Santo Domingo is EXPENSIVE - Living Expenses for Past 3 months

kimbjorkland

New member
Apr 6, 2011
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I'm posting our family actual budget costs over the past 3 months. I hope this information can be useful to people considering moving to Santo Domingo in the future.

BACKGROUND: I moved here 2 years ago with my husband who's on assignment here for work. We agreed to move down under the prerequisite that we would not 'compromise' our middle class quality of life outside this country - ie, we decided - sure we'll come to santo domingo, but not if it means we have to change our diets from grilled steak to fried Jumbo salami. So yes, the expenses shown below will seem high to some people here who are willing to be more mercenary than we are - true you could live in an apartment without air conditioning, but we slept at 18 celcius room temperature outside this country for 40 years of our lives, we want the same here, etc. So anyways, here we go:

PEOPLE: 2 people involved - both expats


AUGUST 2011:

$1811 = RENT - We live in Naco in "Western standards" - clean, quiet, 24x7 electricity, zero bugs, etc.
$930 = FOOD - Groceries + colmado orders + bottled water
$302 = FOOD - Restaurants
$191 = GAS - For 1 car
$115 = GYM - For 2 people
$167 = MAID - 3 times weekly + her transport
$499 = EDUCATION - Various courses we're taking
$300 = CLOTHES - girls will be girls (but things are MUCH cheaper in America...)
$297 = CLARO - Cable TV + High Speed Internet + Telephone home + 2 Blackberries
$46 = SALON - once a week
$204 = ELECTRICITY BILL - Those AC units sure do add up...
$872 = MEDICINE + DOCTORS - Each consultation costs 3000 pesos, this month I got sick due to some 'local' food-born issues, if you're a foreigner reading this, remember that some drugs can be expensive here, and also that your defenses living in a germ-free country for 40 years may not be as strong as those who have lived here all their lives or the mercenary expats that can chug whisky + agua de calle chaser


TOTAL AUGUST: $5734

--------------------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2011:

$1811 = RENT
$844 = FOOD - Groceries + colmado orders + bottled water
$590 = FOOD - Restaurants
$203 = GAS - For 1 car
$115 = GYM - For 2 people
$167 = MAID - 3 times weekly + her transport
$180 = EDUCATION - Various courses we're taking (including equipment)
$182 = CLOTHES - girls will be girls (but things are MUCH cheaper in America...)
$297 = CLARO - Cable TV + High Speed Internet + Telephone home + 2 Blackberries
$46 = SALON - once a week
$370 = ELECTRICITY BILL - breached the kwh threshold where the discount applies i guess
$227 = MEDICINE + DOCTORS

TOTAL SEPTEMBER: $5032



--------------------------------------------------

OCTOBER 2011:

$1811 = RENT
$537 = FOOD - Groceries + colmado orders + bottled water
$596 = FOOD - Restaurants
$316 = GAS - For 1 car - we took a few weekends away
$115 = GYM - For 2 people
$167 = MAID - 3 times weekly + her transport
$95 = EDUCATION - Various courses we're taking (including equipment)
$192 = CLOTHES - girls will be girls (but things are MUCH cheaper in America...)
$297 = CLARO - Cable TV + High Speed Internet + Telephone home + 2 Blackberries
$46 = SALON - once a week
$194 = ELECTRICITY BILL - breached the kwh threshold where the discount applies i guess
$187 = MEDICINE + DOCTORS
$369 = HOTELS - we took some trips across the country on weekends

TOTAL OCTOBER: $4922
 

bob saunders

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
32,504
5,932
113
dr1.com
I 'm curious, what are you getting done at the salon that cost you 1800 pesos each time? 64,000 pesos for rent - big place? Al seem reasonable except I wouldn't have the restaurant bill. My wife hates reastaurants, and almost $600 in cloths in 3 months. We come prepare- no reason to buy.
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
42,211
5,966
113
I don't pay rent since I own my property nor do I have air conditioning. Even on the North Coast my monthly budget is still 50% of yours not including trips out of the country. No it is not cheap unless you live like a native. As you pointed out items including gasoline, electricity, clothing, Internet and telephone service cost more here and that does add up.
 
