DR is a great place to live if you adapt yourself to the local living condition. I am able to live more comfortably just with my moderate income.
- Thread starter Robert
- Start date
Living Costs in the Dominican Republic
Different experiences / exenditure.
Don't really buy much food in Lindo - seems not too different from the capital.
The local butcher gets his chicken/pork/beef/goat locally. You see it arriving.
Eggs, veg etc. are generally local ; I like to support the local economy where possible. I have't noticed the prices are much different from the Capital.
Nagua is easy to get to by public transport - the Capital also; about 3 hours if you leave at 5 am you get 6-7 hours in the capital.
Many gringo's do small trips by quad or motorcycle - few days of continuous heavy rain every . People do go to Samana by Quad. Wet weather clothing can be taken if forecast not good.
In the capital always seem to spend a bit. Taxis are quite a lot and public transport erratic away from main routes. Of course now there's the metro.
But a meal in the Colonial Zone with beer; although very nice and beautiful will not be that cheap.
Certainly if you go of out of the tourist areas pieces of chicken and rice are cheaper in the capital because of high turnover etc.
But you said you were comparing it for Dominicans not gringos.
It does depend on lifestyle. If you like ocean, countryside, fresh food, the outdoors activities etc. LT will be better and cheaper since in the capital you have to travel to the beach; if you like shopping, city life, larger choice of eateries, and a car based lifestyle the capital will be preferable.
Of course the bookstore thing is now largely solved ; on Kindle the complete works of Dickens for 2.99.
Nice to sit on the beach under a shade with an orange juice and a sandwich packed and read.
:bunny:
Yanandu
http://www.workersrights.org/linkeddocs/WRC Living Wage Analysis for the Dominican Republic.pdf
here is a study on the basic costs of living in the DR
. Based on this analysis, the WRC determined that a living wage in the Dominican
Republic is 222,042 Dominican pesos per annum. The gross wage necessary to yield this
amount as take-home pay is 235,987 Dominican pesos. The current minimum wage in the
country (as of early 2010) is 70,200 pesos per annum.
1
In US dollars, and expressed as an
hourly wage, the Dominica minimum wage is $0.84 and the living wage is $2.83.
here is a study on the basic costs of living in the DR
. Based on this analysis, the WRC determined that a living wage in the Dominican
Republic is 222,042 Dominican pesos per annum. The gross wage necessary to yield this
amount as take-home pay is 235,987 Dominican pesos. The current minimum wage in the
country (as of early 2010) is 70,200 pesos per annum.
1
In US dollars, and expressed as an
hourly wage, the Dominica minimum wage is $0.84 and the living wage is $2.83.
Interesting read. The terms of trade that dictate wages in many industries are the product of the 'race to the bottom' among many exporting nations. At least three models exist to provide labor at 'world rates' for exporting industries such as textiles.
In many parts of Asia and elsewhere a large family grouping has a smallholding. They are largely self sufficient for food, construction materials etc. etc. outside the money economy. Within the family there is possibly one or two members free to work. They will go and work, staying in a dormitory or equivalent sending money back to the family to buy the few things that cannot be produced locally.
Actually of course sleeping on mats, not beds mattress, remaking cooking utensils after a number of years by low tech melting down scrap utensils and recasting is common.
In more advanced economies such as HK family income is made up in various ways to meet basic needs. Economies such as HK are moving towards minimum wages also; but this implies the state creates many jobs to reduce unemployment. The minimum wage in HK is 3.6 dollars an hour.
Another model is subsidies to the employers - for example a new factory is built and paid for. Food is given for the midday meal for workers etc.
Competition is intense in low tech industries and some hi-tech as well. There is little 'development space' and each government supports export industries and the workers in it to a lesser or greater extent.
In advanced countries there is often 'family income supplement' a type of reverse income tax to people in low wage industries such as Scottish textiles.
The options for the government are reducing imports so less dollars are needed from exports, for example by raising import barriers, import subsitution and promoting energy efficiency, reducing costs for workers - free housing, subsidized food, electric etc. moving away from industries paying low wages and requiring high subsidies,
Yanandu
In many parts of Asia and elsewhere a large family grouping has a smallholding. They are largely self sufficient for food, construction materials etc. etc. outside the money economy. Within the family there is possibly one or two members free to work. They will go and work, staying in a dormitory or equivalent sending money back to the family to buy the few things that cannot be produced locally.
