Official data ·
Dominican prices: what cost RD$1,000 in September 2016 costs RD$1,581 in September 2026
The Central Bank's consumer price index rose from 89.3042 in September 2016 to 141.2217 in September 2026, an increase of 58.14 % in ten years. At today's prices, RD$1,000 buys what RD$632 bought a decade ago. Food rose 79.89 %; clothing and footwear fell 14.56 %.
Using the consumer price index (CPI) published by the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, we asked a simple question: if an average basket of purchases cost RD$1,000 in September 2016, how much does it cost now? With the latest data: RD$1,581.36 in September 2026.
The CPI went from 89.3042 to 141.2217 (base October 2019-September 2020 = 100), a 58.14 % increase. Put the other way, RD$1,000 in September 2026 buys what RD$632.37 bought in September 2016. Peso amounts and ten-year percentages are Economía con Datos calculations with Central Bank indices.
Over the last twelve months prices rose 5.12 %, the Central Bank's official year-on-year inflation rate. Over twenty years, prices multiplied by 2.49. The highest recent readings were in 2021 and 2022, when twelve-month inflation reached 7.74 % (September 2021) and 8.63 % (September 2022).
What rose most, and what fell
What cost RD$1,000 in September 2016 costs, in September 2026: food and non-alcoholic beverages RD$1,798.85 (+79.89 %); alcoholic beverages and tobacco RD$1,740.92 (+74.09 %); transport RD$1,721.46 (+72.15 %); restaurants and hotels RD$1,708.72 (+70.87 %); health RD$1,576.86 (+57.69 %); education RD$1,545.46 (+54.55 %); housing RD$1,385.51 (+38.55 %); communications RD$1,055.44 (+5.54 %); clothing and footwear RD$854.44 (−14.56 %).
An income of RD$20,000 in September 2016 would need to be about RD$31,627 in September 2026 to buy the same goods (Economía con Datos calculation with the headline CPI). Because food rose most, households that spend a larger share of their budget on food feel the increase more than the average.
Source: Banco Central de la República Dominicana, índice de precios al consumidor (IPC), base octubre 2019-septiembre 2020 (document in Spanish).
This is an English summary by Economía con Datos. Read the full article in Spanish.
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