Cost Of Living For a Student in Dominican Republic 2024
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: DOP
Average monthly spending for students in Dominican Republic
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Dominican Republic?
Students in Dominican Republic spend around 10,000 DOP per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1,500 DOP or as high as 69,000 DOP. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Dominican Republic
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 50,000 DOP | 100,000 DOP | 130,000 DOP |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 1,700 DOP | 2,500 DOP | 6,600 DOP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 2,500 DOP | 4,000 DOP | 10,000 DOP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 3,300 DOP | 5,000 DOP | 13,000 DOP |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 330,000 DOP | 500,000 DOP | 1,000,000 DOP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 400,000 DOP | 660,000 DOP | 2.5M DOP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 660,000 DOP | 2M DOP | 4M DOP |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 2,000 DOP | 2,500 DOP | 3,300 DOP |
Double Bed
| 1,300 DOP | 2,000 DOP | 2,500 DOP |
Single Bed
| 1,200 DOP | 1,500 DOP | 2,000 DOP |
Living Room
| 2,200 DOP | 2,800 DOP | 10,000 DOP |
Dining Table
| 1,000 DOP | 1,300 DOP | 2,500 DOP |
Sofa or Couch
| 1,300 DOP | 1,800 DOP | 4,000 DOP |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 1,300 DOP | 2,000 DOP | 4,000 DOP |
Fridge or Freezer
| 1,200 DOP | 1,800 DOP | 2,500 DOP |
Washing Machine
| 1,500 DOP | 2,200 DOP | 4,000 DOP |
Stove or Cooker
| 1,400 DOP | 1,800 DOP | 2,500 DOP |
Mobile Phone
| 1,700 DOP | 2,000 DOP | 2,800 DOP |
Laptop or Computer
| 1,800 DOP | 2,200 DOP | 4,000 DOP |
How do students spend their money in Dominican Republic?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost18%
18% of total expenses on average (13% to 24%)
| LOW | $6.3 370 DOP |
| AVERAGE | $42 2,500 DOP |
| HIGH | $280 16,000 DOP |
| Per Month |
Students in Dominican Republic typically spend from 13% to 24% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 18% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 2,500 DOP with expenditure ranging from 370 DOP to 16,000 DOP. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $1 62 DOP |
| AVERAGE | $7 410 DOP |
| HIGH | $47 2,700 DOP |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Dominican Republic ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 410 DOP with 62 DOP and 2,700 DOP being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $1.8 110 DOP |
| AVERAGE | $12 720 DOP |
| HIGH | $82 4,800 DOP |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 110 DOP to 4,800 DOP in a month on commuting with 720 DOP being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $5.2 310 DOP |
| AVERAGE | $35 2,100 DOP |
| HIGH | $230 14,000 DOP |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Dominican Republic is 2,100 DOP. The cost of groceries can range between 310 DOP to 14,000 DOP. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $1.6 92 DOP |
| AVERAGE | $10 620 DOP |
| HIGH | $70 4,100 DOP |
| Per Month |
Students in Dominican Republic allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 92 DOP to 4,100 DOP with 620 DOP being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $1.3 77 DOP |
| AVERAGE | $8.7 510 DOP |
| HIGH | $58 3,400 DOP |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 77 DOP to 3,400 DOP with 510 DOP being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $5 290 DOP |
| AVERAGE | $33 2,000 DOP |
| HIGH | $220 13,000 DOP |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 2,000 DOP per month with 290 DOP being the minimum spent amount and 13,000 DOP being the maximum.
Other Expenses19%
19% of total expenses on average (13% to 25%)
| LOW | $3.9 230 DOP |
| AVERAGE | $26 1,500 DOP |
| HIGH | $170 10,000 DOP |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Dominican Republic
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Dominican Republic?
Around 47% of surveyed students think that living in Dominican Republic is affordable with proper budgeting while 53% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Dominican Republic
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options55%
Few low-cost options45%
Based on the survey, 55% of the students living in Dominican Republic have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 45% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of Dominican Republic whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes46%
No54%
Based on the survey, 54% of the students living in Dominican Republic said that they don't have an emergency fund while 46% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in Dominican Republic
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy42%
We asked student guardians and parents in Dominican Republic whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 58% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 42% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of Dominican Republic have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 51% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 49% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance51%
Easily manages finances49%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Dominican Republic
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Dominican Republic
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,700 DOP | 2,500 DOP | 6,600 DOP |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,500 DOP | 4,000 DOP | 10,000 DOP |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 3,300 DOP | 5,000 DOP | 13,000 DOP |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,000 DOP | 6,600 DOP | 18,000 DOP |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 8,000 DOP | 20,000 DOP | 40,000 DOP |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 6,600 DOP | 10,000 DOP | 28,000 DOP |
House monthly rent cost
| 8,000 DOP | 20,000 DOP | 40,000 DOP |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 10,000 DOP | 25,000 DOP | 40,000 DOP |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Dominican Republic ranges between 1,700 DOP and 6,600 DOP, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 2,500 DOP to 10,000 DOP. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 3,300 DOP and 13,000 DOP per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 4,000 DOP to 18,000 DOP. The average rent of a townhouse in Dominican Republic is around 10,000 DOP while house rental costs can be as high as 20,000 DOP per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 10,000 DOP to 40,000 DOP per month.
Apartment and house prices in Dominican Republic
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 330,000 DOP | 500,000 DOP | 1,000,000 DOP |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 400,000 DOP | 660,000 DOP | 2.5M DOP |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 660,000 DOP | 2M DOP | 4M DOP |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 2.2M DOP | 3.3M DOP | 10M DOP |
Townhouse price
| 2.8M DOP | 6.6M DOP | 25M DOP |
| $48,000 | $110,000 | $420,000 |
House price
| $56,000 | $340,000 | $480,000 |
Villa price
| $68,000 | $380,000 | $560,000 |
The average price of a studio apartment in Dominican Republic can range from 330,000 DOP to 1,000,000 DOP depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 400,000 DOP to 2.5M DOP. A villa can cost you 22M DOP on average with prices ranging from 4M DOP to 33M DOP.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Dominican Republic will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 32 | x91 monthly income | 195 |
Property prices in Dominican Republic can be x91 to x195 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x91 multiples of the average monthly salary in Dominican Republic.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Dominican Republic is around 29%. This means that people pay 29% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 19% to 39% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
27% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Dominican Republic
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Dominican Republic
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 410 DOP. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 100 DOP to 270 DOP with 200 DOP being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 130 DOP but can range between 80 DOP and 400 DOP depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Dominican Republic is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Dominican Republic
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Dominican Republic
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Dominican Republic is approximatly 40 DOP with meal cost ranging from 20 DOP to 66 DOP. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 66 DOP and 200 DOP with 100 DOP being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Dominican Republic.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 130 DOP to 800 DOP with the average cost being 200 DOP for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Dominican Republic.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Dominican Republic is around 27 DOP. Price ranges between 17 DOP and 40 DOP depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Dominican Republic is 16 DOP. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 20 DOP and the minimum being 13 DOP depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 13 DOP on average with 10 DOP and 20 DOP being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Dominican Republic is between 23 DOP and 42 DOP depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 29 DOP.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 40 DOP. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Dominican Republic costs around 15 DOP on average with prices rangeing between 11 DOP and 21 DOP depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 4 DOP to 10 DOP. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 9.3 DOP on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Dominican Republic is around 27%. This means that students spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 33% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 310 DOP to 14,000 DOP with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
