North America · Roseau
Cost of living in Dominica
Dominica is 50% cheaper than the US, ranking #85 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Dominica, food & groceries is the priciest category relative to the world (160), while housing & utilities is the most affordable (59).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $49,500 in Dominica.
Quality of life
58/100 · #147 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Dominica
Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans, due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. France ceded possession to Britain in 1763, and Dominica became a British colony in 1805. Slavery ended in 1833, and in 1835, the first three men of African descent were elected to the legislative assembly of Dominica. In 1871, Dominica became first part of the British Leeward Islands and then the British Windward Islands until 1958.
Read the full background
In 1967, Dominica became an associated state of the UK, formally taking responsibility for its internal affairs, and the country gained its independence in 1978. In 1980, Dominica's fortunes improved when Mary Eugenia CHARLES -- the first female prime minister in the Caribbean -- replaced a corrupt and tyrannical administration, and she served for the next 15 years. In 2017, Hurricane Maria passed over the island, causing extensive damage to structures, roads, communications, and the power supply, and largely destroying critical agricultural areas.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Dominica expensive to live in?
Dominica is 50% cheaper than the US, ranking #85 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is food & groceries; housing & utilities costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Dominica?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $49,500 in Dominica, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Dominica cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 49.6, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Dominica?
Dominica scores 58 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#147 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 71 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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