Cost of Living in the DR

Mr. Lu

Bronze
Mar 26, 2007
1,091
88
0
Hey everyone. I'm trying to figure out what the cost of living is in the DR. Below I've posted some indicators and if you guys could post what you pay for the services, or have paid, I'd appreciate it. I'd like to get a good group of answers in order to get a "national average." The hope is to have a sticky so that newbies have an idea of what costs are as they prepare the move here. Please also state where you are from in the DR, other important indicators and extraneous costs.

Cheers,


Mr. Lu





Estimated costs:

Rent of a three bedroom apartment:
Cost of power per household:
Cost of telephone:
Cost of cellular:
Cost of Internet dial-up service:
Cost of water:
Cost of a hotel room in Santo Domingo:
Cost of a vehicle: (used), (new), (luxury)
Cost of a taxi:
Cost of lunch/dinner at a restaurant:
Cost of gasoline:
Cost of bilingual schools:
Cost of Spanish language schools:
Cost of dental appointment: (with insurance) (without insurance)
Cost of medical appointment:
Cost of household help:
Cost of a full time chauffeur:
Cost of a receptionist:
Cost of an interpreter:
Cost of a translation:
Cost of a full time accountant:
 

lollipop

New member
Mar 28, 2008
133
0
0
44

Estimated costs in Bella Vista, Santo Domingo:

Rent of a One bedroom apartment: USD600.00
Cost of power per household: RD$2800.00
Cost of telephone: N/A
Cost of cellular: RD$3,500.00
Cost of Internet dial-up service: N/A
Cost of water: included in rent.
Cost of a hotel room in Santo Domingo: depends, from 85us to 150us
Cost of a vehicle: (used), (new), (luxury). To buy a car or the maintenance?
Cost of a taxi: depends where you're going... around the city 150pesos.
Cost of lunch/dinner at a restaurant: depends, from 150 to 1000pesos or more.
Cost of gasoline: around 190 a gallon right now.
Cost of bilingual schools: no idea.
Cost of Spanish language schools: no idea, I have no kids.
Cost of dental appointment: (with insurance) (without insurance) regular one? 100 pesos with insurance.
Cost of medical appointment: insurance pays for it most of the time, the difference will not be more than 200pesos in special occasions.
Cost of household help: 4000 pesos, she comes 3 times a week.
Cost of a full time chauffeur: my friend pays 8000 pesos, i don't have one.
Cost of a receptionist: 12,000 pesos.
Cost of an interpreter: no idea.
Cost of a translation: no idea.
Cost of a full time accountant:25,000 pesos
 

Squat

Tropical geek in Las Terrenas
Jan 1, 2002
2,239
168
63
Estimated costs:
Rent of a three bedroom apartment: "I own my place..."
Cost of power per household: "around 2300RD$"
Cost of telephone: "around 2650RD$ (with ADSL internet)"
Cost of cellular: "396RD$"
Cost of Internet dial-up service: "I don't use dial-up since a long while..."
Cost of water: "they "forgot" me..."
Cost of a hotel room in Santo Domingo: "...not sure..."
Cost of a vehicle: (used), (new), (luxury) "...will have a look... mine's too old..."
Cost of a taxi:"-do you guys use taxis ?"
Cost of lunch/dinner at a restaurant: "about 350RD$/person"
Cost of gasoline: "a bit more every saturday !"
Cost of bilingual schools: "kids are bilingual, but study in spanish..."
Cost of Spanish language schools: "spanish-only private college, around 1300RD$/kid"
Cost of dental appointment: (with insurance) (without insurance) "too expensive..."
Cost of medical appointment: "-was it 300RD$ ?"
Cost of household help: "2000RD$/month"
Cost of a full time chauffeur:"... come on, man !"
Cost of a receptionist: "-What are you refering to ?"
Cost of an interpreter: "I do that myself ;)"
Cost of a translation: "see above..."
Cost of a full time accountant:"... that is still in my "to do" list..."
 

