Living Costs in the Dominican Republic

DRob

Gold
Aug 15, 2007
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another thread that is re-cycled, 4 1/2 years old--what does that tell you?

Actually, this thread may be the best tool on the internet for helping someone figure their living expenses. If you're patient enough to go through the pages, every kind of lifestyle is reflected, from solar oven using hermits, to people enjoying "lifestyles of the rich and famous" type surroundings, and all points in between.
 
Apr 7, 2014
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Would 1500 USD a month be good now days to live fully in DR???

I say so. In my example you could get a clean 2br apartment in a really nice neighborhood Santiago for $175US/month in a duplex style high rise or single family style home also. Then using CC's electricity bill reduced for YOUR living needs, AC and constant power maybe you be in the $260. Then you d would want cable tv or satellite/internet and modest furnishings which would take up some money in the first few months. But not all of it. THen there is how much you can adapt to the local food and could you envision yourself eating it ALL the time. I cannot. So, an option there is to send yourself a tank or a barrel when you return Stateside. You can get a membership at Costco or BJs or SuperWalmart or whomever and load it up with $200 of food to send to yourself which, depending on how many people are living with you and your appetite, should go quite a ways.

Me? I can do the plato del dia for lunch no problem, even occasionally for breakfast. But I couldnt do that for dinner at all. I d have to have something different(and better).

So I could speculate you can live in Santiago comfortable for $1500 with a large reserve left if you didnt overdo your female company or night-life-ing.
 
Apr 7, 2014
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Yes I agree with Commander that Santiago could be ok, I was thinking NC and SD.

It would go even further in places like Laguna Salada, Salcedo and Moncion. Those type of places are real cheap for nice housing. But you will neee a couple of power strips and a Nook or a Kindle because power isnt that reliable so you ll need something to do in the downtime.
 

Luperon

Who empowered China's crime against humanity?
Jun 28, 2004
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Alright, so I am doing some meal planning and hope to start buying in bulk at Pricemart. Also, make and freeze a months worth of meals, the dinners anyways. Me have a new full time maid, so I am going to make it as easy for her as possible. We are a family of five, who spend way too much time eating and too much money on food. I've made a menu, bought everything, pre cooked and frozen everything I could, and left instruction for our new lady.





On the Menu, 10 days, M- F, for 3-4 adults, 1 teenager, 1 school aged child, and one toddler.

Chicken, Rice, Habichuelas
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Baked Pasta Dish with Garlic Bread
BBQ Chicken Wings with Fries
Homemade Pizza
Fish, Beans, and Rice
Whole Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Corn
Spaghetti and Garlic Cheesy Bread
Tacos
Cheeseburgers with Pickles and Chips

Above and beyond the items needs for the 10 dinners, I bought eggs, yogurt, bread, and fruit loops for breakfast. Plus, the maid will stop in the morning on her way here for fresh fruits for breakfast, and veggies for dinner. I am giving her RD$100 per day. Lunches will be school lunches, leftover, and sandwich stuff. I'll probably have to get some more eggs and bread. Weekends are open at the moment, probably BBQ or restaurants.


Purchased at Super Pola in Sosua

Product Amount DOP USD (44.5)

Hamburger 8lb 744$16.72
Ground Pork2.67lb 371.13$8.34
Whole Chicken24 LB 422.54$9.50
Chicken Thigh/Leg2Package/ 4250.58$5.63
Chicken Drummies2Package/ 11318.2$7.15
Chicken Wings2package/ 11293.16$6.59
Fish Whole or Fillet 2.07lb 184.23$4.14
Pork Tenderloin 3.06Lb 486.54$10.93
Pepperoni Slices11Bag 171 $3.84
Sliced Ham2Package .5lb174 $3.91
Sliced Turkey2Package .5lb174 $3.91
Sliced Meat2Package .5lb184 $4.13
Eggs 1 2 Dozen Pkg214 $4.81
Speghetti 2Bag 182 $4.09
Spiral Noodles1Bag 69.95 $1.57
Rigatoni 1Bag 69.95 $1.57
Potatoes 14lb bag 141.44 $3.18
Red Beans Bag 199.9 $4.49
Taco Shells 2Bag of 8 164 $3.69
Chips 2Bag 282 $6.34
Hamburger Buns16Each 227.2 $5.11
Pizza Crust6Each 539.7 $12.13
Sandwich Bread1Loves 109.95 $2.47
Pasta Sauce (Huntz) 4Cans 408 $9.17
Diced Tomatoes4Cans 339.8 $7.64
Corn 2Cans 117.9 $2.65
BBQ Sauce2Bottle 195.9 $4.40
Taco Seasoning2Packets 125.9 $2.83
Sour Cream1Can 135 $3.03
Salsa 1 Can 170 $3.82
Mozarella 2.41lb 445.85 $10.02
Cheddar 4.74lb 924.3 $20.77
Milk 2 Cases/ 12 L 1258 $28.27
Butter 1Stick 48 $1.08
Fruit Loops4Boxes 380 $8.54
Yougurt (flavor)3Bottles 387 $8.70
pancake mix1box 135 $3.03
Crackers 1Boxes 69 $1.55
Peanut Butter1Jar 139 $3.12
frito lay 1Bag 175 $3.93
Jelly 1Jar 95 $2.13
Oreos 1Package 119 $2.67
Doritos 1Bag 125 $2.81
Toilet Paper4x4 319.8 $7.19
Bleach 2 149.9$3.37
Mistolin 1 199 $4.47
Coffee 3lbs 657 $14.76
2.5 L Coke 4Bottles 260 $5.84
Juice Concentrate1Bottles 380 $8.54
Fanta 3 195 $4.38
Anejo 1.751 919 $20.65
Presedente1 90 $2.02 (Got thirsty shopping!)




