Cost of Living

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Live cost-of-living data for Santo Domingo — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
22/ 10078% cheaper than New York
+25% rent since Jul 2026
$600/mo
Median Income
50/100
Safety
20%
Income Tax
tropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
25/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$747/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$384/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,502/month
Food & Groceries
30/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.2/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.5/kg
Transportation
20/100
Monthly Transit Pass$30/month
One-Way Ticket$0.59/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.4/km
Utilities
25/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$101/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
40/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$60/visit
Dentist Visit$80/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
35/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$400/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
30/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$8/ticket
Theater Ticket$25/ticket
Museum Entry$10/ticket
Clothing
35/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$50/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$35/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$75/pair
Personal Care
30/100
Haircut (Men)$15/cut
Haircut (Women)$30/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4/bottle
Dining Out
30/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$10/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$40/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$6/meal
Childcare
35/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$500/month
Babysitter (per hour)$10/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$15/pack
Fitness & Sports
35/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$35/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$15/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$6/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

35 Mbps
Internet Speed
$300
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
low
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
75/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Zona Colonial, Piantini, Naco

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Santo Domingo cheap to live in?

Santo Domingo has a cost of living index of 22/100, where New York = 100. It is 78% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $780–$1,092 per month.

How much does rent cost in Santo Domingo?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Santo Domingo costs approximately $747/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $384/month.

Is Santo Domingo good for digital nomads?

Santo Domingo has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 35 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $300/month. English proficiency is low.

What is the average salary in Santo Domingo?

The median net monthly salary in Santo Domingo is approximately $600 USD. The income tax rate is around 20%.

How does Santo Domingo compare to New York for cost of living?

Santo Domingo (cost index 22) is 78% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,950/month by moving from New York to Santo Domingo.

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