Current trends of Cost of Living in the D.R.?

1. Sure have. There are times I get upset since I feel some items I buy here might actually cost less in Canada. And I mean basic food items that are used here.

2. Feels like 50% increase over the last three years.

3. Not justified at all. If you look around people here are doing less, going fewer places, traveling less, and certainly 5 pesos change means more.

4. Yes. As mentioned in #3 I just do a bit less. Walk a bit more, eat a little cheaper, and don't go out as often overall.

5. Better off in my own country. Of course. The 1% that come here and have a similar income to 'back home' may not say so.

You need to be sure of your numbers here instead of remembering 'back home' as it used to be. Food prices world wide have increased tremendously over the past two years. Most countries have decreased their stockpiles of staples (wheat corn rice) significantly. The talk is about a 26 years low in stockpiles of staples. Corn specifically is showing a sharp upward trend in price still .. (cows eat it, hogs eat it, chickens eat it, corn is widely used for foodstuffs and corn syrup is widely used. Now there is an increased demand still for for making ethanol!). We have a traditional food that we make from stone ground corn (like tortillas for mexicans) and I literally cannot find ground corn meal it in the stores.

So, it would be interesting to see a good price comparison but be sure that the prices in your country of origin are rising as steeply as those in the DR I would bet! Even 'real food' (the stuff that is not masquerading as edible substance but the real stuff coming from the soil), has increased in price quite significantly. Input costs are higher no matter how you look at it. And even higher in the DR with the crazy taxation on fuel.

Perhaps we should do a comparison of 'basic basket' as far as food is concerned?

I believe the Dr1 news posted that in 2007 the inflation rate was 10.9% here .

Inflation is definately a problem, while Real Estate values continue to plummet.

A nice variety of natural resource stocks or funds, balance out these worries.

Ringo said:

I am interested to hear from prople that LIVE in the D.R. as to:

1. Have you noticed an increase in every day living expenses?

Click to expand...

Yes.

Ringo said:

2. By how much and over what period of time?

Click to expand...

Life was cheap before 2005, because of the peso/dollar rate...

Ringo said:

3. Do you think that the changes in prices are normal or justified?

Click to expand...

I don't enjoy it, but I understand that the price of wheat and oil is skyrocketing worldwide...

Ringo said:

4. Has it affected you lifestyle/spending?

Click to expand...

Ye, of course...

Ringo said:

5. IF you could have foreseen these changes, would you haved moved to the D.R.?

Click to expand...

I was here already, and yes, I would have anyway...

Ringo said:

6. Would you have been better off, concerning money, if you had stayed in your "home" country?

Click to expand...

I can't tell... It is difficult to "redo" history...

Ringo said:

Thank you, Ringo

Click to expand...

You are welcome...

We "North Americans" Are "Spoiled"!

We spend a smaller percentage of our income than anywhere on Earth! We have huge agriculture/Agro-busines'. Europeans spend much much more. Dominicans as well. At least in Europe you get "Quality" for the high cost! In the DR,you pay a high price for poor quality! You can buy "American" food here for less money than the Dominican equivalent! "Kraft" mayo is less than Dominican "Mayo",and Dominican "mayo" $UCKS! Same for "Ketchup"! American "Meat" also costs less! Gasoline is $5 US a gallon here.about $3.30 in the US! I can live "Cheaper" in Boston Massachusetts than in Santo Domingo!
But then I couldn't be spending "Saint Paddy's" weekend at the beach on the "Cape" in Massachusetts. AND, I DAMN sure couldn't be spending the weekend at "Ocean World's Casino/Marina on the "Cape"! OR, at "Blackbeard's ADUILT RESORT either!

"MMMMmmm TASTY"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't want girls with "Good Taste", I want girls that "TASTE GOOD"!!!!!!!!!!!
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

Higher Prices

Most people who come to live here do not want to lower their standard of living.
So, make a list of typical items that you usually shop in your home country and compare with the prices where you intend to live.
Only in this way you'll get a true picture of your future expenditures.