Matilda

RIP Lindsay
Sep 13, 2006
5,485
338
63
In Juan Dolio - South Coast

Rent of a three bedroom apartment: 600US$ month
Cost of power per household: around 3000RD$ for 3 bed house
Cost of telephone: with internet flash 4000, without 1800
Cost of cellular: 2000 contract Claro, 650 for 75 mins prepaid Orange
Cost of Internet dial-up service: 500RD$
Cost of water: 35RD$ a botteillon, nada for the posso as refuse to pay
Cost of a hotel room in Santo Domingo: n/a
Cost of a vehicle: (used), (new), (luxury) no idea
Cost of a taxi: 250 RD$ minimum local. 45us$ to Las Americas airport
Cost of lunch/dinner at a restaurant: Minimum 1000RD$ for two without tax
Cost of gasoline:
Cost of bilingual schools: 6000RD$ a month
Cost of Spanish language schools:
Cost of dental appointment: (with insurance) (without insurance)
Cost of medical appointment: 500RD$ basic visit
Cost of household help: 6000 RD$ mensual
Cost of a full time chauffeur:
Cost of a receptionist:
Cost of an interpreter:
Cost of a translation:
Cost of a full time accountant:

matilda
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
982
113
Mirador Sur, Santo Domingo

Rent of a three bedroom apartment: around US$1,000 month
Cost of power per household: around RD$1,000 (no a/c or clothes dryer)
Cost of telephone: with internet flash RD$4,000-5,000
Cost of cellular: prepaid Orange ~RD$500 per month
Cost of water: RD$230 per month
Cost of a hotel room in Santo Domingo: US$30-200 depending on hotel!
Cost of a vehicle: (used), (new), (luxury) no idea
Cost of a taxi: RD$150 within the city. US$30 to Las Americas airport
Cost of lunch/dinner at a restaurant: Minimum RD$1,000 for two without tax
Cost of gasoline: ~RD$1,000 per week
Cost of bilingual schools: ~US$4,000 per year
Cost of Spanish language schools: ~US$1,500 per year
Cost of dental appointment: depends
Cost of medical appointment: RD$200-500 basic visit
Cost of household help: RD$4,000 a month (two days per week)
Cost of a full time chauffeur: no idea
Cost of a receptionist: no idea
Cost of an interpreter: ~US$200 per day
Cost of a translation: ~US$0.10 per word
Cost of a full time accountant: don't know
 

johne

Silver
Jun 28, 2003
7,090
2,963
113
Just read DR News about maintenace of subsisty but would like to understand more. Might be a deciding factor in our elections here in the US in Nov.
 

GringoCArlos

Retired Ussername
Jan 9, 2002
1,416
40
0
The DR government owns the refinery here. They buy petroleum (and gasoline) from Venezuela, Mexico, etc. And the retail sales price is fixed by the government, not by the individual dealers, with a fixed (10%-(??)) gross profit margin to the dealers. In the past, if a retail fuel dealer attempted to sell fuel for say, 1 peso less per gallon than the official sales price set by government, they would have a line of 100 cars waiting to buy fuel, and the dealer would become an assassination target for other dealers who toed the line. Fuel prices are the same everywhere in the country.

And I do not think that at the prices government sets, that fuel prices are "subsidized" - it is the cost that government incurs to produce it (as if government could do anything like this efficiently).

Sorry Mr. Lu I am not trying to hijack your thread, I am just trying to settle the "gasoline" question so we CAN get back on track.
 

GringoCArlos

Retired Ussername
Jan 9, 2002
1,416
40
0
Might be good to add: Monthly maintenance costs for house/apartment: $3500
(covers gardener/security guard/garbage/water for apartment building)

Also add?: Cable TV - $695
--------------------------------

Estimated costs:
Rent of a three bedroom apartment: Santo Domingo- RD$12,000 to RD$100,000+
Cost of power per household: $2100
Cost of telephone: N/A
Cost of cellular: N/A
Cost of Internet dial-up service: N/A
Cost of water: $50 covers water to house & garbage collection
Cost of a hotel room in Santo Domingo: US$30 and up
Cost of a vehicle: (used), (new), (luxury)- driveable $50k - decent $200k-$500k - Luxury $1M+
Cost of a taxi: $150
Cost of lunch/dinner at a restaurant: $150 -$2000
Cost of gasoline:
Cost of bilingual schools:
Cost of Spanish language schools: N/A
Cost of dental appointment: (with insurance) (without insurance) -without -$600 for checkup / cleaning
Cost of medical appointment: -$500+ without
Cost of household help: N/A (until last year - $7000 for a live-in, Mon-Sat, + $200 transport/week)
Cost of a full time chauffeur: N/A
Cost of a receptionist: N/A
Cost of an interpreter: N/A
Cost of a translation: $500 per page for documents
Cost of a full time accountant: N/A
 
