RDyes

Puerto Plata vs Punta Cana

Puerto Plata and Punta Cana, figure by figure. Each value links to the page it was taken from.

Population
Puerto Plata
162,093 persons
citypopulation.deAs of Census 2022-11-10 (final)High confidence
Punta Cana
138,919 persons
citypopulation.deAs of Census 2022-11-10 (final)High confidence
Difference (Punta Cana − Puerto Plata): −23,174 persons (−14.3%)
Cost of livingDifferent sources or units: shown side by side, not compared
Puerto Plata
Numbeo (5 contributors, item-price basket; "some data estimated")
NumbeoAs of Sep 2026 (last update 8 Sep 2026)Low confidence

Limited data: low-confidence source

Punta Cana
Numbeo (16 contributors, item-price basket; "some data estimated")
NumbeoAs of Jun 2026 (last update 19 Jun 2026)Medium confidence
Rent, 1-bedroom (city centre)
Puerto Plata
26,667 DOP per month
NumbeoAs of Sep 2026 (last update 8 Sep 2026)Low confidence

Limited data: low-confidence source

Punta Cana
56,821 DOP per month
NumbeoAs of Jun 2026 (last update 19 Jun 2026)Medium confidence
Difference (Punta Cana − Puerto Plata): +30,154 DOP per month (+113.1%)
Rent, 3-bedroom (city centre)
Puerto Plata
51,667 DOP per month
NumbeoAs of Sep 2026 (last update 8 Sep 2026)Low confidence

Limited data: low-confidence source

Punta Cana
159,702 DOP per month
NumbeoAs of Jun 2026 (last update 19 Jun 2026)Medium confidence
Difference (Punta Cana − Puerto Plata): +108,035 DOP per month (+209.1%)
Land price per m²
Puerto Plata
88 USD per m²
RE/MAX Metropolitana land price guideAs of 24 Jul 2026Medium confidence
Punta Cana
139 USD per m²
RE/MAX Metropolitana land price guideAs of 24 Jul 2026Medium confidence
Difference (Punta Cana − Puerto Plata): +51 USD per m² (+58%)
Condo price per m²Different sources or units: shown side by side, not compared
Puerto Plata
118,000 DOP per m²
TheLatinvestor Condo Prices Update in Puerto PlataAs of Sep 2026 (updated 21 Sep 2026)Low confidence

Limited data: low-confidence source

Punta Cana
1,875 USD per m²
CLIC Inmobiliaria apartments Punta CanaAs of Jul 2026Low confidence

Limited data: low-confidence source

Airbnb nightly rate (ADR)
Puerto Plata
90 USD per night
AirbticsAs of Feb 2025 - Jan 2026 (updated 2026-03-12)High confidence
Punta Cana
119 USD per night
Airbtics Punta Cana - CaribersAs of Feb 2025 - Jan 2026 (updated 2026-03-12)High confidence
Difference (Punta Cana − Puerto Plata): +29 USD per night (+32.2%)
Airbnb occupancy
Puerto Plata
44 %
AirbticsAs of Feb 2025 - Jan 2026 (updated 2026-03-12)High confidence
Punta Cana
48 %
Airbtics Punta Cana - CaribersAs of Feb 2025 - Jan 2026 (updated 2026-03-12)High confidence
Difference (Punta Cana − Puerto Plata): +4 % (+9.09%)
Climate (monthly temperature and rain)Different sources or units: shown side by side, not compared
Puerto Plata
Weatherspark, monthly temp + rain (station: Aeropuerto Intl La Unión / Gregorio Luperón MDPP 8 mi)
WeathersparkAs of 1980-2016 averagesHigh confidence
Punta Cana
Weatherspark, monthly temp + rain (station: Punta Cana Intl MDPC 2.9 mi, 99%)
WeathersparkAs of 1980-2016 averagesHigh confidence
Nearest international airport and drive time
Puerto Plata
23 minutes by car

POP (Gregorio Luperón Intl)

Rome2rioAs of undated (live routing)High confidence
Punta Cana
9 minutes by car

PUJ (Punta Cana Intl)

Rome2rioAs of undated (live routing)High confidence
Difference (Punta Cana − Puerto Plata): −14 minutes by car (−60.9%)
Hospitals and clinicsDifferent sources or units: shown side by side, not compared
Puerto Plata
  • Clínica Bournigal
  • Hospital Ricardo Limardo

GOV.UK FCDO "List of medical facilities and practitioners in Dominican Republic" (Clínica Bournigal, Hospital Ricardo Limardo)

