I've read all the responses to the OP's thread. I just have a few questions and comments. Mind you, I do not live in the DR so please know that my comments are based only on visits to your country and based on research. One observation I can make based on experience from my travels is that the cost of many things is significantly cheaper there than they are here. I wonder where a lot of the posters on this thread lived previously. Was it a big city, a suburban area or a rural area? And, if it was a big city or suburban area, which one was it? The reason I ask is that everything that I have seen in the DR, from housing to food to transportation is significantly cheaper than where I live (Chicago). I am amazed that you can buy what looks like a decent house with 3 bedrooms and a pool for under $150K. That is unthinkable here, unless you move to a much less desirable neighborhood (aka something akin to a gang infested, high crime area) or a distant suburb without good schools, etc. Essentially, it costs at least $350K or more to buy a comparable house in a decent neighborhood here. On the issue of food, I ate at some trendy, touristy restaurants in the DR and even those offered meals at a much lower rate then you would find here in Chicago. These are just a few examples but other examples include the cost of a taxi/bus, cigarettes, flowers, coffee, and alcohol. In most of those cases, the cost was about 25-50% of what it would be here. So, I guess my main question is, am I missing something about the cost of living in the DR? I understand about the car insurance/health insurance issues and the fact that accidents can happen and can be very costly, but those things aside, it appears to me that the cost of living there is much cheaper than where I live. Please feel free to set me straight....that is why I am writing....to learn.
At the risk of attracting to my humble a...s another hurricane I`d compare Sosua with Manhattan where I have to spend several months a year.
Cars - much cheaper in NY (difference in thousands of $$)
Car insurance. It is not just cheaper in NY, in DR it simply does not exist. An insurance that would guaranteed cover yourself, your money, your liability and your health in case of something serious and bad. My Allstate has no comparison in DR.
Food. Lunch in hundreds of Deli`s even in expensive midtown NYC cost much less than lunch in the most restaurants in Sosua. And quality and variety of food in those deli`s cannot be compared to Sosua restaurants (exceptions are Pierre Giorgio and Waterfront but good lunch there will cost $40- $50, Manhattan deli or brunch in restaurants $10-$12 (including wine), $20 - all-inclusive business lunch for executives on Second Ave.
Food prices in Stop-and-Shop, Food Imporium, Price-Rite are much lower than in Playero. And quality of food - much higher and fresher. Not even to mention Costco and Sam`s Club.
Beer - cheaper in NY.
Taxi. 4 km from Puerto Plata Aeropuerto to Sosua - $25. 4 km in NYC - $8-$10.
Legal assistance. Much more expensive in Sosua. Notarize a document - $60. In NYC - $2. Pre-paid legal service in NY - $20/month. In DR does not even exist.
Gasoline. Much more expensive in DR.
Health. If you need some real serious hig-tech medical help, in DR you will find it only in two big cities. And it will cost you HUGE, because in DR you do not have your Blue Cross/Blue Shield or Aethna.
High speed Internet at home. Much cheaper in NY.
Laptops, TV`s, other high -end consumer electronics - much cheaper in NY.
Household electic/electronic igoods. Much cheaper and of much better quality in NY.
Corruption. In DR on every step and will cost you alot.
To sell a house. In NY - 2%Foxton, in DR - 10% RE agent`s commission.
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Now, what is cheaper in DR.
Women!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( If still available in NY at all.)
Housing. But unfortunatelly because of the people who do not compare Dominican prices to Dominican prices, but Dominican prices to American prices - currently RE prices skyrocketed beyond any reasonable understanding. The bubble wil blow like it did in the States.
In NY - billions of restrictions on people`s life like "NO PARKING", " NO STANDING", " NO ENTRY", "PRIVATE PROPERTY". "SPEED LIMIT" "NO U-TURN", etc,etc,etc... with thousands of cops waiting for you to overstep one of these "NO`s" to give you a ticket for hundreds of $$$.
In DR everything is reasonably allowed as long as it does not create problems for the society and for other people.
(Unfortunatelly even in DR we now see beginning of this restrictive american trend - parking meters in SD and Santiago!!)
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So, many people are reday to ask now after reading these lines- " If everything in DR is so bad and expensive, why you MF live here and do not want to go back to your "beautiful and cheap America??!!"
Before I even hear this natural question - here is the answer:
1.Because here I can put on my sleepers and swim in the ocean in three minutes when I want it. Without having to drive 45 minutes to Robert Moses and to rub elbows with multimillionish crowd. And I love to swim for several hours a day. Six-seven miles in total at least.
2. Because I hate to have my every move to be watched by thousands of specially paid people , be them uniformed or undercover.
3. Because I like to be able to talk in the street to any girl that I like. Without fear of being arrested for alleged sexual harrasment or in a sting operation.
For these three privileges I can afford and want to to pay a premium - on average about $1000- $1500US a month more than my life would cost me in NYC.
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I hope I answered your questions. And I hope that other people won`t be angry at me too much if their opinion and values and perceptions differ from mine.