- Thread starter Robert
- Start date
Living Costs in the Dominican Republic
WHERE'S THE LOVE, PEOPLE????? I'm tired of D.R. bashing, I'm even more tired of U.S. bashing! Let's keep to the point of the thread ... cost of living in the D.R. It might even be interesting for a change for people to be positive rather than negative! One can say something is good without saying something else is bad as a comparison.
How about we try to continue, with this person knowing that I will be more attentive from now on...???
Santiago: Large 12 piece pizza 1 topping RD$450 another one, same size, cheese, RD$100!!! 2 Personal Pizza + a Coke for RD$100.
PM me for the "where" ....
PAPA HB
Santiago: Large 12 piece pizza 1 topping RD$450 another one, same size, cheese, RD$100!!! 2 Personal Pizza + a Coke for RD$100.
PM me for the "where" ....
PAPA HB
H! First time writing, so please be kind.
I have been reading this forum for the last few months, and I find it hard to believe that the consensus seems to be that the cost of living in the DR is around $1500 per month. I live in Chicago, and I spend around $1700 per month, and that includes over $400 just for my car. Granted, I do not have a mortgage, but I don't believe it could be more expensive there than here.
I am planning to move to the DR in a few years when I retire. My intention is to live in Sosua, pay cash for my residence and not own a car. I have been told by people whom I have met when I have been down there that I should be able to live for about $1000 per month, if I figured to eat out about twice per week.
Do you think I am way out of line?
I have been reading this forum for the last few months, and I find it hard to believe that the consensus seems to be that the cost of living in the DR is around $1500 per month. I live in Chicago, and I spend around $1700 per month, and that includes over $400 just for my car. Granted, I do not have a mortgage, but I don't believe it could be more expensive there than here.
I am planning to move to the DR in a few years when I retire. My intention is to live in Sosua, pay cash for my residence and not own a car. I have been told by people whom I have met when I have been down there that I should be able to live for about $1000 per month, if I figured to eat out about twice per week.
Do you think I am way out of line?
boca chica
1 bedroom 1yr old apartment 1 block from beach $380 (14,000 pesos), fully furnished including dishes pots pans etc.
all utilities included, electric, gas, water cable wi-fi, full size washer on roof. canadian owners speak english (important).
will charge me only $270 (10,000 pesos) to hold it for me while i am in the states.
am keeping it year around as i travel here often.
can get by on around 700 to 800 pesos per day, cook most of my own meals, this includes most everything including travel to santo domingo twice a week. have a girlfriend in andres and a separate budget for her about $300 per month.
other chicas increase my daily or monthly expenses dramatically at times.
1 bedroom 1yr old apartment 1 block from beach $380 (14,000 pesos), fully furnished including dishes pots pans etc.
all utilities included, electric, gas, water cable wi-fi, full size washer on roof. canadian owners speak english (important).
will charge me only $270 (10,000 pesos) to hold it for me while i am in the states.
am keeping it year around as i travel here often.
can get by on around 700 to 800 pesos per day, cook most of my own meals, this includes most everything including travel to santo domingo twice a week. have a girlfriend in andres and a separate budget for her about $300 per month.
other chicas increase my daily or monthly expenses dramatically at times.
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I don't think you are way out of line. You could live in Sosua (a higher priced expat/tourist area) on $1000 per month, and owning your own house. Not having to pay for housing will help a bit. And, others that you have talked to have said it's possible, right??
However, they said you could "live" on $1000 per month. What else would you want to do in addition to just "living"? What "lifestyle" do you anticipate having? There may be things you want/need to do ... that will cost money.
I would add that for your first year, you may want to consider renting instead of buying ... for many reasons. That puts you back into the $1500 range during that first year, with an expectation of possible lower costs the following year.
How good is your Spanish ... will you have "local" connections to help you (not take advantage of you) ... after a year in Sosua, are you open to living in a more Dominican location? These are just some of the things that need to be accounted for. Also, how about healthcare/insuarnce (Medicare is not available in the DR).
I think you can do it. But ultimately, only you can determine what it will cost you. I would rather err on the high side and have a safety net.
:smoke:
I personally think it is difficult to advise someone on how much they need to live here. Everybody has a different lifestyle and what $1500 can do for me may not get it for someone else. You must be prepared for anything that may come your way. Medical emergencies for one could literally wipe someone out financially. I count myself lucky I do not have rent to pay but the other expenses add up quickly. Granted there is a difference between the USA and Dominican Republic but I think the same rule applies (maybe even more so here in the Dominican Republic) be prepared. Costs it seems also differ from where on the island you live. I had a friend from back East who was thinking of moving here. He came on vacation with his girlfriend. I told him spend a day going to the supermarkets, plaza's to get a idea of how much food can cost or even just basic necisities of daily life. They are from Boston and even they were a bit surprised at the cost of somethings. I do not believe anyone is being negative in their advice about moving here but rather trying to say you need to be realistic about your needs.
