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 $766 including rent across Dominican Republic.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,255 including rent across Dominican Republic.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $1,743 including rent across Dominican Republic.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.86 DOP 515

$5.31 DOP 308

$13.61 DOP 790

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.8 DOP 3,008

$34.52 DOP 2,005

$104 DOP 6,016

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 DOP 462

$7.77 DOP 452

$8.84 DOP 514

Cappuccino

$2.21 DOP 128

$0.88 DOP 50.9

$3.50 DOP 203

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

$1.12 DOP 65.1

$0.70 DOP 40.81

$1.91 DOP 111

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 DOP 40.69

$0.45 DOP 26.11

$1.80 DOP 104

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 DOP 147

$2.03 DOP 118

$5.06 DOP 294

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 DOP 246

$2.96 DOP 172

$6.61 DOP 384

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 DOP 81.0

$1.08 DOP 62.8

$1.57 DOP 91.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 DOP 107

$0.85 DOP 49.28

$2.80 DOP 163

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 DOP 90.7

$0.70 DOP 40.83

$1.85 DOP 108

Eggs

$2.02 DOP 117

$0.98 DOP 56.9

$4.00 DOP 232

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 DOP 456

$4.36 DOP 253

$14.40 DOP 837

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.58 DOP 324

$3.33 DOP 194

$9.48 DOP 550

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.92 DOP 402

$4.12 DOP 239

$10.20 DOP 592

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 DOP 185

$2.03 DOP 118

$4.64 DOP 270

Banana (1kg)

$0.95 DOP 55.3

$0.72 DOP 41.89

$1.99 DOP 115

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 DOP 165

$0.85 DOP 49.13

$5.60 DOP 325

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 DOP 104

$0.70 DOP 40.68

$2.31 DOP 134

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 DOP 129

$1.15 DOP 67.0

$3.64 DOP 212

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 DOP 130

$1.63 DOP 94.7

$3.18 DOP 185

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 DOP 56.5

$0.42 DOP 24.53

$1.69 DOP 98.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 DOP 53.8

$0.44 DOP 25.72

$1.77 DOP 103

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.71 DOP 332

$4.02 DOP 234

$6.48 DOP 377

Wine (Bottle)

$10.33 DOP 600

$6.75 DOP 392

$25.33 DOP 1,472

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 DOP 167

$1.56 DOP 90.8

$3.47 DOP 202

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 DOP 204

$2.18 DOP 127

$5.23 DOP 304

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 DOP 38.25

$0.57 DOP 33.26

$0.98 DOP 57.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.92 DOP 1,215

$15.69 DOP 912

$34.80 DOP 2,022

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 DOP 195

$2.51 DOP 146

$5.02 DOP 292

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 DOP 136

$2.09 DOP 122

$5.22 DOP 303

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.93 DOP 344

$3.56 DOP 207

$5.93 DOP 344

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 DOP 78.3

$1.21 DOP 70.4

$1.51 DOP 88.0

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

$24.0K DOP 1.4M

$18.9K DOP 1.1M

$24.0K DOP 1.4M

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

$33.5K DOP 1.9M

$32.4K DOP 1.9M

$36.8K DOP 2.1M

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

$109 DOP 6,332

$67.1 DOP 3,898

$175 DOP 10.2K

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

$26.26 DOP 1,526

$13.86 DOP 805

$45.20 DOP 2,626

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.07 DOP 2,153

$25.42 DOP 1,477

$50.8 DOP 2,953

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.90 DOP 1,853

$17.42 DOP 1,012

$69.7 DOP 4,048

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.63 DOP 1,373

$14.66 DOP 852

$43.12 DOP 2,505

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 DOP 448

$5.14 DOP 298

$10.28 DOP 597

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

$221 DOP 12.9K

$146 DOP 8,485

$344 DOP 20.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,193 DOP 359.7K

$4,171 DOP 242.3K

$10.4K DOP 605.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.22 DOP 2,685

$21.98 DOP 1,277

$84.5 DOP 4,911

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.04 DOP 2,849

$14.01 DOP 814

$61.3 DOP 3,561

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 DOP 4,920

$43.30 DOP 2,515

$130 DOP 7,541

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 DOP 6,399

$77.9 DOP 4,523

$173 DOP 10.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 DOP 38.5K

$316 DOP 18.4K

$1,053 DOP 61.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 DOP 20.1K

$186 DOP 10.8K

$638 DOP 37.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 DOP 77.7K

$761 DOP 44.2K

$2,456 DOP 142.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 DOP 36.4K

$438 DOP 25.4K

$1,050 DOP 61.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,197 DOP 127.6K

$1,293 DOP 75.1K

$3,203 DOP 186.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,172 DOP 68.1K

$897 DOP 52.1K

$1,544 DOP 89.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 DOP 35.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.99

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

Last update: August 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National average salary: $559. With average costs at $766, the gap is significant. Expats and remote workers with foreign income benefit most.

Expect to spend about $210 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $42.00 for two.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($766) is 44% below the global median of $1,356.

Average rent ($216) is 67% below the global median of $653.

Public transport ($5.00) is 85% 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	32	$668	$685	$1,581	$1,552	42.78	33.91
2	Bajos de Haina	232557	29	$548	$620	$1,166	$1,375	117.9	60.09
3	Barahona	138159						31.12	31.6
4	Boca Chica	-	52	$584	$1,138	$1,417	$1,510	136.56	31.12
5	Bonao	158034	33	$606	$729	$1,665	$1,644	15.95	37.01
6	Cabarete	-	57	$720	$1,235	$1,491	$2,474	126.95	76.42
7	Esperanza	51694	34	$715	$727	$1,429	$1,715	149.07	24.81
8	Hato Mayor del Rey	61517	35	$531	$690	$1,259	$1,471	187.16	27.19
9	Higuey	-	44	$600	$963	$1,698	$2,186	136.89	54.71
10	Jarabacoa	69855	34	$664	$724	$1,437	$1,696	52.35	33.8
11	La Romana	567431	41	$482	$650	$1,469	$1,487	173.06	86.09
12	La Vega	220279	33	$455	$720	$1,303	$1,615	265.74	39.24
13	Las Terrenas	-	55	$528	$1,207	$1,198	$3,953	117.03	65.74
14	Miches	25994	34	$564	$728	$1,371	$1,711	71.63	24.04
15	Moca	172294	29	$490	$613	$1,165	$1,399	55.99	47.52
16	Nagua	79420	36	$508	$673	$1,290	$1,507	166.75	26.94
17	Puerto Plata	130000	40	$472	$860	$1,161	$1,806	77.53	39.13
18	Punta Cana	-	35	$662	$768	$1,701	$2,731	156.34	93.08
19	Samana	108179	35	$531	$764	$1,165	$1,713	224.58	43.11
20	San Francisco de Macoris	245397	34	$627	$746	$1,456	$1,691	27.88	41.86
21	San Jose de Ocoa	57174	44	$495	$684	$1,489	$1,513	298.58	34.35
22	San Juan de la Maguana	589256						73.11	31.72
23	San Pedro de Macoris	217141	30	$531	$648	$1,427	$1,448	237.9	54.89
24	Santa Cruz del Seibo	-		$527	$663	$1,291	$1,490	-	-
25	Santiago de los Caballeros	1836778	44	$524	$964	$1,213	$1,994	49.51	42.45
26	Santo Domingo	965040	53	$690	$1,134	$1,739	$2,425	247.33	116.04
27	Santo Domingo Este	1000230	31	$628	$671	$1,242	$1,493	16.41	70.85
28	Sosua	-	68	$640	$1,454	$1,453	$3,201	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.