Thanks as always guys, good info! Derfish mentioned buying a 100cc bike for under 1000 USd. How would I buy that, dealers, Craigslist, other?
Supermarket Jumbo on Luperon often has specials on for motorbikes. RD24000-34000 for a 100-125cc brand new bike. As a new gringo to the city you'll probably have that taken off you by either thieves of AMET or PN, or knocked off and killed within a few days.
The single necessary biggest expense is a car imo, I wouldn't live anywhere in DR without a vehicle. It's horrible when you can't even go shopping without relying on others, so imo is a must. And part of living in the country is the freedom to move around it. Anyone
living on alternative transport has massive headaches and restrictions doing this.
You can buy a car cheaply, but it will be 'cheap' and you don't see many gringos in these for a reason.
Moving to the Capital, ughh, got a depressive headache just contemplating it, good luck.:cross-eye
Be careful where you move to as a stranger for RD500 per month. In a decent furnished home that is going to be in a not so nice barrio. Unfurnished you could do it in a half decent zone. As you gain experience your price mark will come down. But the city is not a place to scrimp on when green on the place. Better money will buy better security. Maybe look at $800 for the first 6 months, at least.
But Fish is correct, you can live on whatever you want, rd5000 to rd50000 per month