Apr 13, 2011
680
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It costs me about $4000-4500 per month in SD Este - and that is if we do not have to fix the car or any other major issues come up. But that is me, my wife and two kids. My rent on a house is much less expensive. I also have Medical Insurance at Platinum level for all four of us. But if we got a couple of more things that we would want, then it would be $5000 a month easily.
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
42,211
5,966
113
Just out of curiosity, what is your cost of living in your home country?

Very hard to estimate for me for two big reasons. I have not lived in the US for 10 years. And it would vary dramatically depending upon where exactly you chose to live. I would guess that I could live in many places in Florida for about the same as I live in Cabarete.
 

bob saunders

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
32,504
5,932
113
dr1.com
4 tanks of Gas per minimum per month at $50 per fill ( you said car not truck) That's a lot of driving. I drive 300 miles per average week, so that's about $40 in Canada, where the gas is almost the same price as the DR.
 

flyingfox

New member
Sep 10, 2008
13
12
3
Yes it appears to be

This looks like the evidence for why after 3 years we haven't moved into Santo Domingo, even though I have a big commute from La Romana every day.
However many working folk live far more comfortably in terms of cash flowing out...living in normal residencial areas...even where I live in La Romana...which I call a Barrio....(maybe selling it a bit cheap).
If you have an "International" wage it's ok but on Dominican money....you pitch where it's more affordable...yes a little noisy though!. Interesting to see the expenses listed like that. And yes my wife's salon trips at 650 pesos a go make me tease her....certainly not into paying more...and then of course on the actual day she emerges from the salon it looks worse than before! Hat day! Then it grows back. :laugh:
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
982
113
Thanks for this, Kim, it's a useful guide. The hair salon expense does sound high - even in pricey places a wash and dry is about RD$600, your expense sounds like you're having your hair cut or coloured every week! Also, any reason you haven't taken out health insurance? I also recommend saving clothes shopping for trips home or online purchases.
 

belmont

Bronze
Oct 9, 2009
1,536
10
0
4 tanks of Gas per minimum per month at $50 per fill ( you said car not truck) That's a lot of driving. I drive 300 miles per average week, so that's about $40 in Canada, where the gas is almost the same price as the DR.
You do realize that regular gas in the DR is RD$210/gallon this week or about US$5.50. 9 gallons of gas/week is NOT alot of driving. If you got 25mi/gal, your 300 miles would cost you about $66 in the DR.
 

Expat13

Silver
Jun 7, 2008
3,255
50
48
I agree, a modest middle class existence in the D.N. is 5000usd per month, not including car repairs and the odd unexplainable theft(overcharged bills) from Claro and Edesur. But you can get cheap fruit and (poor quality) beer!!
 

jinty05

Bronze
Feb 11, 2005
925
38
48
OCTOBER 2011: 4 Adults plus 2 kids

$750 = RENT
$1270= FOOD - Groceries + colmado orders + bottled water
$750 = FOOD - Restaurants
$280 = GAS - For 1 Jeep plus generator for laundry
$300 = MAN - Live in Handyman
$240 = EDUCATION - 2 kids at school plus English classes
$200 = CLOTHES
$320 = CLARO - Wind TV + High Speed Internet + Telephone home + 3 iPhones
$65 = SALON - four tomes per month
$350 = ELECTRICITY BILL - breached the kwh threshold where the discount applies i guess
$160 = Propane - Cooking and Tumble Dryer
$450 = HOTELS - trips to the beach on weekends
$30 = Water - Corrassan
TOTAL OCTOBER: $5160
 

PICHARDO

One Dominican at a time, please!
May 15, 2003
13,280
893
113
Santiago de Los 30 Caballeros
PEOPLE: 2 people involved - both expats