Feb 7, 2007
8,005
625
113
in Higuey , in RD$

Estimated costs:
Rent of a three bedroom apartment: nice APR: 2BR: $7,000, 3BR $10,000
Cost of power per household: $600 no A/C, $2,000 with some A/C
Cost of telephone: $2,400 with ADSL Flash 768 kbps
Cost of cellular: $9,000 business calls included
Cost of Internet dial-up service: don't use that
Cost of water: $350 for a truckload (we don't have aquaduct in Higuey)
Cost of a hotel room in Santo Domingo: about US$100- $150
Cost of a vehicle: (used), (new), (luxury) maintenance: (used) about $5,000 month (front drive train takes up most) includes oil change (I use fully synthetic - 1 change (5 quarters) is $2,000 pesos) also includes tires and tire service (gomeros)
Cost of a taxi: $100 anywhere in Higuey, going to campos $200, to Bavaro $1,200 to PUJ airport $1,100 to $1,200, to SD $4,000 and above
Cost of lunch/dinner at a restaurant: comedor $100-$150, restaurant $300, top-notch restaurant $500
Cost of gasoline: $190 but I use LPG $60
Cost of bilingual schools: no idea
Cost of Spanish language schools: $800-$1000
Cost of dental appointment: (with insurance) (without insurance) about $100-$200, but usually checkup is free, fees paid for actual work, endodoncy $4,000 per tooth
Cost of medical appointment: w/ins- emergency: free, others: $100 (20% of cost) rest paid up by insurance. w/o insurance- emergency: $300, others: $500 to $600
Cost of household help: $5,000 full time
Cost of a full time chauffeur: no idea
Cost of a receptionist: no idea
Cost of an interpreter: I don't need one - I guess it would be about $20,000
Cost of a translation: you mean per page? about $500 to $1000
Cost of a full time accountant: no idea
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cable TV: $500
Haircut: $80
Shave: $70
Salon-women's: $300-$500
Motoconcho ride: $30(regular) - $50(larger distance)
Drink in a bar: beer (small) $60-$70, large $90-$100, long drinks: $100-$150, whisky: $100-$150, whisky-12yr/premium: $200, by bottle: whisky: $900, $1700(12yr/premium), servicio Brugal anejo: $280-$350
Internet cafe: $30/hour
Bus to SD: $200 regular $220 express
Bus to Bavaro: $90, $100 express
Street CD/DVD: $50/CD, $80/DVD
Veterinary: $100-200/shots
Car insurance: (full insurance) - 6% of car value
Mechanic -$300 small job, $500-$1000 larger job (over 2 hours), large jhobs individually
Tire service (Gomero) - flat tire $100
Tire balancing: $50/tire
Alineation: $350/front, $450-$500 front and rear
Car wash: $120
 
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PICHARDO

One Dominican at a time, please!
May 15, 2003
13,280
893
113
Santiago de Los 30 Caballeros

Estimated costs:

Rent of a three bedroom apartment: (Sister in-law pays 22,000 for 3 bed 2 bath in nice area of Santiago).
Cost of power per household: I pay 4,200.
Cost of telephone: N/A
Cost of cellular: 3,450 Depends on services added...
Cost of Internet dial-up service: N/A
Cost of water: I use a Cisterna and get the water for free via family own water trucks...
Cost of a hotel room in Santo Domingo: Depends date but 80 US to 500 US.
Cost of a vehicle: (used)Montero 03(850,000 RD)/ (new)Mit. Montero 08(2.3 mil RD)/ (luxury)Benz 08(70,000 US & up)
Cost of a taxi: Depends distance to and from but bare over 100 any trip...
Cost of lunch/dinner at a restaurant: Can be from 300 to 2,000 RD.
Cost of gasoline: 190 RD.
Cost of bilingual schools: 12,000 p/y US to 24,000 and up.
Cost of Spanish language schools: depends on school but from 800 up RD.
Cost of dental appointment: (with insurance) (without insurance) $0 - $300.
Cost of medical appointment: Depends on clinic and type of appointment...
Cost of household help: 12,000 to 18,000 monthly RD.
Cost of a full time chauffeur: 14,000 monthly RD.
Cost of a receptionist: Ejecutiva/bilingue 26,000 RD monthly.
Cost of an interpreter: Depends on work/requirenments but from 500 RD and up per...
Cost of a translation: 250 RD and up.
Cost of a full time accountant: 29,000 RD

Most rates vary depending on usage/location/needs by a good margin...
 