Thank you for your reply.
My intention is not to buy immediately, because there is always the possibility that I will decide that it is not the right decision for the long run. I realize that that will increase my expenses in the beginning, but I will also have the money that I would have spent on a condo in some type of money making investment for that period.
My Spanish is limited, hence my feeling that Sosua is a good place for me. My understanding regarding health insurance is that I can get some kind of policy for $100-$150 USD per month. And as far as living in a different location after a year, who can say?
I am really quite preliminary at this time. Just "getting my ducks in a row".
Seems like you are taking the right approach. And I wish you success with your plans. If you can find a way to spend a month (or two) in country before the final move, you should be able to get all the info that you need to be successful. Also, start now to brush up on Spanish. It does come in handy (in so many ways) when you live in a Spanish speaking country. (Yes, you can do it!!)
Best of luck!!
I dont really give a Hootie and the Blowfish for Zabars. I dont even know what it is. Maybe it is one of them sugar free diabetic Candy bars?
This is a great budget for someone who sits alone all day and night in a dirt floor shack watching a small television connected to "rabbit ear" antenna with no cable, telephone, AC or internet. Of course to maintain that budget you'd also require an outdoor pit in which you'd burn goat chips and yam peelings to cook over. For a change of diet you could always take the safety pin off the hole in your pants and fasten it to some telephone wire and half a broomstick you found while dumpster diving and go fishing.
You could also replace that single bulb in the lamp which is affixed to a dangling cord in the middle of your shack with a nice new LED bulb which will cut your power consumption by a third and not need replacement until 2022 by which time you will have slit your wrists long ago.
This may or may not make sense after what has been said
Besides the fact that I think you should rethink your final destination, you have to understand the "quality of life"issues.
Since you seem to be anxious to learn, look around these pages for things like health services, hospitals and so forth. Towards the end of one's life they get to be more important than the beach or "other" things.
While "Margaritaville" might work for Jimmy Buffet, it gets boring after a while. You need more than bars, hos, and disgruntled, sunburned, wrinkled up old ex-pats, who repeat the same old war stories time after time.
Also, if you are at all "cooth" you will be able to integrate somewhat into the Dominican society in larger, more cosmopolitan cities like Santiago, La Vega or San Francisco de Macoris. And cities like Mao, Moca, Salcedo, Jarabacoa have a lot going for them. In such a situation you would be invited to weddings and birthdays and other social events and meet real, every day people.
Just some thoughts..
Besides the fact that I think you should rethink your final destination, you have to understand the "quality of life"issues.
Since you seem to be anxious to learn, look around these pages for things like health services, hospitals and so forth. Towards the end of one's life they get to be more important than the beach or "other" things.
While "Margaritaville" might work for Jimmy Buffet, it gets boring after a while. You need more than bars, hos, and disgruntled, sunburned, wrinkled up old ex-pats, who repeat the same old war stories time after time.
Also, if you are at all "cooth" you will be able to integrate somewhat into the Dominican society in larger, more cosmopolitan cities like Santiago, La Vega or San Francisco de Macoris. And cities like Mao, Moca, Salcedo, Jarabacoa have a lot going for them. In such a situation you would be invited to weddings and birthdays and other social events and meet real, every day people.
Just some thoughts..
I,DID NOT, Move To The DR to Reduce My "CARBON FOOTPRINT"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I moved here to fulfill a more "BASIC need!" :bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny::lick::lick::lick::lick::lick::lick::lick:
Now,after 25 years,that "NEED" has been satisfied.Or maybe I reached the, 10,000"limit!"
Tell us what it cost you or you are off topic...and you know what that means!!! "CLICK on the DELETE button"
Come on guys and gals: contribute, don't flame or whine...
I moved here to fulfill a more "BASIC need!" :bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny::lick::lick::lick::lick::lick::lick::lick:
Now,after 25 years,that "NEED" has been satisfied.Or maybe I reached the, 10,000"limit!"
Tell us what it cost you or you are off topic...and you know what that means!!! "CLICK on the DELETE button"
Come on guys and gals: contribute, don't flame or whine...
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When you budget your expenses do you also include the cost of trips back home? I still have family in the US (parents, brother) and of course I go to visit. Depending on the time of the year I travel the trip home (Midwest) can set me back $600+.