I lived in Miami too before and like you say Pichardo there is good and bad parts like everywhere else, but for the cost of living SD wins hands down! Miami is toooooo expensive as a matter of fact the whole US in comparison to the DR is more expensive! I will be there in another few months to find a house, schools, and business opportunities and will be there permanently by Christmas! CAN'T WAIT.
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How modern is Santo Domingo and DR in general?
I lived in Miami too before and like you say Pichardo there is good and bad parts like everywhere else, but for the cost of living SD wins hands down! Miami is toooooo expensive as a matter of fact the whole US in comparison to the DR is more expensive! I will be there in another few months to find a house, schools, and business opportunities and will be there permanently by Christmas! CAN'T WAIT.
I disagree. I think for a similar lifestyle that I live in the U.S., the D.R. is not any cheaper.
To rent a 4 bedroom home with a pool, a 6 day a week maid, and a security guard from evening to morning in the US would cost you a small fortune! In the DR you could do the same for a little over $1300 dollars a month.
I know products like clothes and electronics are cheaper in the US but I don't mind paying a little more in the DR for that. Nothing is perfect in life.
Here we go again.... OP, If you are you looking for true advice on this comparison because an important decision may be made because of it-be care which advice you take. Although Pichardo presents beautiful pics and will show you all day long how any of the BAD in the DR is matched equally in any city worldwide. These examples and pics he shows have truth, but the reality is whether its crime, garbage on streets, etc etc etc. yes, it exists everywhere, but expect much more here than the cities you mention...
This might be very hard to do in decent areas of the capital-in my opinion. If I am wrong please show me example because i may be personally interested.
I lived in Aventura for a year. I feel safer in Santo Domingo. From Miami to Boca Raton you are only safe from the coast to the train tracks. Some of the similarities of Miami and SD are that if you are Wealthy you dont see the 90 percent of the rest of the city. Most people you meet are scam artists kind of the same in both places. The middle classes are conspicuous consumers lots of bling bling and shiny things they both live to wear someone elses brand name. Theres lots of Canucks in both places. The economies are similar ie tourism, agriculture and a small amount of manufacturing and white collar industry. They both have lots of what I call remora industries ie call centers, scam businesses. Florida nickel and dimes everyone with certification fees licensing fees ie bs taxes. The DR is a bit more aggressive with the customs and other fees but it is the same principal.
I personally like the DR more than So. Fla. I personally feel safer even though I cant carry a gun like I can in Fl. Buy once cry once, once you get a house and car the biggest expenses are gas and electricity.
The women are much hotter in Miami but they also cost alot more.
I personally like the DR more than So. Fla. I personally feel safer even though I cant carry a gun like I can in Fl. Buy once cry once, once you get a house and car the biggest expenses are gas and electricity.
The women are much hotter in Miami but they also cost alot more.
You're correct!
Maybe is time to renew/update the SD pictures???
LOL!!!!
I mean, a lot has taken place (new) in a little as 2 years since!
Oh, no!!!! I created a monster!!!!
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Mr. Expart13, I would say you are selling SD a bit short - all my friends speak or at least understand English and some of them speak more than one language. Also, none of them work in tourism.
Pichardo and Captcrunch - I've lived in Miami all my life - I do not know where do you guys hangout in both places but sounds like you guys need an upgrade in places to visit/dine/party. I must give it to you, South Beach and theiur mopets sucks!
Were the things I posted true or not? That's the question!
I wasn't posting on the better and refine places of Miami, which are a lot just like SD, but on the merits of some people trying to paint it as some picture perfect or overwhelmingly superior to SD. Both places share their bad traits, Miami has the upper hand based on the US economic power and development, but that's not a reason for them to put SD down as they tried.
I must agree
Life in any Metropolitan city is as expensive as in Miami and SD. Now, if anyone here would like affordable housing in the USA you must sacrifice- the good paying job in the metropolitan city and all the luxuries of one.
Life in any Metropolitan city is as expensive as in Miami and SD. Now, if anyone here would like affordable housing in the USA you must sacrifice- the good paying job in the metropolitan city and all the luxuries of one.
Sir – all those are true. Please understand I am not saying otherwise - what I am trying to portray is both cities have similar issues (not counting utilities...)
Now, if you did not have the mean$ to afford all the commodities you have in DR, you wouldn’t be so opinionated and would wish to be living here in the USA.
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IF one has the mean$$$$ with what to live [and at times one belongs to the correct political side], you can live anywhere- call it Santiago, Santo Domingo, Caracas, Panama, Bogota, or Buenos Aires.
Now, if you did not have the mean$ to afford all the commodities you have in DR, you wouldn’t be so opinionated and would wish to be living here in the USA.
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IF one has the mean$$$$ with what to live [and at times one belongs to the correct political side], you can live anywhere- call it Santiago, Santo Domingo, Caracas, Panama, Bogota, or Buenos Aires.
this is re the four bedroom with pool and full time maid and watchman for 1300 a month
i too, doubt it.
a modern two bedroom apartment goes for over $1000
a full time maid gets $300 to $400 and I would reckon an armed guard as well
not to mention the electricity and stuff for the pool.
However, you can get a nice two bedroom for $600 which is not possible anywhere in the States where I have ever lived.
You can get a cleaning woman for $25 a DAY which you cannot do in the US
You can get health insurance for $200 or less which you cannot do in the US
You can get the colmado, or the pharmacy, to deliver whatever you need almost 24.7
You can get to the beach or the mountains from the big city inside of two hours
You can get the cell phone number of your doctor
You can get the delivery guys from the grocery store to carry your bags home and up the stairs for a #1 tip
there are real advantages to living here... real advantages
but some real disadvantages as well
it would be so nice if we could have a truthful discussion of what they were
How modern are cities such as Santo Domingo and Santiago in comparison to Panama City, Miami, Rio de Janeiro, etc...? I mean in terms of streets, malls, condos, nightlife, hospitals, etc...
Santo Domingo has streets like Miami but they are in horrible condition with potholes and trash on them in many cases. There are malls with shopping about as good as Miami. There are beautiful condos an apartments in the downtown neighborhoods that can compare with Miami. Nightlife is pretty good but it is no Miami. The hospitals are ok but there are not as good as Miami. Santo Domingo is a step ahead of Santiago. It is like a second world city instead of a third world one. It is not as modern as a Miami but it has an awesome unique Spanish Caribbean feel to it that Miami does not have. Santo Domingo will have more modern conveniences than many American cities but not like Miami.
And I forgot...Crime is different in the cities you asked about.
Panama city is safer than Miami which is safer than Santo Domingo which is safer than Rio De Janeiro. Rio De Janeiro is one of the most dangerous places in the world. They ar eknown to kidnap and hold tourists for ransome. They have a murder rate that is many times higher than Santo DOmingo or Miami or Panama City.
Mr. Joe2DR, I see you quoted me from a post more than 2 years ago, so things may have changed "pocitooooo" but I still stand behind my comments to the most part. Panama has more of a "gringo english speaking presence" and unless you hang in the offices of the higher educated or very unique areas, you will not say alot (i didnt no) of english speakers or Gringos.... I have a handfull of english speaking Dominican friends as well but I also realize this does not represent the norm.