North Coast vs. East Coast

drSix

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Oct 13, 2013
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So, I am getting sick of flying out of POP to work and also tired of the high prices for my family and friends to come visit. POP is almost always $3-400 more than PUJ and the flight times are long and inconvenient. I am considering moving to the Punta Cana area when my lease is up.

How does it compare to the North Coast such as:

House prices, rental (4 bedroom villa with pool)
Food prices
Electricity
Private Schools
Things to do
Safety
Healthcare

Thanks!
 

SKY

Gold
Apr 11, 2004
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Having lived in both place for a number of years I might be able to help you.

House Prices: Higher here, but it is a renter's market, so bargain.

Food Prices: I really have no idea as I don't compare prices at all. But within a short drive you have Nacional, Pola, Iberia, Plaza Lama. All big stores. NC does not have that.

Electricity: If you don't mind paying through the nose you will love it. Private Company CEPM, no blackouts and if it goes out they fix it usually in less than an hour. Very stable. Price is ridiculous though.

Private Schools: There are some, but I don't know about them. Chiri would know that.

Things to do: More to do on the NC in my opinion. But a lot of good shows at some hotels here and nice beaches.

Safety: No comparison. Never hear of much crime here, and not anything violent at all. It is easy to work here as compared to the NC, so no people are desperate.

Healthcare: Good. There is a major clinic in Bavaro that has many specialists. I prefer a smaller one right near it as Dr. Rodriguiz, the head Dr. is really good there.
 

HUG

Silver
Feb 3, 2009
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East Coast is much cheaper to rent than people would think, B4B is actually better than North Coast.
Shopping at the supermarkets is expensive, andd there is not as much cheap local produce to select from, although you can find it.
My lecy bill was never over RD1500 per month, but never use A/C.
Things to do, this is where East Coast fails, it is boring as hell, you need a job, project. And the social scene is far removed from the NC.
Safety, hands down the safer place to live.

If you like the NC and your social life is good then the probem is solved by simply flying into PUJ and then getting transport to NC. It is not going to kill anyone. And you'll do well to adjust to EastCoast if you have no purpose or projects going on. But that seems to be the case most places, life is boring if you have nothing to do no matter where you are.
 

RV429

Bronze
Apr 3, 2011
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The cheaper flying argument is shattered by using STI or SDQ to go to the north coast. Both offer way cheaper alternatives to POP. I would never ever ever fly into PUJ to go home to Sosua Hug.
 

Dolores1

DR1
May 3, 2000
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Believe Pola, Nacional, Plaza Lama have the same prices for food they have in Santo Domingo.

If your children are young, they will be in paradise. There are many attractions for children in the area, and life is relaxed. There is a growing community of young couples living and working in Punta Cana, so making friends will not be a problem.

If you are comfortable with the pace of life in Puerto Plata, you should do well in Punta Cana.

I would say the main downside to Punta Cana compared to Puerto Plata is the heat. It gets very hot in Punta Cana, so you will need to run the a/c much more frequently than in Puerto Plata.
 

drSix

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Oct 13, 2013
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The cheaper flying argument is shattered by using STI or SDQ to go to the north coast. Both offer way cheaper alternatives to POP. I would never ever ever fly into PUJ to go home to Sosua Hug.

Yea, my family has been flying into STI when they come visit cause it is significantly cheaper. It's just a pain to drive them there, especially when I am 15 min from the POP airport. My company flies me out of POP, but they flights are inconveinent. Being close to PUJ or SDQ would be nice because it is cheaper for my family and has more routes to Europe for me to get to work. I guess I could move closer to Santiago! I do miss the Campo...
 

Dolores1

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May 3, 2000
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The cheaper flying argument is shattered by using STI or SDQ to go to the north coast. Both offer way cheaper alternatives to POP. I would never ever ever fly into PUJ to go home to Sosua Hug.

Think twice. What about arranging a vacation in Punta Cana prior to returning home in Sosua.

Some years ago we did precisely that when returning from Europe via PUJ and it was a relaxing way to deal with jet lag.
 

drSix

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Oct 13, 2013
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I would say the main downside to Punta Cana compared to Puerto Plata is the heat. It gets very hot in Punta Cana, so you will need to run the a/c much more frequently than in Puerto Plata.

