cost of foods
we are moving to the DR in the new year. my opinion as there is so much we don't know yet:
spend your time in the grocery stores, department stores, clothing stores etc.. pretend you're living there. the cost of living debate is a tough one as people's needs are so different. i know my prices to a "T" in Canada but would still have trouble telling someone else what living here costs. 10 families, 10 very different viewpoints...
we found most basic groceries to be within 10%, plus or minus, of what we pay here. however, we do not live in Toronto where prices are higher (you start to see how the comparisons fall apart). imported items can cost alot more. good news: unlike most Caribbean islands, the DR grows and makes much of their own foods. peanut butter is outrageous in price but rum is cheap. some fruits are cheaper but not as much as you would think.
do you shop only in grocery stores for convenience? or do you use local markets, roadside stands etc? do you buy in bulk? are you big meat eaters? do you cook from scratch? do you already eat a "rice and chicken" type of diet? be honest with yourself, assume there will be no real changes in your style and get out the calculator.
the other big items: automobile and electricity (inverters, generators etc...).
my guesstimate, for our own family: some higher initial costs for moving, housing, emigration, automobile and electricity strategy. ongoing, we hope to save about 25% overall. this savings includes some lower taxes, no heating costs, no winter clothing (we have growing kids), year-round hobby farming, cheaper booze and cigarettes. some of this depends on where you choose to settle, of course.
i'll know when i have what i call my "coffee in the morning on our patio" after about 4-6 months of living in the DR:
i will finally know how much capital i have (can you say taxes in Canada?)
my major DR purchases will have been completed
my money will be invested in the DR and elsewhere with a predictable income
i'll have some handle on what our monthly expenses really are
i can then turn to my wife and say "this is what it costs US to live in the DR."
and either " i think we can really do this" or "i am definitely going to have to earn some serious money" or " geez, we can live here for about xx months before we eat up our capital" or "how about charging our friends and family to visit?" or " send out our son with a shoeshine box".