DOP USD
Sub Total 14935.82 $335.64
On sale -785 -$17.64
ITBIS 943 $21.19
Total 15093.82 $339.19



I'm going to try to do the same plan again for a month, and buy everything at Pricemart and compare. Some things I see already is to prepare my own pasta sauce and diced tomatoes. The accuracy above may be a few pesos off either way, my spreadsheet doesn't exactly line up with the receipt, but it's within 200 pesos.
Drsix? Family of five? You dropped the mistress?
 

dv8

Gold
Sep 27, 2006
31,262
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another thread that is re-cycled, 4 1/2 years old--what does that tell you?

if only you could put some effort into posting and checked few pages BEFORE making such comment you'd be able to see this thread has been going on and off since it was started in 2011, with constant updates and the discussion being very much alive and up to date.

DV8, oops on that dislike. Fat thumb, iPad mini.

no worries :)
 

william webster

Rest In Peace WW
Jan 16, 2009
30,246
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Isn't that what 'Stickies' are all about ?

this is a good thread for those who are looking for answers and for budget makers.
 

Mauricio

Gold
Nov 18, 2002
5,607
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38
Life is getting more and more expensive here. Our approximate monthly costs as per may 2015 (family of 6):

Housing: RD$40,000 (mortgage plus maintenance fee of the residencial)
Groceries: RD$45,000
Live in maid: RD$11,000
Laundry woman: RD$6,000
Fuel: RD$16,000
Gas (cooking): RD$2,000
Health insurance: RD$19,000
Medicines / doctor visits: RD$5,000
Clothing: RD$5,000
School: RD$30,000
Extra curricular activities (swimming, english, soccer, music etc): RD$20,000
Eat out: RD$10,000
Take out: RD$5,000
Trips (as small as a day to the beach to a yearly long weekend in a resort or so): RD$10,000
Salon: RD$4,000
Telephone / Internet / TV: RD$10,000
Electricity: RD$9,000

About RD$250,000 = almost USD6,000

No money saved, no pension plans, no big trips to Europe every so many years and no giving etc. included. To be able to do that, add another USD1,000.
 

jakkrk

Newbie
Jun 2, 2015
10
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My wife and I are thinking of the DR as a retiring spot. Im only 45 now, so I have some time to look into everything. She was wanting to 'possibly' make the move at 55. We'll see. :)
 

bob saunders

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
33,704
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dr1.com
Life is getting more and more expensive here. Our approximate monthly costs as per may 2015 (family of 6):

Housing: RD$40,000 (mortgage plus maintenance fee of the residencial)
Groceries: RD$45,000
Live in maid: RD$11,000
Laundry woman: RD$6,000
Fuel: RD$16,000
Gas (cooking): RD$2,000
Health insurance: RD$19,000
Medicines / doctor visits: RD$5,000
Clothing: RD$5,000
School: RD$30,000
Extra curricular activities (swimming, english, soccer, music etc): RD$20,000
Eat out: RD$10,000
Take out: RD$5,000
Trips (as small as a day to the beach to a yearly long weekend in a resort or so): RD$10,000
Salon: RD$4,000
Telephone / Internet / TV: RD$10,000
Electricity: RD$9,000

About RD$250,000 = almost USD6,000

No money saved, no pension plans, no big trips to Europe every so many years and no giving etc. included. To be able to do that, add another USD1,000.

Why can't your maid do laundry. Pretty expensive medical insurance. 4000 - that's a lot of salon visits or high priced ones.
 

rfp

Gold
Jul 5, 2010
1,402
137
63
Life is getting more and more expensive here. Our approximate monthly costs as per may 2015 (family of 6):

Housing: RD$40,000 (mortgage plus maintenance fee of the residencial)
Groceries: RD$45,000
Live in maid: RD$11,000
Laundry woman: RD$6,000
Fuel: RD$16,000
Gas (cooking): RD$2,000
Health insurance: RD$19,000
Medicines / doctor visits: RD$5,000
Clothing: RD$5,000
School: RD$30,000
Extra curricular activities (swimming, english, soccer, music etc): RD$20,000
Eat out: RD$10,000
Take out: RD$5,000
Trips (as small as a day to the beach to a yearly long weekend in a resort or so): RD$10,000
Salon: RD$4,000
Telephone / Internet / TV: RD$10,000
Electricity: RD$9,000

About RD$250,000 = almost USD6,000

No money saved, no pension plans, no big trips to Europe every so many years and no giving etc. included. To be able to do that, add another USD1,000.

Looks about right to me !!

We have only one kid, have lower insurance, no laundry woman and have no mortgage and are at around 4 k. We also spend less on groceries but definitley eat out more. Home is Florida so we can get there on points pretty easily.

If you value your children and their opportunities, level of life etc then SD is not cheap !!