Really! We're hot here in Sosua... Maybe I need to move into the Mountains and be closer to Santiago then.
 

DRdreaming

Member
Jul 29, 2014
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House prices are higher, but you are paying for convenience.

I can't compare prices, having only visited the NC, but there are four major grocery stores within a 20 minute drive.

Electricity, is expensive, but 24/7. My highest bill was $230 USD for a 3 bedroom, using ac every night. Normally it is $125 using ceiling fans and leaving the windows open.

There are two good hospitals, Centro Medico and Hospiten.

Several private schools, Heritage and Bararo Bilingual being two of them.

The area is safe.

Things to do - there are two movie cinemas, casinos, golf, plenty of beaches, and lots of restaurants and bars. There is always the option of a day or night pass to an AI as well.
 

drSix

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Oct 13, 2013
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House prices are higher, but you are paying for convenience.

I can't compare prices, having only visited the NC, but there are four major grocery stores within a 20 minute drive.

Electricity, is expensive, but 24/7. My highest bill was $230 USD for a 3 bedroom, using ac every night. Normally it is $125 using ceiling fans and leaving the windows open.

There are two good hospitals, Centro Medico and Hospiten.

Several private schools, Heritage and Bararo Bilingual being two of them.

The area is safe.

Things to do - there are two movie cinemas, casinos, golf, plenty of beaches, and lots of restaurants and bars. There is always the option of a day or night pass to an AI as well.

Nice, thanks. My bill this month is $661. Four A/C's and the pool pump. I had family come this month, but usually it is around $550
 
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Expat13

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Jun 7, 2008
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The cheaper flying argument is shattered by using STI or SDQ to go to the north coast. Both offer way cheaper alternatives to POP. I would never ever ever fly into PUJ to go home to Sosua Hug.
Personally I think it is an issue. The fact that the NC has a decent size airport that for some crazy reason is taxed in a manner much higher than the rest of the country, WILL, discourage people who must travel regularly, from living there as well discourage tourist. Who wants a 2 hour drive each way to the airport fro Cabarete to Santiago, SDQ 3+ hours. Why is nobody screaming at the tourism minister etc. to get this crazy problem figured out or just forget about the NC altogether! Looks clear that the true hidden agenda is they really don't want people to go to the NC. Business owners should be screaming!!
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
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We've never paid more than US$90 for electricity, and that was for a month when we did use the aircon most days/nights.

The other private school is Punta Cana International School in Punta Cana Village.

Things to do - beach, eating out, exploring the surrounding areas beyond the main tourist strip, a couple of multiscreen cinemas, shopping malls... definitely not that much in the way of cultural/intellectual stimulation but at least getting to the capital and back is not such a chore as it used to be with the new road.
 

chic

Silver
Nov 20, 2013
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i think i will try that area myself...i hate the high air fares and i believe its time to get cultured in the big city...art, music. theatre chick watching....art...
 

InsanelyOne

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Oct 21, 2008
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Things to do - beach, eating out, exploring the surrounding areas beyond the main tourist strip, a couple of multiscreen cinemas, shopping malls... definitely not that much in the way of cultural/intellectual stimulation but at least getting to the capital and back is not such a chore as it used to be with the new road.

I find I go to the capital more frequently now that it's just over 2 hours away. It's an easy day trip whereas I used to get a hotel and stay the night.

I've not spent much time on the NC but I would agree with an earlier post that most areas are what you make of them. The East has plenty to offer, whether or not it's what you are looking for is a different question.
 

drSix

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Oct 13, 2013
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Well hell, guess I am too lazy to search. Fine, I am more interested in country livin' anyways. I would love to have a nicer villa somewhere in the Campo, on 10- 20 acres. Within an hour or two of PUJ or SDQ.

Does this seem possible?
 

william webster

Platinum
Jan 16, 2009
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very possible.....anywhere between the new road and the east coast...

it'll be a fun search for you..... lots of land
 

chic

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Nov 20, 2013
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what are you gonna chase ? plantains? cows,,,sheep...chicas? 20 acres "tareas" dont know the = in acres