Well, everything depends on lifestyle and location, I am from La Vega, i will be moving back this month, last year when I was there here is how things were. I rented a 2 bedroom for $1200 pesos per month, which eventually went up to $1400 plus $50 a month for water bill regardless of use, electricity was free. granted it was kind of poor living standars, in the next town, an incredible 2 BR with hot/cold water for free, free cooking gas, security like NY with intercom button, beautiful ful, tile floors, beautiful doors, glass windows, $2,800 pesos per month, why? because La Vega is very cheap, many people dont like to commute from the next province to work/study in Santiago, public schools in the countryside are not the bad and are very safe, universities are excellent, much better quality than most state universities in the US, and much more cost effective, my math book for the full year was only about $100 pesos, (during this time remember i was changeing 1 dollar for $56 pesos) pricing i'm sure is different now, but not by much., You really dont need a car I'f you are willing to par $15-$20 pesos each way but if you live in the part of La Vega near the Santiago border, Hipolita brought in OMSA aervice so you only need to pay $5 pesos, (at night university OMSA (public bus system) goes all the way to La Vega City, any where along route for $3 pesos. If you are close to santaigo, (North La Vega) where the OMSA is, they have airconditioned buses too much better than NYC public bus, with cushion roomy, radio, and yes Air Condition!! for only $10 pesos! much better than payin $3.50dollars a gallon of gas or $2.75 dollars gallon diesel. If you eat dominican food you will save alot of money, but american food is almost the same price or only a little bit cheaper, but it depends on the supermaket, not just supermarkets in rich areas "supermercado nacional" sell american food, I recomment if in Santiago got to Supermercado La Fuente near UTESA University, OK neighborhood, and really cheap, o goto the Super Pola/ La Sirena, like Walmart
If you want to travel long distance use Caribe Tours to Beach Santiago-Sosua $90 pesos (used to be $60 pesos) or to the Capital, Transporte Vegano, from La Vega-Santo Domingo (i dont remember price),
(Oh and I did laugh at above first post and quote from above) Carreterra Mella i have family that lives there and that neighborhood isn't ghetto, it middle class (touridst ghetto), if you really want to see ghetto/warzone where police are afraid, try the part of capital, called Guachupita, orCienago i think is called?, or there are a few out there that are true legendary dominican ghettos, tho that is based on what my family says, I have never dared to venture into those parts... and i grew up poor, at one point living in a tin shack with dirt floors next to a water tank, with holes in the roof, and frequent flooding getting everything on the floor drenched., so take my advice with context i am not very picky, but having lived the majority of life in America, and also having lived in a three story house in New england suberbs with stays at the plaza, i do know what nice living is
, All and all I think DR is a good bargain no matter m=what your lifestyle, long as you find out from the locals where the bargains are, countryside can be dangeroud with bandits at night, but if you know all your neighbors that is security enough, just dont brag about finances or show off, act middle class, get to know everyone personally, and you will be fine, but keep a machete just in case, or gun if you prefer, or firecrackers to set off if thieves try to rob, or keep cell phone #'s of neighbors in case for backup, it is only really bad crime wise in December near cristmas, rest of time is generally safe tho living alone is tougher. You willsave alot , but there are much more american style fully secure apartment buildings gated for 2,800 pesos if need be like i said above, if you would rather have that "city like" comfort, with out having to worry about poweroutages
, just my 2cents