Living Costs in the Dominican Republic

Robert

Stay Frosty!
Jan 2, 1999
20,574
341
83
dr1.com
Lets see if we can keep this up to date and that it becomes a good bench mark for those planning to live here.

Feel free to ad your own basic expenses or info on what you are currently paying for services, items, food, rent, utilities etc.

e.g.

Codetel DSL - 1.5mb down / 512k up -
Including basic phone line with 400 local mins.
RD$3,385 (including 28% tax)
 

Major448

Silver
Sep 8, 2010
2,645
108
63
Here is a resource that I posted a while back. It may not be completely accurate (eg:not sure of the dates, sources), but at least it gives some ideas to start with.

Comparison with other cities (blank form):
Cost Of Living Comparison

Comparison (filled in) of NYC vs Santo Domingo
Cost Of Living Comparison Between New York, NY, United States And Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic


And this is what that site has for select cities in the DR:

Santo Domingo
Santiago
Jarabacoa
Dominican Republic - Average


Hope it helps.
.
 

dwightbz

New member
Oct 15, 2006
7
2
3
I think everyone on here is capable of going online and looking up published data. Hearing from those living in the Dominican Republic is a lot better than 2-5 year old statistics.
 

dulce

Silver
Jan 1, 2002
2,524
211
63
It would be helpful to newbies for people to write the costs in pesos and the conversion in dollars. Not all newbies/wannabe newbies are familar with the converstions yet.
Sorry, I have no useful numbers right now because I haven't lived there for such a long time. I do like to keep up with REAL costs of living from people actually living there by reading DR1. That way if I get a chance to move back to the RD I will have a resonable idea of what to expect.
 

cobraboy

Pro-Bono Demolition Hobbyist
Jul 24, 2004
40,964
936
113
Rent, nice 3/2 apt. or house in a good area away from Santo Domingo and tourist areas, RD$18,000.
 

Patron

Member
Mar 17, 2010
90
12
8
Rent in Santiago:

2 or 3 bedroom apartment: 8,000 ($210 us dollars)
3 bedroom house in nice area: 15,000 ($400 us dollars)
 

Patron

Member
Mar 17, 2010
90
12
8
Orange Cell Phone with 75 minutes and 20 text messages 495 pesos (13.25 us dollars)

Dominican Lunch: Rice , Beans, Meat and Salad 100 pesos (2.70 us dollars)

Transportation:
Concho/Publico in Santiago 15 pesos (.40 us dollars)
Taxi in Santiago 120 pesos to 200 pesos (3.20 to 5.35 us dollars)
Metro Bus to Sosua 200 pesos (5.35 us dollars)
Metro Bus to Santo Domingo 300 pesos (8 us dollars)
 

Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
18,948
514
113
After latest price hike a 100 lb tank of propane is 2210 DOP or $58.50 at best exchange rates.

Small pizza with pepperoni at Macao Grill is 180 DOP or $4.76 Feeds one or two..

Coffee is 116 DOP for 12 small bags, good for many small cups each. About $3.00.

In fact, most things are more expensive here than in the US. But you can make do..

HB
 

mountainannie

Platinum
Dec 11, 2003
16,350
1,358
113
elizabetheames.blogspot.com
Peso is at 37 to one US dollar

1.13 ground chuck 100.13
30 eggs 128.95
can of red beans 39.95
red onion 19.15

phone, internet (ample calls to the US, basic internet) 2136.
electric (2.1 bedroom, ac off) 1230.

dinner for one, Cappucinos, high mid range restaurant, steak, 2 wine, gelato, cappucino, $1000

plato del dia.. 100

rent,

available apartment in condo building, three bedrooms plus maids, balcony, one block from Malecon, Gazcue, walk to everything, third floor $27,000 Unfurnished
(rent controlled after first lease expiration)
maintenance cost on apartment (water, garbage, common electric, cleaning) 1500

taxi Gazcue to Naco $180

movie ticket $250

high end health club in Hotel Melia with pool, sauna, steam room, weight training, treadmills, $10,000 to join, $1800 a month

maid, twice a week, $7000
 

DMV123

Bronze
Mar 31, 2010
1,211
114
0
Viva Interjet Internet - 1,811 RD

2 liter Diet Pepsi - 54 RD

5 gallon drinking water - 39 RD

Becel margarine - 119 RD

2 bedroom, 1 bath unfurnished apt Puerto Plata - 8,000 RD

Cable TV - 500 RD

Bribe to Police to arrest individual - 600 RD each (2 of them)

8" blocks, 100 count - 1,800 RD

Man's socks - 84 RD
 

yanandu

Banned
Jan 23, 2011
472
9
0
Greengrocery:
1lb broccoli.
1 large grapefruit.
8 banana about 2 lb.

