Inflation at year's end: 9.02% (2000)
Official exchange rate: RD$16.66-US$1
Market rate: Dollars sold at RD$17+ in exchange houses. Banks are buying US$ at slightly under the official RD$16.66 exchange rate.
Prime interest rate: 22% (18 May 2001)
Interest on commercial bank loans: 26-45%
Home loans interest rate: 18%-24% 
Interest paid on deposits in US dollars: 8-14% of CDs above US$20,000
Interest paid on deposits in RD pesos: 18-24% above RD$50,000
Commercial paper interest rates: 18-20% on three months
Minimum wage (general): $3,416.10 (slightly lower for companies of less than RD$500,000 in assets) 
Minimum wage free zones: RD$2,490
Minimum wage tourism: RD$3,030 (slightly lower for companies of less than RD$500,000 in assets) 
Unemployment rate: 14% (1999)
Credit card interest rates: 36%-84%

For official macroeconomic indicators, see the Central Bank’s web site.

Estimated costs:
Rent of a three bedroom house: RD$8,000-RD$45,000
Cost of power per household: RD$800 + RD$1,500 per air-conditioner
Cost of telephone: RD$500 per month unlimited calls
Cost of cellular: RD$500 per month
Cost of Internet dial-up service: RD$300 per month
Cost of water: RD$100 per month
Cost of a hotel room in Santo Domingo: RD$1,500 per night
Cost of a vehicle: RD$80,000 (used), RD$250,000 (new), RD$1,300,000 (luxury)
Cost of a taxi: RD$50 for routes within Santo Domingo
Cost of lunch/dinner at a restaurant: RD$200-RD$400
Cost of gasoline: RD$37-RD$43 per gallon
Cost of bilingual schools: RD$9,000 per month
Cost of Spanish language schools: RD$2,000-RD$8,000
Cost of dental appointment: RD$450-RD$700
Cost of medical appointment: RD$300-RD$1,200
Cost of household help: RD$1,500-RD$5,000
Cost of a full time chauffeur: RD$4,000-RD$6,000
Cost of a receptionist: RD$5,000
Cost of an interpreter: RD$300-RD$500 per hour
Cost of a translation: RD$300-RD$500 per page
Cost of a full time accountant: RD$10,000, non-employee RD$1,500-RD$5,000

Income Tax:
Personal income tax rates were changed by Law #147-00 as follows:
Up to RD$120,000 - exempt
RD$120,001-RD$200,000 - 15%
RD$200,001 to RD$300,000 - 20%
Above RD$300,001 - 25%
The scale is to be adjusted for inflation every January.
Corporations pay a flat 25% income tax.

What people make in the DR:
Grupo Ros and Deloitte & Touche companies in the DR have carried out wage studies in the Dominican labor market. Contact these companies for that information.