Is Santo Domingo expensive to visit?
While Santo Domingo is a popular place for travelers, it is also somewhat affordable and less expensive to visit. The average daily cost is $102, which is one of the many reasons for its popularity with tourists. When compared to other destinations in the Caribbean Islands, which is known to be an expensive region, many visitors find it to be a reasonably affordable destination. It's in the top 25% of places in the Caribbean Islands for its affordability, and our cost analysis found it to be comparable to Mandeville and Kingston.

Santo Domingo
How expensive is Santo Domingo?
On average, visitors spend about $102 per day when visiting Santo Domingo (U.S. Dollars). Two travelers together would spend an average of $204 per day. Prices vary dramatically by travel style and length of trip, but if you stay at moderately priced hotels, eat at affordable restaurants, and use public transportation when possible, you can expect to stay close to this budget. See more travel costs for Santo Domingo here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Santo Domingo?
A weekend trip to Santo Domingo costs about $305 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a weekend trip costs $611.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Santo Domingo?
Based on the travel expenses of others, a one week trip to Santo Domingo costs around $712 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $1,425.
Is it expensive to backpack in Santo Domingo?
Santo Domingo is a fairly popular backpacker destination with more than 4 hostels around town. Dorm beds in hostels cost around $20 per night on average. There's a wide range in prices though, with the cheapest beds costing about $14 and the most expensive dorm beds costing around $32. (See hostel prices in Santo Domingo here.)
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Santo Domingo.
- $20 for a dorm bed at Island Life Hostel
- $16 for a dorm bed at La Choza
- $32 for a dorm bed at Hostal Gato Colonial
Are hotels expensive in Santo Domingo?
From our analysis of hotel prices in Santo Domingo, we can see that they are very affordable in comparison to the rest of the world. On average, a night in a hotel room costs approximately $73. The area hosts around 5 five-star hotels, averaging $208 per night. For those with an eye on both comfort and economy, three-star hotels present a reasonable choice at an average of $75 per night, while two-star hotels offer an even more economical option at $50 per night.
Hotels by star rating in Santo Domingo
Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
---|---|---|
5 stars | 5 | $208 |
4 stars | 11 | $111 |
3 stars | 40 | $75 |
2 stars | 15 | $50 |
1 star | 4 | $35 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Santo Domingo?
Activities and things to do in Santo Domingo can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $15 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is less than the country's average of $30.
- The Boat Ride Adventure of Santo Domingo: $39
- Three Eyes Park and Colon Lighthouse Experience: $45
- “Off The Beaten Path Dominican Tour”: $55
- Santo Domingo: Private City Tour walking: $55
- Santo Domingo Colonial City Tour Full Day with Lunch: $77
- Colonial Santo Domingo and hidden natural beauties City Tour: $80
- Fantastic Adventure to Hidden Waterfall and Historical Cave: $100
- Santo Domingo: Arts and Museums Tour: $118
Is food expensive in Santo Domingo?
Food in Santo Domingo can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $55 on food per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $63. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.
Is transportation expensive in Santo Domingo?
Exploring local transportation in Santo Domingo shows that the price can vary greatly by the type of transportation used. On average, previous travelers have spent $5 per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $11. If you want to save money, use public transit as it's much cheaper than taxis or private drivers.
More for Santo Domingo
If you're planning a trip to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.