70 pesos 1.86 dollars.

Fillet of fish frozen mero (cod ) 80 pesos lb. 2.133 dollars.
Approx 6 oz /portion.

Campo chicken whole 48 pesos a lb 1.28 dollars.

70 cl. imported Scotch branded whiskey 455 pesos 12. 1 dollars.

Litre milk whole longlife pack 40 pesos 1.06 dollars.

Rice various qualities 15 -21 pesos lb. 40 c - 56 c.

Carrot 20 pesos lb 53 c.

Fresh prawn head on - good quality not frozen.

190 pesos lb 5 dollars lb.

Lobster whole from fishmarket

230 pesos lb 6.1 dollars lb.

Eggs fresh small 90 pesos for 30 2.4 dollars

Today's prices.

Does this help anybody.

Yanandu.
 

Anastacio

Banned
Feb 22, 2010
2,965
235
0
I bedroomed modern apartment in Bavaro, well furnished with 24/7 electricity and security guard and communal pool, 100 Mtr to beach, $350us per month, average electricity bill not using A/C, but fans 24/7 and heavy washing machine use RD$1,600 monthly, cable with 56 channels $RD500 Monthly. No need for an agent, just ask the security to the properties.
2 bedroomed 2 bath apartment, same as above $450us.
Taxi, bavaro to airport RD$1000.
Taxi, Santo Domingo to Bavaro, RD$5000 with Anacaona Taxis.
Taxi, anywhere in the capital between RD$150 and RD$200.
 

yanandu

Banned
Jan 23, 2011
472
9
0
Rentals will vary for one person anything from 6,000 up. Electricity is expensive in the DR and lightweight clothing may be a good investment for everyday wear as washing is less expensive.
Yanandu.
 

Anastacio

Banned
Feb 22, 2010
2,965
235
0
I think if people are going to list rental prices then you have to state where.
Putting rentals for one person are from RD$6,000 is about as much help as a blind guide dog.
 

yanandu

Banned
Jan 23, 2011
472
9
0
I think if people are going to list rental prices then you have to state where.
Putting rentals for one person are from RD$6,000 is about as much help as a blind guide dog.

Maybe. 6000 - 8000 is the range I have seen in Las Terrenas for one person in a studio or 1 bed.
Quite nice and suitable for someone looking round for 6 months or so expecting to buy.

Price of a permanent apartment could start at 60,000 dollars and up.



Yanandu.
 

IBNYSD

New member
Aug 12, 2009
36
0
0
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Great post…thanks.
Chip the “Living in the DR is cheap” post was a great comparison for me.
What do you guys think of electronics, furniture, clothing etc? What I see are higher prices and not speaking of the tourist areas. I’m talking Mega Central. Now I understand most items are imported. What are your thoughts?
 

yanandu

Banned
Jan 23, 2011
472
9
0
Small electronics under 200 dollars can be imported e.g. 20 inch TV 99 dollars plus 6 lbs of freight 30 dollars.
Ditto music centre etc. There are second hand bargains to be had. For 10,000 pesos I bought stereo amplifier with 15 inch driver speakers.

Local furniture is normally solid wood and not expensive in comparison with US.
You might go for local style, cane, bent wood eco -friendly.

In the capital Jeans Levis, etc are much below US prices but shopping takes some time.
You can import tropical clothing eg ex-officio lightweight trousers through Amazon / CPS.
They don't weigh much so you end up with US discount prices.
Crocs are good shoes for the country except for special occasions when good polished leather shoes are a must. These might be 1000 pesos 30 dollars and up in the capital.
Motor-cycles start at 800 dollars new. Bicycle 200 dollars budget for minimum mountain bike.

Many people shop every second day so a 6000 peso new fridge is adequate. 162 dollars. Others have an ice machine or buy ice and use a coolbox.

A cooker - basic gas may be 6000 pesos -but many people use a double ring and a solar oven.

Yanandu