cost of living
BrianK, one other thing I'd like to add (and apologies in advance for appearing negative, as on occasion providers of info. and advice on this forum have been criticized for) but the cost of living here is not necessarily as low as people are led to believe.
It certainly can be, if you base yourself in an apartment for example where electricity and security are already factored into your monthly rent, but people often make the mistake of underestimating these costs - plus the real cost of some food and drink here.
If you eat chicken and rice as do the Dominicans and drink rum, you can get away with an inexpensive monthly grocery bill. If you want the 'comforts of home" and buy imported items, then you will find your grocery bill to be perhaps even more than your homeland. It should not put you off coming here, it's a great place to live, it's just that some things cost up to 5x what you might pay in Canada, the USA and the UK, like electricity for example.
all the best, Clare