AUGUST 2011:

$1811 = RENT - We live in Naco in "Western standards" - clean, quiet, 24x7 electricity, zero bugs, etc.
$930 = FOOD - Groceries + colmado orders + bottled water
$302 = FOOD - Restaurants
$191 = GAS - For 1 car
$115 = GYM - For 2 people
$167 = MAID - 3 times weekly + her transport
$499 = EDUCATION - Various courses we're taking
$300 = CLOTHES - girls will be girls (but things are MUCH cheaper in America...)
$297 = CLARO - Cable TV + High Speed Internet + Telephone home + 2 Blackberries
$46 = SALON - once a week
$204 = ELECTRICITY BILL - Those AC units sure do add up...
$872 = MEDICINE + DOCTORS -


TOTAL AUGUST: $5734

--------------------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2011:

$1811 = RENT
$844 = FOOD - Groceries + colmado orders + bottled water
$590 = FOOD - Restaurants
$203 = GAS - For 1 car
$115 = GYM - For 2 people
$167 = MAID - 3 times weekly + her transport
$180 = EDUCATION - Various courses we're taking (including equipment)
$182 = CLOTHES - girls will be girls (but things are MUCH cheaper in America...)
$297 = CLARO - Cable TV + High Speed Internet + Telephone home + 2 Blackberries
$46 = SALON - once a week
$370 = ELECTRICITY BILL - breached the kwh threshold where the discount applies i guess
$227 = MEDICINE + DOCTORS

TOTAL SEPTEMBER: $5032



--------------------------------------------------

OCTOBER 2011:

$1811 = RENT
$537 = FOOD - Groceries + colmado orders + bottled water
$596 = FOOD - Restaurants
$316 = GAS - For 1 car - we took a few weekends away
$115 = GYM - For 2 people
$167 = MAID - 3 times weekly + her transport
$95 = EDUCATION - Various courses we're taking (including equipment)
$192 = CLOTHES - girls will be girls (but things are MUCH cheaper in America...)
$297 = CLARO - Cable TV + High Speed Internet + Telephone home + 2 Blackberries
$46 = SALON - once a week
$194 = ELECTRICITY BILL - breached the kwh threshold where the discount applies i guess
$187 = MEDICINE + DOCTORS
$369 = HOTELS - we took some trips across the country on weekends

TOTAL OCTOBER: $4922







0. Poverty: USD$316 or less to live like 10.4% of these households
1. Low income: USD$527 to 922 to live like 30.6% of these households
2. Low middle class: USD$922 to 1,186 to live like 13% of these households
3. Middle class: USD$1,186 to 4,216 to live like 26% of these households


4. Upper middle class: USD$ 4,216 to 6,588 to live like 13% of these households


5. Upper class: USD$6,588 to 26,351 to live like 5% of these households
6. Rich/wealthy: USD$26,351 + to live like 2% of these households


You're living an "Upper Middle Class" level in the DR as your post details...


Visit here to get some data and some added B.S. from others as well:

http://www.dr1.com/forums/dr-debates/117194-middle-class-dr.html
 

PICHARDO

One Dominican at a time, please!
May 15, 2003
13,280
893
113
Santiago de Los 30 Caballeros
OCTOBER 2011: 4 Adults plus 2 kids

$750 = RENT
$1270= FOOD - Groceries + colmado orders + bottled water
$750 = FOOD - Restaurants
$280 = GAS - For 1 Jeep plus generator for laundry
$300 = MAN - Live in Handyman
$240 = EDUCATION - 2 kids at school plus English classes
$200 = CLOTHES
$320 = CLARO - Wind TV + High Speed Internet + Telephone home + 3 iPhones
$65 = SALON - four tomes per month
$350 = ELECTRICITY BILL - breached the kwh threshold where the discount applies i guess
$160 = Propane - Cooking and Tumble Dryer
$450 = HOTELS - trips to the beach on weekends
$30 = Water - Corrassan
TOTAL OCTOBER: $5160