GOV.UK FCDO List of medical facilities and practitioners in Dominican RepublicAs of 27 Jan 2026High confidence
Punta Cana
  • Centro Médico Punta Cana
  • Hospiten Bávaro
  • Hospiturs International Clinic del Este
  • Hospital General de Verón Punta Cana

GOV.UK FCDO "List of medical facilities and practitioners in Dominican Republic" (Centro Médico Punta Cana, Hospiten Bávaro, Hospiturs International Clinic del Este, Hospital General de Verón Punta Cana); also hospiten.com/en/hospitals (Hospiten Bávaro)

GOV.UK FCDO List of medical facilities and practitioners in Dominican RepublicAs of 27 Jan 2026High confidence
Intentional homicides, Jan–Jun 2026
Puerto Plata
9 homicides, Jan–Jun 2026
CADSECI/MIP Boletín Estadístico de Seguridad Ciudadana enero-junio 2026As of Jan–Jun 2026 (published 21 Sep 2026)High confidence
Punta Cana
14 homicides, Jan–Jun 2026
CADSECI/MIP Boletín Estadístico de Seguridad Ciudadana enero-junio 2026As of Jan–Jun 2026 (published 21 Sep 2026)High confidence
Difference (Punta Cana − Puerto Plata): +5 homicides, Jan–Jun 2026 (+55.6%)
Food sceneDifferent sources or units: shown side by side, not compared
Puerto Plata
143 restaurants listed

TripAdvisor "Restaurants in Puerto Plata" (143 results; Le Papillon, Le Petit Francois, Los Tres Cocos, Charros CaribeMex, Passatore)

TripAdvisor Restaurants in Puerto PlataAs of Oct 2026High confidence
Punta Cana
godominicanrepublic.com (MITUR) "Punta Cana Dining" (Huracán Café, Jellyfish, Soles in Bávaro; Captain Cook, Onno's in El Cortecito; La Yola, Playa Blanca; La Palapa, Passion by Berasategui)
godominicanrepublic.comAs of undatedHigh confidence
Music scene and festivalsDifferent sources or units: shown side by side, not compared
Puerto Plata
El Nacional – Festival del Merengue de Puerto Plata (18–20 Jul 2025; to be held annually in the second week of July)
El NacionalAs of 7 Jun 2025Medium confidence
Punta Cana
Wikipedia "Punta Cana" ("Punta Cana and Bávaro region features a nightlife scene that has established itself as a world-class tourist attraction"; Coco Bongo)
Wikipedia Punta CanaAs of undatedLow confidence

Limited data: low-confidence source

Culture, heritage and festivalsDifferent sources or units: shown side by side, not compared
Puerto Plata
Wikipedia "Puerto Plata" (Amber Museum, first in DR; Fortaleza San Felipe main colonial monument; carnival in February–March on the Malecón)
Wikipedia Puerto PlataAs of 27 Sep 2026 (last edit)High confidence
Punta Cana
godominicanrepublic.com (MITUR) Punta Cana destination page (Chocomuseo listed under must-see spots; cultural excursion to Altos de Chavón)
godominicanrepublic.comAs of undatedLow confidence

Limited data: low-confidence source

Foreign-origin population (proxy for expat community)
Puerto Plata
40,691 persons
ENI-2017 Cuadro 2.6As of 2017 (ENI-2017)Medium confidence
Punta Cana
52,762 persons
ENI-2017 Cuadro 2.6As of 2017 (ENI-2017)Low confidence

Limited data: low-confidence source

Difference (Punta Cana − Puerto Plata): +12,071 persons (+29.7%)
BeachesDifferent sources or units: shown side by side, not compared
Puerto Plata
  • La Poza del Castillo
  • Cofresí
  • Costámbar
  • Long Beach
  • Marapicá
  • Playa Dorada
  • Maimón
  • Bergantín

Wikipedia "Puerto Plata" (La Poza del Castillo, Cofresí, Costámbar, Long Beach, Marapicá, Playa Dorada, Maimón, Bergantín)

Wikipedia Puerto PlataAs of 27 Sep 2026 (last edit)High confidence
Punta Cana
  • Playa Bávaro
  • Playa Macao
  • Playa Juanillo
  • Playa Cabeza de Toro
  • Playa Bibijagua
  • Los Corales

godominicanrepublic.com (MITUR) Punta Cana destination page (Playa Bávaro, Playa Macao, Playa Juanillo, Playa Cabeza de Toro, Playa Bibijagua, Los Corales)

godominicanrepublic.comAs of undatedHigh confidence

Country-wide figures

These come from national sources with no town-level breakdown, so they are the same for every town.