Just so that you think twice before you take a boat here, here are the latest on the Dominican front. DR is still a paradise for tourism, but living here is another story. Bring lots of cash, otherwise join the Salvation Army:
1)Rent in a decent neighborhood and apartment or house is over US$1000 dollars, and I mean dollars. Most places do not welcome pesos anymore. Anything below that and you have to ignore people dry-hanging their clothes in your own balcony and screaming maids having sex with guards and a colmadon playing bachata all night long with 5000 watts music systems. Also sell your jewerly.
2)Your basic new Honda Civic will cost you over US$22,000 and up here. Your basic Jaguar over US$70,000. License plates are US$60, insurance as expensive as New York, original auto parts cost twice as much and the hourly rate at your dealers repair shop is over US$40. Gasoline is at an all-time high US$2.25 and is low octane. A car is as costly as a home and has more expenses.
Accidents are almost unavoidable if you drive on a daily basis. Parking is almost non-existent where you want to go. 99% of apartments have no guest parking. If you drive any day and avoid at least 1 pot hole, play the Lotto 6. Your chances for the day are good.
3)Phone bills just went up again and will keep rising until only the very rich can call. The most expensive communications in the world. You are even charged for calls made to countries you have never heard of. Phone cards are a rip-off. Cellular bills are as bad as your credit card bill. If you get a bill for under US$50 without long distance consider yourself lucky. If you have internet start selling diamonds.
4)Electricity: DR electric bills are considered among the highest in the world, except you pay for blackouts in addition. Our electric meters are worse than machine slots in Las Vegas. They have a roulette for a measuring device. Some people with just basic electric appliances pay as much as their rent or mortgage for electricity.
5)Food: Since you are not expected to eat platanos, yuca, yautia and salami, most imports are as expensive as in the U.S. 8oz. Dannon Yougurt is US$1.25. A 20oz plastic bpttle of Coke is US0.60 cents.
6)Restaurants:Fine restaurants are very expensive since they charge you 22% up front for taxes and you are still expected to tip. Restaurant decor and ambiance exceeds food quality. In addition you have to pay for your car security and deal with buscones and beggars.
7)Clothing is cheaper here. Yet fine clothes are just as expensive as in US. 12% sales tax added. Counterfeit clothing is everywhere, except U.S. name branches. Laundering is expensive for people earning in pesos.
8)Shopping for an apartment in Santo Domingo? Even in ghetto areas like Alma Rosa, Carretera Mella, Charles de Gaulle new apartments are going for over US$45,000. And these are cheaply constructed with cheap pine doors and useless door locks and handles. The floors are cheap granite or ceramic which crack easily. Kitchens have no appliances included and most have no water heaters. Parking is ususally outdoors and unsafe. Any nice apartment in a better neighborhood would easily go over US70,000. Houses cost 3 or 4 times as much but are a security nightmare. You must invest in high concrete fencing and or window and door iron bars for protection. No house or apartment is provided with this protection and a house without it is as bad as sleeping in the middle of a Harlem sidewalk. Air conditioning will eat up a good part of you salary in electric bills, installation and maintenance.
9)Schooling: Must go to private schools. Public schools are for educating thieves and tigueres. Private schools are expensive and they have a nasty habit of changing books and uniforms every year. Add to it trips and many other gimmicks they use to raise money. Education is below average in most schools. English schools are even more expensive. Some are in the $US20,000 range.
10)Water must pe bought even for showering. Dominican water meters move with wind!! Bottled water is a must for drinking. Water bills keep going up. In most places there is no water pressure, so you must use pumps to bring it up.
Still want to move???? P.S. Salaries are very low and in pesos and you are expected to be a slave.
TW
1)Rent in a decent neighborhood and apartment or house is over US$1000 dollars, and I mean dollars. Most places do not welcome pesos anymore. Anything below that and you have to ignore people dry-hanging their clothes in your own balcony and screaming maids having sex with guards and a colmadon playing bachata all night long with 5000 watts music systems. Also sell your jewerly.
2)Your basic new Honda Civic will cost you over US$22,000 and up here. Your basic Jaguar over US$70,000. License plates are US$60, insurance as expensive as New York, original auto parts cost twice as much and the hourly rate at your dealers repair shop is over US$40. Gasoline is at an all-time high US$2.25 and is low octane. A car is as costly as a home and has more expenses.
Accidents are almost unavoidable if you drive on a daily basis. Parking is almost non-existent where you want to go. 99% of apartments have no guest parking. If you drive any day and avoid at least 1 pot hole, play the Lotto 6. Your chances for the day are good.
3)Phone bills just went up again and will keep rising until only the very rich can call. The most expensive communications in the world. You are even charged for calls made to countries you have never heard of. Phone cards are a rip-off. Cellular bills are as bad as your credit card bill. If you get a bill for under US$50 without long distance consider yourself lucky. If you have internet start selling diamonds.
4)Electricity: DR electric bills are considered among the highest in the world, except you pay for blackouts in addition. Our electric meters are worse than machine slots in Las Vegas. They have a roulette for a measuring device. Some people with just basic electric appliances pay as much as their rent or mortgage for electricity.
5)Food: Since you are not expected to eat platanos, yuca, yautia and salami, most imports are as expensive as in the U.S. 8oz. Dannon Yougurt is US$1.25. A 20oz plastic bpttle of Coke is US0.60 cents.
6)Restaurants:Fine restaurants are very expensive since they charge you 22% up front for taxes and you are still expected to tip. Restaurant decor and ambiance exceeds food quality. In addition you have to pay for your car security and deal with buscones and beggars.
7)Clothing is cheaper here. Yet fine clothes are just as expensive as in US. 12% sales tax added. Counterfeit clothing is everywhere, except U.S. name branches. Laundering is expensive for people earning in pesos.
8)Shopping for an apartment in Santo Domingo? Even in ghetto areas like Alma Rosa, Carretera Mella, Charles de Gaulle new apartments are going for over US$45,000. And these are cheaply constructed with cheap pine doors and useless door locks and handles. The floors are cheap granite or ceramic which crack easily. Kitchens have no appliances included and most have no water heaters. Parking is ususally outdoors and unsafe. Any nice apartment in a better neighborhood would easily go over US70,000. Houses cost 3 or 4 times as much but are a security nightmare. You must invest in high concrete fencing and or window and door iron bars for protection. No house or apartment is provided with this protection and a house without it is as bad as sleeping in the middle of a Harlem sidewalk. Air conditioning will eat up a good part of you salary in electric bills, installation and maintenance.
9)Schooling: Must go to private schools. Public schools are for educating thieves and tigueres. Private schools are expensive and they have a nasty habit of changing books and uniforms every year. Add to it trips and many other gimmicks they use to raise money. Education is below average in most schools. English schools are even more expensive. Some are in the $US20,000 range.
10)Water must pe bought even for showering. Dominican water meters move with wind!! Bottled water is a must for drinking. Water bills keep going up. In most places there is no water pressure, so you must use pumps to bring it up.
Still want to move???? P.S. Salaries are very low and in pesos and you are expected to be a slave.
TW