0. Poverty: USD$316 or less to live like 10.4% of these households
1. Low income: USD$527 to 922 to live like 30.6% of these households
2. Low middle class: USD$922 to 1,186 to live like 13% of these households
3. Middle class: USD$1,186 to 4,216 to live like 26% of these households


4. Upper middle class: USD$ 4,216 to 6,588 to live like 13% of these households


5. Upper class: USD$6,588 to 26,351 to live like 5% of these households
6. Rich/wealthy: USD$26,351 + to live like 2% of these households


You're living an "Upper Middle Class" level in the DR as your post details...


Visit here to get some data and some added B.S. from others as well:

http://www.dr1.com/forums/dr-debates/117194-middle-class-dr.html
 

belmont

Bronze
Oct 9, 2009
1,536
10
0
0. Poverty: USD$316 or less to live like 10.4% of these households
1. Low income: USD$527 to 922 to live like 30.6% of these households
2. Low middle class: USD$922 to 1,186 to live like 13% of these households
3. Middle class: USD$1,186 to 4,216 to live like 26% of these households


4. Upper middle class: USD$ 4,216 to 6,588 to live like 13% of these households


5. Upper class: USD$6,588 to 26,351 to live like 5% of these households
6. Rich/wealthy: USD$26,351 + to live like 2% of these households


You're living an "Upper Middle Class" level in the DR as your post details...


Visit here to get some data and some added B.S. from others as well:

http://www.dr1.com/forums/dr-debates/117194-middle-class-dr.html
Pichardo,
you are using the assumption they are spending like typical Dominicans, spend everything today because it will buy less tomorrow. The OP only listed monthly living expenses, not income. The OP might very belong to the upperclass when you add in income put into savings, retirement plans, investments, etc.
 

tcast305

Member
Jul 17, 2009
70
0
6
422 = Rent (3bedrm/2 bath, maid rm, security, covered parking, etc)
115 = Electricty
300 = Groceries
130 = Gas (Civic)
10 = Propane
84 = Internet (2mbs)/Cable (superior plan)/Phone (700min) (tricom)
60 = 2 Cell phones blackberry 200min /regular 100min (orange)
120 = Education
30 = Salon/Barber
50 = Restrutants (Rare)

1191 = Total (and this is on the high side)

I stay in SD Este, so its a little less expensive. I don't buy clothes in DR, way to expensive, I buy when I'm in Miami, same goes for electronics. Yes the cost of living is high in DR depending what you want.
 

PICHARDO

One Dominican at a time, please!
May 15, 2003
13,280
893
113
Santiago de Los 30 Caballeros
422 = Rent (3bedrm/2 bath, maid rm, security, covered parking, etc)
115 = Electricty
300 = Groceries
130 = Gas (Civic)
10 = Propane
84 = Internet (2mbs)/Cable (superior plan)/Phone (700min) (tricom)
60 = 2 Cell phones blackberry 200min /regular 100min (orange)
120 = Education
30 = Salon/Barber
50 = Restrutants (Rare)

1191 = Total (and this is on the high side)

I stay in SD Este, so its a little less expensive. I don't buy clothes in DR, way to expensive, I buy when I'm in Miami, same goes for electronics. Yes the cost of living is high in DR depending what you want.

1. Low income: USD$527 to 922 to live like 30.6% of these households
2. Low middle class: USD$922 to 1,186 to live like 13% of these households



3. Middle class: USD$1,186 to 4,216 to live like 26% of these households


4. Upper middle class: USD$ 4,216 to 6,588 to live like 13% of these households
5. Upper class: USD$6,588 to 26,351 to live like 5% of these households
6. Rich/wealthy: USD$26,351 + to live like 2% of these households


You're living a "Middle Class" level in the DR as your post details...


Visit here to get some data and some added B.S. from others as well:

http://www.dr1.com/forums/dr-debates/117194-middle-class-dr.html