOP 3,501

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 DOP 780

$8.34 DOP 487

$16.69 DOP 973

Cinema Ticket

$6.16 DOP 360

$4.28 DOP 250

$8.56 DOP 500

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

$236 DOP 13.8K

$162 DOP 9,425

$441 DOP 25.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,049 DOP 352.8K

$3,265 DOP 190.4K

$10.2K DOP 595.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.22 DOP 2,521

$16.88 DOP 984

$84.4 DOP 4,920

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 DOP 3,034

$25.55 DOP 1,490

$71.5 DOP 4,173

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 DOP 4,773

$51.7 DOP 3,018

$121 DOP 7,041

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 DOP 5,331

$41.64 DOP 2,429

$167 DOP 9,714

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 DOP 26.9K

$223 DOP 13.0K

$1,011 DOP 59.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 DOP 14.5K

$135 DOP 7,857

$645 DOP 37.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 DOP 52.2K

$379 DOP 22.1K

$1,769 DOP 103.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 DOP 27.6K

$259 DOP 15.1K

$1,123 DOP 65.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,142 DOP 124.9K

$1,278 DOP 74.6K

$3,227 DOP 188.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,172 DOP 68.3K

$908 DOP 52.9K

$1,753 DOP 102.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$601 DOP 35.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.16

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

Last update: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National average salary: $605. 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 $1,333.

Average rent ($229) is 63% below the global median of $624.

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	$673	$894	$1,413	$1,630	42.78	33.91
2	Bajos de Haina	232557	35	$570	$706	$1,437	$1,639	117.9	60.09
3	Barahona	138159						31.12	31.6
4	Boca Chica	-	36	$578	$712	$1,322	$1,597	136.56	31.12
5	Bonao	158034	35	$501	$687	$1,316	$1,516	15.95	37.01
6	Cabarete	-	44	$572	$875	$1,430	$1,819	126.95	76.42
7	Esperanza	51694	35	$687	$713	$1,604	$1,672	149.07	24.81
8	Hato Mayor del Rey	61517	35	$629	$710	$1,253	$1,543	187.16	27.19
9	Higuey	-	33	$450	$664	$1,326	$1,442	136.89	54.71
10	Jarabacoa	69855	37	$598	$739	$1,729	$1,699	52.35	33.8
11	La Romana	567431	41	$544	$797	$1,343	$2,064	173.06	86.09
12	La Vega	220279	27	$474	$545	$1,286	$1,485	265.74	39.24
13	Las Terrenas	-	56	$521	$1,127	$1,522	$2,200	117.03	65.74
14	Miches	25994	39	$512	$777	$1,277	$1,637	71.63	24.04
15	Moca	172294	38	$586	$753	$1,649	$1,603	55.99	47.52
16	Nagua	79420	36	$707	$734	$1,440	$1,701	166.75	26.94
17	Puerto Plata	130000	42	$457	$845	$1,367	$1,713	77.53	39.13
18	Punta Cana	-	69	$663	$1,380	$1,369	$2,551	156.34	93.08
19	Samana	108179	41	$581	$840	$1,097	$1,847	224.58	43.11
20	San Francisco de Macoris	245397	30	$401	$619	$896	$1,316	27.88	41.86
21	San Jose de Ocoa	57174	44	$637	$861	$1,947	$1,956	298.58	34.35
22	San Juan de la Maguana	589256						73.11	31.72
23	San Pedro de Macoris	217141	34	$629	$669	$1,533	$1,606	237.9	54.89
24	Santa Cruz del Seibo	-		$145	$158	$303	$308	-	-
25	Santiago de los Caballeros	1836778	45	$576	$918	$1,317	$1,884	49.51	42.45
26	Santo Domingo	965040	55	$807	$1,098	$1,752	$2,532	247.33	116.04
27	Santo Domingo Este	1000230	39	$579	$776	$1,271	$1,899	16.41	70.85
28	Sosua	-	59	$610	$1,183	$1,372	$2,948	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. San Juan de la Maguana 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.