Cost of Living in the DR

[alicious]

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

From what I can tell prices are lower in areas like Santiago, where there isn't your typical amount of tourism. The prices are highest in Punta Cana, where it is only tourists...and the high end tourism. This goes for everything...not just food.

I have never gone grocery shopping in Cabarete so I couldn't say for sure...but I would think since it is based on tourism as well prices will be similarly inflated.

Keep in mind when I mentioned 2000pesos a month for one person...that would not be something easy to live off of...only if you are on an extreme budget, and not too picky about your food....

 

[ilGrezzo]

Thank you very much for the answers.
Keep updating this topic that i found very useful, especially for newbies like me.

 

[BF1]

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

If you like to eat Italian style, be prepared to spend the same amount of money you spend in Italy or more, just go to your local supermarket and take note of prices. Usually Italian imported food is the same price or more expensive in DR but you will use some local stuff to cook and this will bring down the average cost of your meal so, at the end, expect to spend more or less the same.

 

[ilGrezzo]

Well, actually i can't say i don't love italian food, luckily i'm definitely not fussy regarding the food, and i also love to get in touch with the food habits of different countries. So that won't be a big problem i suppose.
Thanks anyway

 

[Lambada]

Our monthly food bill for 2 adults varies between RD$9,000 and RD$12,000. Red meat bought for one person and 2 dogs (I don't eat red meat); does include fish and my cigarettes but not BB's pipe tobacco. Includes alcohol for guests (we rarely imbibe). Very few imported goods bought. All shopping done in Puerto Plata.

 

[Matilda]

Our monthly food bill is around 20,000RD$. All done in San Pedro. For 2 adults, 2 teenagers as well most weekends, 3 dogs, one puppy, varying numbers of cats from 10-15. We also do a lot of entertaining, so the alcohol bill is quite high!!!

Matilda

 

[ilGrezzo]

Well, taking consideration of my England origin the alcohol factor is not to underestimate. :laugh:
So...what are the most popolar liqueurs in DR?
And how much to they cost? Maybe the beer price too.
Yes i know i'm doing a lot of questions but i'm quite curious regarding this argument.

Luca

 

[amparocorp]

who's house do we all want to visit after reading the last two posts?

 

[Matilda]

Well, taking consideration of my England origin the alcohol factor is not to underestimate. :laugh:
So...what are the most popolar liqueurs in DR?
And how much to they cost? Maybe the beer price too.
Yes i know i'm doing a lot of questions but i'm quite curious regarding this argument.

Luca

Brugal Anejo for me (all Brugals and rums are popular) around 250RD$ a litre. Beer we sell at 60RDS a grande Presidente. The richer Dominicans drink vodka and whisky. Usually black label or Chivas Regal at around 1000RD$.

Also wine is popular and you can pay anything from 99RD$ upwards, but a good bottle is around 400RD$ or more.

Matilda

Matilda

 

[Dragonfly32837]

who's house do we all want to visit after reading the last two posts?

Matilda's!!! All the way... :laugh:

 

[cotu?sano]

Matilda's!!! All the way... :laugh:

Count me in...

 

[Matilda]

Oh ****

Matilda

 

[Lambada]

Oh ****

Matilda

You'll learn.......... but maybe one of them is a hairdresser.................?

 

[megabiteme]

2 1/2

2 adults and one 3 year old we pay anywhere from 12,000 - 15,000 per month and thats on regular bread, milk, soda, ceral, eggs, rice, beans, shampoo, waffle syrup, vegies, complete hand made salad about once every week, cooking oil, salt, sugar, coffee here and there, cream, some snacks, like oreo cookies, crackers, etc. It's been very hard for me since i only get disability and my wife not being able to work for health reasons. I don't get ice cream and some of the things i listed gets cut back if i fear of running out of money within a months time. I get a total of only 825.00 per month US and ifind this very hard to get by on as a total living costs.

 

[lucila_08]

Santo Domingo Cost of Living

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:

This is a really good list that could be helpful to my sister and I as well. We are thinking about moving to Santo Domingo and/or its surrounding areas, DR in the next year or so.

Rent of a one or two bdrm apt:
Light bill:
Home phone:
Cell phone (NOT PREPAID-WITH CONTRACT):
Broadband internet:
Cost of water:
Vehicle Maintenence:
Oil Change for Vehicle:
Gas price per gallon:
Bi-lingual 4 yr university:
dental apt w/ insurance:
Medical apt w/ insurance:
Entertainment-movies, club/bar cover charges, alcohol:
Products like shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, lotion, hair products, hair dryer, hair straightner, pedicure:
Dining out monthly:
Grocery bill monthly:

***THis may be a lot but THANKS :cheeky:to whomever replies***

take care

luv siempre,
lucila

 

[tish]