GringoCArlos

Retired Ussername
Jan 9, 2002
1,416
40
0
i guess that's why everyone else puts the city location for their costs.......

example, in my post, rents from $12k to $100k+ for a 3 bedroom apartment, etc - it depends on what part of Santo Domingo you rent in , and I put these figures for a foreigner renting an acceptable apartment (no shacks).
 

ilGrezzo

New member
Mar 1, 2008
14
0
0
Very very useful this topic ;)

I would like to ask a question.
What about the average cost of food (let's say per month) for a normal person? Just to have an idea of how much will it cost moving there, especially for the first months.

Thanks ;)
 

alicious

Bronze
Oct 2, 2007
631
9
0
39
Very very useful this topic ;)

I would like to ask a question.
What about the average cost of food (let's say per month) for a normal person? Just to have an idea of how much will it cost moving there, especially for the first months.

Thanks ;)

I'd say this is a pretty hard question to answer, cuz it really really depends on what you eat, how much, and where you buy.

If you are going to eat only Dominican food/brands, don't eat very much, and never eat out, for just 1 person maybe you could get buy on something like 2000pesos a month...not including alcohol of course.

If you don't buy too much North American or European foods/brands, and just for 1 person maybe about 5000pesos per month would be the "normal" base rate...but still shopping very smartly and carefully.

And it just goes up from there, as I mentioned depending on what you buy & how much you eat...extra if you go out for supper and/or drink.

Some ppl may not agree with my approximations...which is fine cuz I haven't been there for 2 years, and I have never shopped for only 1 person...but its just that...an approximation.
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
982
113
Family of three: don't buy meat, some fish, organic veg, lots of fruit, try not to buy imported stuff if there is a DR-produced alternative, and our food bill is at least RD$10,000 per month.
 

johne

Silver
Jun 28, 2003
7,090
2,963
113
Family of three: don't buy meat, some fish, organic veg, lots of fruit, try not to buy imported stuff if there is a DR-produced alternative, and our food bill is at least RD$10,000 per month.
Seems to me you can't do better than that. Are you not buying meat in this budget for dietary reasons or cost prohibitive?
Does "imported stuff" mean Euro AND US?
JOHN
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
982
113
Seems to me you can't do better than that. Are you not buying meat in this budget for dietary reasons or cost prohibitive?
Does "imported stuff" mean Euro AND US?
JOHN
Don't buy meat because we are mainly vegetarian, and imported stuff means anything that is not produced in the DR. I mention that because meat adds to the food bill, as does buying imported products.

There are some products where there is a choice and unless the local variety is no good I'll usually choose the local one (reasons: support local industries, food miles and not least price). In other cases there is no choice but to buy imported.

Products where there's a local option: butter, eggs, margarine, some types of cheese, milk, canned foods, juices, jam, yogurt, pasta, rice, beans and pulses, flour, bread, pitta bread, salt, vinegar, vegetable oil, pepper sauce, ketchup, some cereals, oatmeal, crackers, cookies, most fruit and vegetables, drinks, most cleaning products, most personal care products.

No option: specialty rice like basmati, exotic/ethnic products like couscous, some spices, bagels, olive oil, olives, soy sauce, specialty cheeses, wine, most decent cereals, convenience foods like pancake mix.
 

ilGrezzo

New member
Mar 1, 2008
14
0
0
Ok, so for one person we can tell from about RD$2000 to RD$5/6000.
Well, i suppose it's not easy to quantify the food ration for person, difact my question was just to have an idea. Just for knowing in which range is the cost of a month life.
Another question (tell me if it's a stupid one).
Do the prices change much between different cities?
I was planning to transfer to Cabarete after the summer, are these prices right for that zone too?

Luca ;)