cuba vs. dominican republic

[bryan]

saludos de chicago.
i am a frequent traveler to cuba and have fallen in love with the island and her people. however, the idea of living and working there is futile so i am directing my attention to the D.R. (i've never been). i'm considering a move there in the next few months and wonder if anyone can give me an idea of what to expect. what i love most about cuba is how affable the people are and how open they are to making friends with foreigners. is this the case in D.R. as well, or should i expect to be a lonely extranjero keeping company with other gringos.
i am especialy interested in what i can expect to pay for an apartment in santo domingo. fancy condos are not my style. could i rent an old apartment in the colonial part of town relatively cheaply?
another concern of mine is finding a job. i speak spanish pretty well, have a B.A. (ok- it's in theater) but am TEFL certified (to teach english as a foreign language) and have some teaching experience. i also have restaurant managment and a lot of bartending experience. do you think i'll be able to find work?
any information or advice would make me oh-so-happy. thanks, bryan.

 

[hlywud]

Cuba vs. Dominican Republic

People of the DR are exceptionally friendly, much like the people of Cuba. Hopefully you will get a post from Hillbilly he is one of the resident experts on this board. he can likely help you with the answers about apartments and working. Dont't expect wages like chicago.

Good Luck.

 

[Henry]

Re: Cuba vs. Dominican Republic

Cuba and DR are pretty the same! The wages over here are about USD 1000 for a teacher English/Spanish! There are appartments in the Colonial Zone, but this is a pretty hot and dusty region, you might want to try it in the Ciudad nueva or Gascue, which is just next door, but foreigners feel better there (more trees etc.!).
Instead of an appartment you may think of a aparta hotel, where you have a room with bed and a small kitchen! There are a few arround and easier to get a vacancy than appartments, which are more expensive and not easy to find (foreigners likely are offered higher prices anyway than to locals), the price range for appartments is approx. USD 180.- to USD 600.- depending on the host and quality! Furnished appartments are even more expensive, while in Aparta hotels everything including TV is given! Prices are always negotiable!!!!
See u' here
Henry

 

[Dolores1]

Beware. To keep your present standards of living, life in the DR could be more expensive than in the US.

The Living in Santo Domingo book, available at this site, can give you a good idea of what you will find here.

 

[Charlie]

Keep in mind Bryan, that even if you land a job as an English teacher, that a 1000 pesos is nothing. Barely $60.00. I don't know if Henry was quoting per month or week. Either way, those are starvation wages. I've been to the D.R. three times recently. I can tell you that the prices in Santo Domingo for the most part are what you would pay in the States. I've talked with alot of Americans, Europeans, and other foreigners in the D.R. We all come to the same conclusion. We don't understand how the Dominicans exist on such pathetic wages.

In addition, I haven't seen much of a double standard, except that most pay less for a taxi ride or perhaps bar bill. But, I've stood behind Dominicans in the grocery store check-out line and they get charged same as foreigners. So, it is particularly head-shaking that the $30.00 they just spent is most likely half their wages for an entire week.

You'd better have a trunk of cash to set-up residence in Santo Domingo. Unfortunately, as was mentioned by another poster, when they see that you are a gringo, the fleecing begins. No matter if you cry poor-mouth, the Dom natives are going to twist your arm for more money. You are from America, you are considered well-to-do. It's a mindset that I encountered almost anywhere I ventured in the city.

Having said that, if you are looking for genuinely warm people, you can't beat the D.R. Although, St. Martin touts itself as the friendly island. It can't begin to compare to the true, friendliness of the Dominican people. Previously, I made annual trips to St. Martin. However, St. Martin's leniency on crime has let crime overtake the island. Now, my destination of choice is Santo Domingo. Old world charm with modern sophistication and kind people.

If you can earn enough money to sustain yourself, you should be happy living in Santo Domingo.

Charlie W.

 

[W. Mejia]

It's true that wages in the Dr are low, that is if you are making minimum wage, however, for qualified personal they can be very good.

If you are into Networks and communications, computers, DBMS, Oracle, or Internet web developing, you can get a nice job in one of the mayor communication companies (CODETEL, Tricom, All America, Orange or Centennial).

Colgate, La Manicera, La Cerveceria (the one that makes Presidente beer) or the Central Bank are among the best paying companies in the country.

I work as a network manager here in the DR, and I would not quit here to travel to the US or Europe.

If you make good money, you can afford a nice apartment, car, Internet and all of the commodities you can find in first world countries.

I think an English teacher in APEC or the Dominico Americano, UNIBE or any well known school can have a good salary. But then you will have to ask other English teachers to know for sure.

Best of lucks in your endeavor.

W. Mejia.

 

[Lynn]

Henry, I believe that Bryan responded to you at USD1000 = US$1,000.00. As am American living in the DR for almost 3 years, I wouldn't move back to the states for anything. My 13 year old son goes to an American school here in La Romana. I personally do not care for SDQ, but we all have to go there for one reason or another. I agree that you can probably get a job as an Englich Teachers in one of the "private upscale schools" it would have to be one of those to make that kind of money... You'd also need to get a labor visa, which at this point is more paperwork than the IRS. But if you plan on being here for any amount of time and working, you'll need one. (I'm still working on mine) Anyway...good luck Lynn

 

[Walker]

W. Mejia is righ

In the public sector of education, the pay is lower them RD5,000
for "una tanda" around six hour class a day.
But a regular aparment or house in Santiago es around 3,500, food prices are high, gas, telephone, cable tv etc etc. In the private schoolls, can be diferent wage.

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In Cuba, as far as a was told some years ago, the salary for regular workers is below 5 US Money, but medicine is free, education in all levels, house goverment own around 2 US dollars, im no shure is electricity is O.5O cents, US

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As poor, life in better in dominican, not Cuba.

Without money, life is better in USA, wors in Dominican

With good laboral level to make money, life is better in USA, not in ower countries.

And i need to go at english school, if im going keep putin pestening to be undertood notes in this nice foro....