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
23/ 10077% cheaper than New York
+15% rent since Jul 2026
$600/mo
Median Income
32/100
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
48/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$690/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$370/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,550/month
Food & Groceries
35/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.2/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.1/kg
Transportation
25/100
Monthly Transit Pass$20/month
One-Way Ticket$0.8/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.5/km
Utilities
32/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$120/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$40/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
52/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$50/visit
Dentist Visit$75/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
48/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$400/month
International Primary School (yearly)$10,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
42/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$8/ticket
Theater Ticket$30/ticket
Museum Entry$10/ticket
Clothing
38/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$50/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$35/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$75/pair
Personal Care
35/100
Haircut (Men)$15/cut
Haircut (Women)$30/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4/bottle
Dining Out
38/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$9/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$49/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$6.6/meal
Childcare
45/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$600/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

72 Mbps
Internet Speed
$150
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
62/100
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 23/100, where New York = 100. It is 77% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $840–$1,176 per month.

How much does rent cost in Santo Domingo?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Santo Domingo costs approximately $690/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $370/month.

Is Santo Domingo good for digital nomads?

Santo Domingo has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 72 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $150/month. English proficiency is moderate.

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 23) is 77% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,925/month by moving from New York to Santo Domingo.

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