Santo Domingo vs Puerto Plata: which is sunnier?
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic vs 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic · 175 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Santo Domingo is the sunnier overall: about 2,867 hours of sunshine a year to Puerto Plata's 2,675. Santo Domingo has the higher Sunshine Score in 8 of 12 months; the other 4 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Santo Domingo | Puerto Plata | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,867 | 2,675 |
| Sunniest month | February (92/100) | February (89/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 88/100 | 84/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 85/100 | 84/100 |
| Rain / year | 604 mm | 725 mm |
| Warmest sea | 31°C / 88°F | 30°C / 86°F |
| Peak midday UV | 11 (extreme) | 10 (very high) |
Santo Domingo vs Puerto Plata month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santo Domingo | Puerto Plata | Santo Domingo | Puerto Plata | Santo Domingo | Puerto Plata | Santo Domingo | Puerto Plata | |
| January | 90 | 86 | 29° | 27° | 31 | 50 | 28° | 27° |
| February | 92 | 89 | 30° | 27° | 24 | 29 | 27° | 27° |
| March | 92 | 88 | 31° | 27° | 22 | 39 | 28° | 27° |
| April | 88 | 86 | 31° | 28° | 41 | 47 | 28° | 27° |
| May | 83 | 80 | 31° | 28° | 72 | 78 | 29° | 28° |
| June | 87 | 86 | 31° | 29° | 48 | 50 | 30° | 29° |
| July | 85 | 84 | 32° | 30° | 58 | 57 | 30° | 28° |
| August | 84 | 83 | 32° | 30° | 64 | 66 | 30° | 29° |
| September | 84 | 81 | 32° | 30° | 67 | 76 | 31° | 29° |
| October | 85 | 80 | 31° | 30° | 61 | 80 | 31° | 30° |
| November | 83 | 77 | 30° | 28° | 73 | 99 | 29° | 29° |
| December | 88 | 85 | 30° | 27° | 43 | 54 | 29° | 28° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Santo Domingo · Feb Santo Domingo · Mar Santo Domingo · Apr even · May Santo Domingo · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep Santo Domingo · Oct Santo Domingo · Nov Santo Domingo · Dec Santo Domingo.
When to pick which
- November–February: Santo Domingo (average score 88/100 vs 84). Santo Domingo is the warmer, around 30°C daytime highs vs 27°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Santo Domingo (average score 88/100 vs 85). Santo Domingo is the warmer, around 31°C daytime highs vs 28°C.
- June–August: too close to call — Santo Domingo averages 85/100, Puerto Plata 84/100. Santo Domingo is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 30°C.
- September–October: Santo Domingo (average score 85/100 vs 81). Santo Domingo is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 30°C.
Sea temperature
Santo Domingo's sea gets warmer: 31°C / 88°F at its peak vs 30°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Santo Domingo all year, Puerto Plata all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Santo Domingo weather by month · Puerto Plata weather by month · Best time to visit Dominican Republic.
More comparisons: Santo Domingo vs Port-au-Prince · Santo Domingo vs Punta Cana · Puerto Plata vs Port-au-Prince · Puerto Plata vs Cap Haitien · Puerto Plata vs Punta Cana · all head-to-heads