Last update: Nov 2026 10.8M

Cost of Living in the Dominican Republic

Name: Dominican Republic
Address: DO

Across the Dominican Republic, living costs for one person average $1,047 a month, including rent and utilities, which take more than a third of the total. Other living expenses average about $20 a day.

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🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the Dominican Republic

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the Dominican Republic actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Average monthly costs for a single person come to about $1,047 including rent across the Dominican Republic.

$1,047 /mo

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,673 including rent across the Dominican Republic.

$1,673 /mo

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,299 including rent across the Dominican Republic.

$2,299 /mo

Living costs in the Dominican Republic vary widely – from $586 in the most affordable city to $1,438 in the most expensive one, spanning a $852 range across 28 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 DOP 485

$4.02 DOP 242

$12.86 DOP 776

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.89 DOP 3,008

$33.26 DOP 2,005

$99.8 DOP 6,016

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.29 DOP 440

$7.14 DOP 430

$8.11 DOP 489

Cappuccino

$2.05 DOP 124

$0.82 DOP 49.59

$3.28 DOP 198

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

$0.98 DOP 59.0

$0.65 DOP 38.94

$1.76 DOP 106

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 DOP 36.13

$0.39 DOP 23.51

$1.57 DOP 94.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 DOP 146

$1.61 DOP 97.3

$4.04 DOP 244

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 DOP 248

$2.47 DOP 149

$4.93 DOP 298

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 DOP 78.3

$0.99 DOP 59.7

$1.58 DOP 95.6

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 DOP 111

$1.01 DOP 61.0

$3.35 DOP 202

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 DOP 92.0

$0.70 DOP 42.32

$1.85 DOP 112

Eggs

$1.75 DOP 106

$0.92 DOP 55.5

$3.73 DOP 225

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.36 DOP 444

$3.55 DOP 214

$13.84 DOP 835

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 DOP 344

$3.06 DOP 185

$9.68 DOP 584

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.98 DOP 421

$4.10 DOP 248

$11.01 DOP 664

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 DOP 189

$1.97 DOP 119

$4.52 DOP 273

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 DOP 56.0

$0.68 DOP 41.08

$1.88 DOP 113

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 DOP 161

$0.81 DOP 49.05

$5.36 DOP 323

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 DOP 104

$0.67 DOP 40.19

$2.22 DOP 134

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 DOP 130

$1.11 DOP 66.9

$3.52 DOP 212

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 DOP 127

$1.14 DOP 68.9

$3.09 DOP 186

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 DOP 56.6

$0.40 DOP 24.19

$1.61 DOP 97.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 DOP 54.6

$0.39 DOP 23.81

$1.59 DOP 95.8

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 DOP 324

$4.05 DOP 244

$6.28 DOP 379

Wine (Bottle)

$10.00 DOP 603

$6.54 DOP 395

$24.52 DOP 1,479

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 DOP 164

$1.47 DOP 88.9

$3.27 DOP 197

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 DOP 189

$1.99 DOP 120

$4.94 DOP 298

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 DOP 38.43

$0.56 DOP 33.78

$0.97 DOP 58.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.72 DOP 1,189

$14.79 DOP 892

$34.12 DOP 2,058

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 DOP 203

$2.53 DOP 152

$5.05 DOP 305

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 DOP 133

$1.96 DOP 118

$4.90 DOP 295

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.82 DOP 351

$3.49 DOP 210

$5.82 DOP 351

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 DOP 82.3

$1.20 DOP 72.2

$1.51 DOP 91.1

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

$24.5K DOP 1.5M

$22.8K DOP 1.4M

$32.4K DOP 2.0M

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

$32.5K DOP 2.0M

$32.2K DOP 1.9M

$33.4K DOP 2.0M

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

$95.6 DOP 5,764

$58.8 DOP 3,544

$168 DOP 10.1K

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

$25.51 DOP 1,538

$10.19 DOP 614

$43.99 DOP 2,653

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.03 DOP 2,173

$25.06 DOP 1,511

$50.1 DOP 3,022

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.74 DOP 1,854

$16.79 DOP 1,012

$67.2 DOP 4,049

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.01 DOP 1,387

$14.28 DOP 861

$41.98 DOP 2,532

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 DOP 392

$4.88 DOP 294

$9.75 DOP 588

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

$211 DOP 12.7K

$139 DOP 8,372

$327 DOP 19.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,979 DOP 481.1K

$4,970 DOP 299.7K

$12.9K DOP 776.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.36 DOP 2,434