Given the trend you should, however, expect that the price gap to widen.
Some items (e.g. beer, cheese, butter, cooking oil) have doubled or even quadrupled in the last three years.
Food can be bought much more cheaply in most European countries.

m'frog

Food Costs

Hello, not to hijack the thread, but wanted to post some food costs during my weekly shopping here in Hamilton, ON. Canada. I have been out of the country for some time, however my wife and kids were there last year and found food and basic living costs ( Hydro, cable, phone etc.) through the roof for the average family. I check out websites of La Sirena, National and others regularly, so I have a pretty good idea of current prices. Anyways, enjoy the list, hope this helps members to compare prices. (all in Canadian $)

$4.97- Black Diamond cheeze brick, 520 grams
$5.00- Bryers ice cream 2L- 2 tubs
$10.00- 2 whole chickens, 2.4KG
$20.00- Grade A turkey, 5-7 KG
$1.47- Per LB,xtra large green,red or black seedless grapes
$1.99- Large Dole pineapple
$.99- Equality salad dressings 475 ml
$5.99- Sharmin Casmere toilet paper 24 rolls
$1.30- Per KG. Large plantain, purchased 6 for $2.86
$5.00- Case of Coke, 18 cans
$.99- Can of sliced mushrooms, 284 ml
$.99- Jar of Ragu spagetti sauce, 700 ml
$.99- Can of apple juice, 48fl oz
$1.99- Loaf of bread 100% whole weat
$.88- Advocado (each)
$1.29- Bag of red oninons 3lb
$6.55- Per kg Cubanela peppers
$1.97- Orange juice in 1.89 L jug
$4.49- Galon of 2% milk
$1.97- Box of granola bars (8)
$3.99- Cooked shrimp ring, 340g 30-38 shrimp

I could go on, but this should give memebers a good idea of some basic food costs. I am in no way showing the above to create a negative impact, simply contributing to the post so others have a base to compare what they pay locally. Need more prices? list what you need, myself and others would be happy to help out.

Campesino...

"When in Rome do as the Romans do"

Hello all,

I think all of the posters make a valid point based on their own perspective.

While living in Juan Dolio for 6 months my experience was locally produced items such as seafood, fruits, vegetables, chicken, goat, rice, beans, were less costly than in the USA. Imported produts were double as we expected imported products to be, so it equalled out.

Currently in the USA we are experiencing approximately a 30% price increase for bread, eggs, milk, flour, mainly due to energy and commodity demands.

Thank god for Walmart! :cheeky:

Cheaper?

pizzabite said:

... locally produced items such as seafood, fruits, vegetables, chicken, goat, rice, beans, were less costly than in the USA.

Click to expand...

Really?

Campesino said:

...
$10.00- 2 whole chickens, 2.4KG
$20.00- Grade A turkey, 5-7 KG
...
$1.30- Per KG. Large plantain, purchased 6 for $2.86
...
$.88- Advocado (each)
$1.29- Bag of red oninons 3lb
...
$4.49- Galon of 2% milk
...
$3.99- Cooked shrimp ring, 340g 30-38 shrimp

Click to expand...

Yes, I know Canada is not the US and Juan Dolio is not Las Terrenas.
But still....

m'frog

Prices from day to day change and with oil at $100 plus per barrel those higher transportation costs get paid by the consumer, but Campesino's prices are general reflective of the prices one pays in Ontario.
Yesterday I paid $3.99 for gallon of 1% milk, 47 cents per lb for green bananas, 69 cents for a head of lettuce, $3.31 for 1.5 kg of tomatoes, got 4 mango for $1.50, 2 kg sugar for $1.44, large cucumber 69 cents, It is hard to compare prices in Canada with prices in the DR, especially produce as produce prices in Canada during the winter are very high. In the summer/fall produces prices are cheap. For example pineapple prices can be as high as $5.99 for a large one, or as low as $1.88.

cost of household help

Perhaps the men on the board don't notice as much but for the women.....WOW what a difference it makes to my life to be able to have someone come in twice a week and do the cleaning! That would cost me around $1k a month in the states at the rate of $24 an hour (That is NYC - can be had cheaper, say at $10 in NC). Really a life of luxury. Nothing can replace that, honestly, it is the difference between drudgery and leisure......

I live in Atlanta, Annie, and get charged almost 100USD to clean half of a 3200 sq. ft. home. Good help is expensive throughout the U.S.