How many tourists does it take to equal one expat or snowbird that comes here and plunks down $200K-$400K USD for a condo or house, a car, furniture, and spends money weekly on groceries, electric, insurance, and restaurants?
- Thread starter chico bill
- Start date
Home Alone - not without more money
And has family and friends that come and visit every so often---- who are counted in the " tourist" category.
Anyways, it's not too hard to see that:
Tourists : good.
Long-term tourists : good.
They all bring money with them to spend. Better they spend it in the DR then elsewhere.
P.S. if one comes to the DR to work, to rent out apartments, etc, ...... one goes into " economic immigrant" category. Not " tourist" nor " snowbird "
I never once stated that Sosua would be cleaned up in a matter of months. I stated that the government does not like what is happening in Sosua once what some call "the muppets" and their videos started showing up happened and would like to reduce the appearance of prostitution. It is an embarrassment. Attempts were made that were comical at best.
There was one take over of a hotel which is now a Marriott brand. I never stated there would be many new hotels in Sosua.
Where would they even build new hotels in Sosua?
What I have stated is that there are far fewer tourist and more expats. Many more condos and villas. There is a thread on that topic here on DR1.
I did expect the squalor on Sosua beach to be cleaned up and that is happening at a snails pace with the first plaza done and the second one started.
All of this, of course will mean that Sosua will be more expensive.
Check out the discussion on Facebook about the families moving in to Sosua. With kids..
The posts are wandering off topic again...let's get back on topic please. There are many other threads about living in Sosua, etc... Thanks
I think gasoline has dropped 3 pesos on premium. From 293 to 290 per gallon. I noticed yesterday
I only know how much I spend living here. Others will have different needs and widely different spending patterns.
One week in an AI in Punta Cana, some Hilton one mentioned in another thread here, which was described as not the most expensive, would cost more than my monthly costs.
The government focuses on revenue. People who rent property or build condos and homes for sale focus on selling them to whoever will buy them, so Expats and Snowbirds are part of their client base. The Expats and Snowbirds are important to them and anyone that sells directly to them.
How do the several thousands of Expats and Snowbirds compare to the many millions of short term tourists from AI resorts and Cruise Ships? For the government those Expats and Snowbirds are a drop in the bucket. Are those Expats and Tourists significant in Cabarete and Sosua now that tourism has dropped so low? Of course, but we are certainly not talking about any significant economic engine for the DR as a whole.
I think if there were no expats in Cabarete and other villages close, Jeanette’s supermarket would have a hard time.
I think you are all missing the point of snowbirds, since this is about cost of living in DR. It is much higher for Snowbirds too and it appears there are less of them now as well, and I think it is because they have less disposable income for a vacation and the DR is no longer the bargain it was 8-10 years ago.
I think you could rent a condo in Hawaii, find cheaper and better golf food in markets is comparable - but a much better selection of restaurants.
And Mexico has hundreds of locations much more affordable
Once DR is on economic par with Hawaii or Mexico it will drop visits - Air fare San Francisco to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico from the US can be had for less than $250. To Puerto Plata it's around $800. And with multiple stops.
I'd prefer a quick cheaper get away with much better food. Air BnB rates are comparable now to those on the North Coast
And whale watching or fishing - there is no comparison to the Sea of Cortez or Pacific Ocean to DR.
Best fishing I ever had was in Mexico and cheap. Only place I ever said to the captain - let's go back I am all fished out. We caught about 40 tuna in 2 hours
I think you could rent a condo in Hawaii, find cheaper and better golf food in markets is comparable - but a much better selection of restaurants.
And Mexico has hundreds of locations much more affordable
Once DR is on economic par with Hawaii or Mexico it will drop visits - Air fare San Francisco to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico from the US can be had for less than $250. To Puerto Plata it's around $800. And with multiple stops.
I'd prefer a quick cheaper get away with much better food. Air BnB rates are comparable now to those on the North Coast
And whale watching or fishing - there is no comparison to the Sea of Cortez or Pacific Ocean to DR.
Best fishing I ever had was in Mexico and cheap. Only place I ever said to the captain - let's go back I am all fished out. We caught about 40 tuna in 2 hours
Same with Playero and Super Pola. And Baileys restaurant or Margot.
Expats be it snowbirds, long term like me or Hotel short term are all critical to many businesses.
Think about rent-a-cars. Which has gone up here in DR too
Las gasolinas bajan por segunda vez en este año
Ayer el Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y MIpymes (MICM) anunció rebajas de dos y tres pesos en las gasolinas, las que se venden desde la medianoche de hoy a RD$290.10 la premiun y a RD$272.50 la regular.
The DR government does not focus on Expats and Snowbirds at all. It focuses on Cruise Ships and AI resorts.
Of course global inflation has caused prices to go up for all of us. I was just looking at a trip to Hawaii. To get there from here would add 4 days to my trip and make it a miserable experience with layovers. So that is not happening. Everyone on FB is saying Colombia, Colombia, Colombia, but my wife is not at all enthused about going there.
So what do we have left on the north coast? A few dozen condo and villa projects trying to attract buyers from 135K (100 feet from my house) to 3 Million USD at Eden Cabarete. Gotta have something to keep Janets, Pola and Playero going. Matteos, Jolly Roger, Parada El Choco, Plan B are for sale as the shift happens from tourism to expats.
I just checked my monthly average spending in 2013 versus 2023. I am spending about 100 USD per month more now.
I would never have guessed you would have your monthly personal spending for the last ten years noted, accounted and readily available!
It is the way. I retired at 48. Planning was necessary.I would never have guessed you would have your monthly personal spending for the last ten years noted, accounted and readily available!
That's a surprise. Doesn't everybody?I would never have guessed you would have your monthly personal spending for the last ten years noted, accounted and readily available!
I have a spreadsheet budget with my spending for almost as long.
I suspect most people don't. I learned early on how to manage money.
There was a point in my life when I didn't either. I had a business that was raking in money, but I was still close to 100K in debt.
Thanks to the folks at Consumer Credit Counseling Services (Free) they sat me down and showed me the ropes, took over my finances, and showed me how to get to zero debt in less than 4 years then sent me on my way. (I've never been asked "Why" so many times in my life. LOL)
The smartest decision I've made in my life, bar none.
Winde you are spending $100 more than 10 years ago
I suspect you don't own a car have health insurance, drink alcohol and only eat cheese sandwiches on white bread with no mayonnaise.
And you have no AC and only 7 watt Led bulbs.
Otherwise that's impossible
At 48? Sincere question: are you not getting bored? I tried in 2016 at 55, after six months doing nothing but reading, smoking and cooking was driving me mad.