$19.73 DOP 1,190

$82.2 DOP 4,956

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.74 DOP 2,698

$12.99 DOP 783

$56.9 DOP 3,428

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 DOP 4,925

$41.75 DOP 2,518

$125 DOP 7,548

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 DOP 6,321

$74.1 DOP 4,468

$165 DOP 9,929

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$615 DOP 37.1K

$295 DOP 17.8K

$983 DOP 59.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 DOP 19.8K

$182 DOP 11.0K

$650 DOP 39.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,283 DOP 77.4K

$673 DOP 40.6K

$2,525 DOP 152.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 DOP 38.4K

$413 DOP 24.9K

$999 DOP 60.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,338 DOP 141.0K

$1,787 DOP 107.7K

$3,086 DOP 186.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,256 DOP 75.8K

$912 DOP 55.0K

$2,073 DOP 125.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$631 DOP 38.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.99

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

Last update: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Dominican Republic $1,047

Accommodation & Living

$328 31.4%

Groceries & Markets

$222 21.2%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$157 15%

Eating Out

$137 13.1%

Clothing & Footwear

$122 11.7%

Sport & Entertainment

$44 4.2%

Getting Around

$37 3.5%

Cost Breakdown

National average salary: $499. With average costs at $1,047, it doesn’t cover a typical monthly budget. Expats and remote workers with foreign income benefit most.

Expect to spend about $215 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $43 for two.

In Santo Domingo (capital), expect about $1,100 per month, while Moca offers the lowest costs at $586 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($1,047) is 23% below the global median of $1,352.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

03:49 3:49 AM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

10,760,028

💱 Currency

Dominican Peso DOP $

📈 Exchange rate

100 DOP = 1.66 USD

100 DOP = 1.48 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

By City in the 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	31	$562	$657	$1,358	$1,453	42.78	33.91
2	Bajos de Haina	232557	28	$500	$592	$1,230	$1,322	117.9	60.09
3	Barahona	138159						31.12	31.6
4	Boca Chica	46300	52	$553	$1,087	$1,371	$1,466	136.56	31.12
5	Bonao	158034	33	$587	$678	$1,464	$1,556	15.95	37.01
6	Cabarete	4094	57	$609	$1,194	$1,517	$2,415	126.95	76.42
7	Esperanza	51694	33	$601	$694	$1,499	$1,591	149.07	24.81
8	Hato Mayor del Rey	61517		$537	$632	$1,304	$1,399	187.16	27.19
9	Higuey	123787	44	$617	$926	$1,608	$2,116	136.89	54.71
10	Jarabacoa	69855	33	$601	$692	$1,503	$1,594	52.35	33.8
11	La Romana	567431		$535	$627	$1,303	$1,395	173.06	86.09
12	La Vega	220279	33	$500	$696	$1,192	$1,557	265.74	39.24
13	Las Terrenas	7713	42	$437	$872	$1,124	$2,805	117.03	65.74
14	Miches	25994		$548	$643	$1,323	$1,418	71.63	24.04
15	Moca	172294	28	$496	$586	$1,227	$1,317	55.99	47.52
16	Nagua	79420		$545	$639	$1,328	$1,421	166.75	26.94
17	Puerto Plata	130000	39	$478	$827	$1,147	$1,858	77.53	39.13
18	Punta Cana	100023	35	$637	$733	$1,524	$2,635	156.34	93.08
19	Samana	108179	34	$523	$712	$1,290	$1,625	224.58	43.11
20	San Francisco de Macoris	245397	33	$602	$696	$1,503	$1,596	27.88	41.86
21	San Jose de Ocoa	57174		$549	$642	$1,327	$1,420	298.58	34.35
22	San Juan de la Maguana	589256						73.11	31.72
23	San Pedro de Macoris	217141	29	$522	$615	$1,276	$1,369	237.9	54.89
24	Santa Cruz del Seibo	23547		$544	$638	$1,324	$1,418	-	-
25	Santiago de los Caballeros	1836778	44	$562	$926	$1,362	$1,925	49.51	42.45
26	Santo Domingo	965040	53	$657	$1,100	$1,655	$2,370	247.33	116.04
27	Santo Domingo Este	1000230	30	$547	$638	$1,341	$1,432	16.41	70.85
28	Sosua	7713	68	$588	$1,438	$1,484	$3,073	12.99	76.42

The 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 the Dominican Republic - Frequently Asked Questions

Compared with many Caribbean destinations, Cost of Living in the 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.

The Dominican Republic covers a wide cost spectrum. As of 2026, monthly expenses run from about $586 in budget-friendly smaller cities to $1,438 in the priciest areas. The gap is big enough to meaningfully affect lifestyle for anyone on a fixed income.

By international standards, the Dominican Republic is moderately priced. Smaller cities offer better deals, while capitals run higher. Most visitors and residents find costs manageable without extreme budgeting.

Outside the capital, costs in the Dominican Republic drop noticeably. Moca is one of the best budget options.

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

Living costs in the Dominican Republic are average by world standards. Regional cities offer better value than Santo Domingo, and most residents with steady jobs or remote income find things manageable.