I have just been to Santo Domingo for short trips. My girlfriends does have some family there. The traffic is pretty bad during rush hour. But they do have a lot more to offer then where I am in Puerto Plata. I would travel around the Island and get a feel for the different cities. I would get a car at some point and travel around and see everything before picking a place to leave.
I had a friend who lived in Santiago then Puerto Plata. I have spent a little time in Santiago. Without knowing a lot about Santo Domigo and Santiago it the obvious would be less traffic in Santiago but less to do in Santiago. I think in Santo Domingo or any big city your location you live is really important.
I have stayed at the Mecure in Santo Domingo every time. The hotel is pretty nice, not too expensive but a great location. You can walk to the Colonial City. There are a lot of places that are nice to hang out and people watch. Of course a lot of tourist in that area. The taxis also charge a lot more in that area. The taxis in the area just look for tourist who will pay more. I had a rental car one night but didn't feel like driving. So we paid a taxi by the hour to take us around. I forget what we paid but it was a much better deal.
I am sure once you go to know some people there would be a lot of places to go out at night. Walking around at night you can tell when the streets have a lot of people or not. The old city has a lot of areas with a lot of people and businesses then you can go a couple streets over and there isn't much. There are a lot of areas near the old city that are kind of vacant looking.
Not sure how much you have read or not about DR. But drinking imported liquor is more expensive. Everyone drinks Presidente Beer, Rum and some mamajuana. It is more expensive to drink especially name brand vodka, bourbon, etc. The plus to buy a bottle of rum at a bar doesn't cost too much. They do not charge the "bottle service" price like they do in the US. Ordering a bottle of rum might be the cheapest way to go out with a group of people. The really only have presidente beer so if you are into all the craft beer and a bunch or choices that will be a lot harder to find and more expensive.
Presidente beer in a 12 oz bottle is probably more expensive here then american beer you buy at the store. Most everyone here buys the bottle larger then the 12 oz bottle and they split the bottle. So you order one larger bottle and 2 or 3 classes. It is cheaper to drink the larger bottle but of course it gets warmer faster. Some places serve it cold and some places really cold. But they mostly drink bottles and not cans. But when you go to a bar they do not mark up beer as much. Some places beer doesn't cost much more at the bar then at the store.
Gas is around 5.50 a gallon. Cars, motorcycles, Electricity, electronics, tires, iPads, iPhones, furniture, tools, etc are all more expensive here. Housing, Property taxes, going out to eat and drink should all be cheaper here.
Right now the exchange rate is 43. So don't get ripped off by someone giving you less then 43. Western Union and other places will give you 43. Hotels and Tourist areas will give less. If you are going to use an ATM a lot you while want the cheapest or no fees from your bank in the USA.
As far as non-pro women that could be a long discussion. I haven't spent a lot of time in Santo Domingo but they have a lot more domincans that are middle class. A lot more people that have some of their own money to go out. But for the most part in the DR it is not like the USA. A lot of the women do not have much money to go out. They do not own a car and probably do not own a moped either. They live at home with their family and make just enough to get by. So a lot of the women are really crazy being pros or semi pros. Or they are not crazy and spend more time with their family. So that is the harder part. If you looking for a good girl a lot of them are not out too much. They are with their families a lot more.
This probably also changes but what city also. So the larger cities like Santo Domingo and Santiago will have more middle class but nothing like the US. That also changes the age of the women that do not have kids. You can find a lot of women 25,30, 35 , etc in the USA who don't have kids but still want to have kids and get married. In DR it is a lot less likely to find women 25 and older that do not have kids. A lot less have careers and higher education that is delaying their age they want to start a family.
But of course it is a lot more common for younger women to date and or marry older men here.
There is not much central AC here like in the US. So normally places do not have places as cold as we do in the US. Service at a restaurant and bar isn't as fast. You just have to get use to that. Or go to the same places and get to know the people working there. Some places are better then other. And of course if you tip good they will remember you. But the dominicans will whistle at waiters to get their attentions. The Dominicans will also point using their lips which is kind of weird. Overall they are pretty laid back and don't seem to be as uptight as americans.
Driving is crazy. It seems the larger car and more expensive cars drive faster and think they have the right of way. Just yield to everyone that comes into your lane so you avoid a head on collision. Buses just pass on blind turns expecting everyone will get out of there way because they are in the bus.
Long term it would depend if you wanted to stay single, get married, have a family, etc. That would have an effect on where you might want to live and your budget. It will probably cost a lot more if you like to drink and go out a lot.