Per month in RD$


Estimated costs:
Rent of a three bedroom apartment: RD$10,000
Cost of power per household: RD$2000
Cost of telephone: RD$ 2200 (with internet inc.)
Cost of cellular: $2000 (I call the UK on it sometimes)
Cost of Internet dial-up service:
Cost of water: RD$800
Cost of a hotel room in Santo Domingo:
Cost of a vehicle: (used), (new), (luxury) RD$620,000 - six years old
Cost of a taxi: not sure, i've never used one
Cost of lunch/dinner at a restaurant: RD$3000 with wine and beer for two
Cost of gasoline: RD$2500 - incl school run twice a week
Cost of bilingual schools: RD$15,000 (excl. RD$65,000 per yr) for 3 children
Cost of Spanish language schools: RD$3700 for two of us
Cost of dental appointment: (with insurance) (without insurance) RD$600 for one visit without insurance
Cost of medical appointment: RD$500 (with ins.)
Cost of household help: RD$5000 (6 days a week) she lives out
Cost of a full time chauffeur: we don't use this service
Cost of a receptionist: we don't use this service
Cost of an interpreter: we don't use this service
Cost of a translation: RD$3000 for 8 A4 size documents
Cost of a full time accountant:[/QUOTE] we don't use this service

We live in Santiago, Vista Linda.

 

[london777]

A very useful thread for this prospective immigrant. Please keep it going and add headings to the original list (someone suggested maintenance costs, for example).

 

[amparocorp]

how 'bout adding the cost of a side salad at mcdonalds? how far is this thread going to go? let's face it folks, living in the DR, at first world standards, is not cheap and can cost as much or more than where you are coming from. if you are counting your pennies at your present address, chances are that you will be watching your centavos here. not trying to be mean spirited or discouraging anyone from coming to paradise, all are welcome, come on down, but the days of "living off the interest" are over.

 

[sweetdbt]

Whether it is possible to "live off the interest" totally depends on how much the principal is, where in the DR you choose to live and what kind of life style you are comfortable with. Are the days of living like a king on the interest from $100,000 US over. Yes!

We have had posts recently on this board by people who are living on less than $1000/mth, and are quite content with their life style. This includes a frequent, well respected and highly knowledgible poster who owns a car and lives in a nice neighborhood on the North coast. It can be done, and it is simply innacurate to say categorically that it cannot.

 

[dv8]

costs in puerto plata

Estimated costs:
Rent of a three bedroom apartment: from 200 USD in a barrio upwards
Cost of power per household: on average 30-40 USD
Cost of telephone: see internet
Cost of cellular: prepaid: almost anything, with contract: about 30 USD, phone itself: depends on a model
Cost of Internet dial-up service: internet+telephone, unlimited local calls 70 USD
Cost of water: cistern: 10 USD
Cost of a hotel room in Santo Domingo: from 50 USD upwards
Cost of a vehicle: (used), (new), (luxury) respectively: anything one can afford to pay for used, 30-50k USD for new, 100k+ USD for luxury
Cost of a taxi: 3-5 USD
Cost of lunch/dinner at a restaurant: cheap comedor for lunch 5 USD for person, nice dinner 15+ USD per person
Cost of gasoline: that varies, price changes, i think weekly?
Cost of bilingual schools: no kids, dunno
Cost of Spanish language schools: no kids, dunno
Cost of dental appointment: (with insurance) (without insurance) depends on work done, i heard there is a dispute about insurance, so without it at least 30 USD for cleaning
Cost of medical appointment: 3 USD with insurance, 15 USD without, that's for visit with GP, specialist will take much more!
Cost of household help: full time about 150+ USD
Cost of a full time chauffeur: dominican price will be minimum wage or up, 200 USD+ but for a foreigner...
Cost of a receptionist: see above, depends on skills person must posses, 300 USD tops
Cost of an interpreter: depends, if i may say, how dumb gringo is, if you have dominican friend you trust cost is zero, maybe a bottle of ron; i'd say few hundred pesos (say, 10 USD)
Cost of a translation: depends on the lawyer (we are talking appointed traductor, yes?) and language, can be 30 USD for a page or more/less
Cost of a full time accountant: depends on business you do and what is full time, every day, 8hrs a day? in any case, at least $300 USD

i based my prices on experience so they may be discussable. dominicans normally pay less for things and there is no reason why gringos should pay more only because they can afford it. receptionist, house help, driver - there is plenty of people who can and want to do the job. accountant in a big company will earn more money, if he only comes every now and then to do taxes and sort out business you pay considerably less. my best advice is have trustworthy dominican negotiate prices for you if you do not speak language or do not know the country. a good lawyer is always of help but will not be cheap.
prices quoted if what we pay or paid at some point (miesposo is dominican).
just to fill in the costs profile:
food for two plus rather hefty cat: about 300 USD per month (that includes necessities such as soap etc)
sending kids to PUCIMM: my mother in law told me that at some point she spent nearly 4500 USD a month on her three kids (that included all school fees plus additional courses, living costs and monthly allowance).
gasoline: miesposo checks future prices on the official government website, they set up prices beforehand so he always knows when it's gonna go up and how much.