Not sure this was the right place for this. I saw the sticky on cost of living, but this is more about ways to save money and not what anything actually costs.
Just a few tips for some folks that might be looking to save some money or wondering why they're not saving as much as they thought they would when they moved here. If you are just living it up and not looking to save money this wont' be for you.
1. If you rent, re-negotiate it. And never pay an up-charge after just one year (or whatever your term is). First, don't let your landlord tell you when it is time to renew the lease that he wants more moeny. There is too much competition for renters. You might pay him the same if you like the place but don't pay more. After a few years in one place, maybe, but not year after year. Also, try negotiating it lower yourself. Rents drop around here often. Last time we were set to renew ours we were paying $725. The landlord said he wanted to put $800 on the new lease. I told him we have a big problem because I don't want to pay $725 again, much less $800. I told him we could get a similar place for $550 now since rents have come down. He said OK, he'll keep it at $725. I said OK, we'll be moving. He came back the next day and offered it at $600 and we accepted.
2. Don't shop where the tourists shop. For example don't buy all your groceries at Playero. You may get some stuff there that you can't find everywhere else but how many locals do you see shopping there when they aren't with an Expat/tourist. There is a reason for that. You may not find everything you are looking for but if you head over to Associacion in Charamicos or to any of the fruit stores over there you will find stuff cheaper. Playero is only going to be cheaper if they have a special "oferta".
3. Walk away when you are negotiating a price. If you walk away they will be forced to sell you at the price you want or they will lose your business. If they don't meet your price maybe you are a bit off on how you value the item. No worries, if you want it go to someone else selling the same thing and use the same technique but be willing to pay a little more. By the way this technique also helps them to meet your price much faster the next time once they start to know who you are and know you will leave and not buy.
4. Cut back on tips. It is not normal to tip your barber here. It is normal to tip at bars and restaurants but not 25, 20, 18 or even 15 percent. 10 percent is normal. Of course if you really like someone's service do what you want. I'm just pointing out that the tip expectations here are much different than they probably are where you are from. Also some restaurants here do include the tip. Most don't but a few more start doing it every now and then. So before you tip make sure it isn't included.
5. Read your bills. Every bill. They can be wrong. Here it happens more due to less education and less technology. Sometimes it may be intentional but it is usually just a mistake. Check it carefully. And don't get irate and start yelling like a maniac right away. Give them a chance to fix it. A couple of weeks ago a really laid into a restaurant owner that tried to rip me off but that was after I explained the problem with the bill first and gave him a chance to fix it. He just played stupid so I let him have it. I only do that after I know you are trying to play me.
6. Get Vonage or Magic Jack or something like that or even Skype if you want to call out of the country a lot. If you need to receive calls you can have Vonage forward to your Dominican cell phone and nobody will know. That is important for me for work reasons. If you want to make local calls a Dominican cell phone will be cheaper. A foreign cell phone will pay roaming charges.
7. Use the public taxi or the guagua if you can take the crowd. A public taxi to Puerto Plata is $45 pesos. You would spend more on gas for your car. And if you don't like sitting four to the back seat of a small sedan you can pay for two seats and have more room. If you travel with a friend you can split the cost of the extra empty seat. The cab driver is happy as long as he has four fares for the back seat, he doesn't care if he has four bodies.
8. Get health insurance if you don't have it. Dominican health insurance is cheap and covers a lot. OK doctors here are cheap too compared to what we are used to but the nickels and dimes can add up. You don't even have to have residency to be covered. Mine is about $14,000 pesos for the whole year. If I got to the doctor I only pay $300 pesos not $1,000. If I need blood work, x-rays, whatever it is almost always free or at most I may pay $200 pesos. Actually I hardly never go to the doctor so I'm losing money on this deal for now but I figure I need it in case something big happens. Also if you don't have it and end up getting cancer or heart disease or something some day you won't be able to get coverage for it then. IMG also offers nice international insurance plans that work here. It is a bit more costly. That is what I had when I first moved to the country and was paying $1,200 dollars per year for it. When you need the insurance you'll be sorry if you don't have it.
9. If you are out drinking get the big beer. Get a glass if you need to. If you worry about it getting warm ask the bartender to put it on ice, it won't be a problem. If you are just going to buy two small ones anyway why not buy one big one. It's about 2 ounces difference. The cost for two small ones may be $160 pesos but one big one is just $90 or $100. It's not much but if you are drinking enough it adds up. I don't pay any attention to this one myself. You have to drink a lot for this to make a real difference but if you are one of those who puts back 6 - 12 a night six times a week then this might add up to a nice steak dinner.
10. Hit the classifieds. Some of the prices that some people want are ridiculous but you will see many good things there and may even be able to trade some stuff.
11. Ask your Dominican friends. If you don't have any, just ask workers at the restaurant you frequent or whatever. It's good to ask the other expats, especially those that have lived here for a long time but asking a Dominican is a good way to find where something is cheaper and how much you should honestly expect to pay. Again, it should be someone you know fairly well and never follow them to "I have the guy for you". In other words don't let them think they can somehow profit from the question. My Dominican friends always find me deals I don't think are possible.
