Back to school will be more expensive: education inflation reaches 6.63%

The 2026-2027 school year, starting August 24, will be more expensive for Dominican families. Education sector inflation reached 6.63% between June 2025 and June 2026, according to Central Bank data cited by Revista Mercado, and reports from the first week of August confirm increases in supplies, uniforms, tuition and transport.

How much tuition rises

In private schools, increases range from RD$500 to RD$8,000 monthly. Diario Libre documented cases where tuition went from RD$25,000 to RD$33,000, or from RD$14,000 to RD$16,000, and school transport rose from RD$3,500 to RD$4,200.

What the supply list costs

A Listín Diario walk through Juan Pablo Duarte avenue, in the National District, found notebooks between RD$155 and RD$250, backpacks between RD$750 and RD$1,650 and school shoes between RD$1,495 and RD$1,695. Parents surveyed estimate spending on supplies and uniforms per student between RD$12,000 and RD$15,000.

The context

Semi-private centers are also adjusting their family contribution (from RD$1,000 to RD$1,500), and books remain the heaviest item. Families say they buy gradually and compare prices to stretch the budget, in a cycle involving 1,394,482 public school students, according to the MINERD.

The key figure: 6.63% education inflation and increases of up to RD$8,000 in tuition for the 2026-2027 cycle.