Just a few tips for some folks that might be looking to save some money or wondering why they're not saving as much as they thought they would when they moved here. If you are just living it up and not looking to save money this wont' be for you.
1. If you rent, re-negotiate it. And never pay an up-charge after just one year (or whatever your term is). First, don't let your landlord tell you when it is time to renew the lease that he wants more moeny. There is too much competition for renters. You might pay him the same if you like the place but don't pay more. After a few years in one place, maybe, but not year after year. Also, try negotiating it lower yourself. Rents drop around here often. Last time we were set to renew ours we were paying $725. The landlord said he wanted to put $800 on the new lease. I told him we have a big problem because I don't want to pay $725 again, much less $800. I told him we could get a similar place for $550 now since rents have come down. He said OK, he'll keep it at $725. I said OK, we'll be moving. He came back the next day and offered it at $600 and we accepted.
2. Don't shop where the tourists shop. For example don't buy all your groceries at Playero. You may get some stuff there that you can't find everywhere else but how many locals do you see shopping there when they aren't with an Expat/tourist. There is a reason for that. You may not find everything you are looking for but if you head over to Associacion in Charamicos or to any of the fruit stores over there you will find stuff cheaper. Playero is only going to be cheaper if they have a special "oferta".
3. Walk away when you are negotiating a price. If you walk away they will be forced to sell you at the price you want or they will lose your business. If they don't meet your price maybe you are a bit off on how you value the item. No worries, if you want it go to someone else selling the same thing and use the same technique but be willing to pay a little more. By the way this technique also helps them to meet your price much faster the next time once they start to know who you are and know you will leave and not buy.
4. Cut back on tips. It is not normal to tip your barber here. It is normal to tip at bars and restaurants but not 25, 20, 18 or even 15 percent. 10 percent is normal. Of course if you really like someone's service do what you want. I'm just pointing out that the tip expectations here are much different than they probably are where you are from. Also some restaurants here do include the tip. Most don't but a few more start doing it every now and then. So before you tip make sure it isn't included.
5. Read your bills. Every bill. They can be wrong. Here it happens more due to less education and less technology. Sometimes it may be intentional but it is usually just a mistake. Check it carefully. And don't get irate and start yelling like a maniac right away. Give them a chance to fix it. A couple of weeks ago a really laid into a restaurant owner that tried to rip me off but that was after I explained the problem with the bill first and gave him a chance to fix it. He just played stupid so I let him have it. I only do that after I know you are trying to play me.
6. Get Vonage or Magic Jack or something like that or even Skype if you want to call out of the country a lot. If you need to receive calls you can have Vonage forward to your Dominican cell phone and nobody will know. That is important for me for work reasons. If you want to make local calls a Dominican cell phone will be cheaper. A foreign cell phone will pay roaming charges.
7. Use the public taxi or the guagua if you can take the crowd. A public taxi to Puerto Plata is $45 pesos. You would spend more on gas for your car. And if you don't like sitting four to the back seat of a small sedan you can pay for two seats and have more room. If you travel with a friend you can split the cost of the extra empty seat. The cab driver is happy as long as he has four fares for the back seat, he doesn't care if he has four bodies.
8. Get health insurance if you don't have it. Dominican health insurance is cheap and covers a lot. OK doctors here are cheap too compared to what we are used to but the nickels and dimes can add up. You don't even have to have residency to be covered. Mine is about $14,000 pesos for the whole year. If I got to the doctor I only pay $300 pesos not $1,000. If I need blood work, x-rays, whatever it is almost always free or at most I may pay $200 pesos. Actually I hardly never go to the doctor so I'm losing money on this deal for now but I figure I need it in case something big happens. Also if you don't have it and end up getting cancer or heart disease or something some day you won't be able to get coverage for it then. IMG also offers nice international insurance plans that work here. It is a bit more costly. That is what I had when I first moved to the country and was paying $1,200 dollars per year for it. When you need the insurance you'll be sorry if you don't have it.
9. If you are out drinking get the big beer. Get a glass if you need to. If you worry about it getting warm ask the bartender to put it on ice, it won't be a problem. If you are just going to buy two small ones anyway why not buy one big one. It's about 2 ounces difference. The cost for two small ones may be $160 pesos but one big one is just $90 or $100. It's not much but if you are drinking enough it adds up. I don't pay any attention to this one myself. You have to drink a lot for this to make a real difference but if you are one of those who puts back 6 - 12 a night six times a week then this might add up to a nice steak dinner.
10. Hit the classifieds. Some of the prices that some people want are ridiculous but you will see many good things there and may even be able to trade some stuff.
11. Ask your Dominican friends. If you don't have any, just ask workers at the restaurant you frequent or whatever. It's good to ask the other expats, especially those that have lived here for a long time but asking a Dominican is a good way to find where something is cheaper and how much you should honestly expect to pay. Again, it should be someone you know fairly well and never follow them to "I have the guy for you". In other words don't let them think they can somehow profit from the question. My Dominican friends always find me deals I don't think are possible.