Actually of course sleeping on mats, not beds mattress, remaking cooking utensils after a number of years by low tech melting down scrap utensils and recasting is common.
In more advanced economies such as HK family income is made up in various ways to meet basic needs. Economies such as HK are moving towards minimum wages also; but this implies the state creates many jobs to reduce unemployment. The minimum wage in HK is 3.6 dollars an hour.
Another model is subsidies to the employers - for example a new factory is built and paid for. Food is given for the midday meal for workers etc.
Competition is intense in low tech industries and some hi-tech as well. There is little 'development space' and each government supports export industries and the workers in it to a lesser or greater extent.
In advanced countries there is often 'family income supplement' a type of reverse income tax to people in low wage industries such as Scottish textiles.
The options for the government are reducing imports so less dollars are needed from exports, for example by raising import barriers, import subsitution and promoting energy efficiency, reducing costs for workers - free housing, subsidized food, electric etc. moving away from industries paying low wages and requiring high subsidies,
Yanandu
Group M, for example in apparal, employment in DR has dropped by over 30% since 2004. Other countries have been more competitive.
I have met people in this industry and its true that despite some movements, tax reductions etc. DR is loosing 'the race to the bottom'.
In footwear companies like Adidas shift production round the globe.
China sneaker sweatshop factory locations and stories - D. Boje
Yanandu.
I have met people in this industry and its true that despite some movements, tax reductions etc. DR is loosing 'the race to the bottom'.
In footwear companies like Adidas shift production round the globe.
China sneaker sweatshop factory locations and stories - D. Boje
Yanandu.
Few have been known to stray off topic as much as I
but I admit Yanadu has left me in the dust. 
Labor and shipping costs went up, so business went elsewhere. Dumb move by the DR authorities. If you get greedy in a market where costs are parsed by the penny, you will suffer the consequences.
When you win business on price,you will lost it on price.
I'm a retired NYC employee living here in Montellano/Sosua most of the year with my lovely wife and 3 children, and rottie! My total monthly expenses are RD$32,000. I'm renting a comfortable 3BR, 2 Bath home on a corner lot, have a pick-up (diesel), 3 kids in private school plus their RECREO money, and I pay for health insurance-light-water-groceries-diesel fuel-cable-home phone-internet-dog food & vet expenses, and occasional pizzas at the Air Force Base. All for approximately $848 dollars! My goodness, I could'nt even find an apartment for that amount where I'm from !
!Very precise.
Yes a sensible budget for a single person is about $500 and obviously rises for a family, maybe to $1000 or near
Hopefully this is a low carbon footprint life in the DR without too much imported good; and with low energy consumption.
Yanandu
Yanand.
Yes a sensible budget for a single person is about $500 and obviously rises for a family, maybe to $1000 or near
Hopefully this is a low carbon footprint life in the DR without too much imported good; and with low energy consumption.
Yanandu
Yanand.
I'm a retired NYC employee living here in Montellano/Sosua most of the year with my lovely wife and 3 children, and rottie! My total monthly expenses are RD$32,000. I'm renting a comfortable 3BR, 2 Bath home on a corner lot, have a pick-up (diesel), 3 kids in private school plus their RECREO money, and I pay for health insurance-light-water-groceries-diesel fuel-cable-home phone-internet-dog food & vet expenses, and occasional pizzas at the Air Force Base. All for approximately $848 dollars! My goodness, I could'nt even find an apartment for that amount where I'm from
Can you break this down for us?
your rent is ???
your internet and phone ?
your health insurance??
tuition for your kids?
and groceries??
just so we know
Yes - I am also curious to know how you are doing everything for only RD$32,000 per month. A breakdown of your costs would be very interesting for comparison.
Ok, here it goes (figures are in RD$):
Rent-$8500
Fuel-$1,000 per week
Tuiton-950
Recreo (snack money)-$900
Light-$1,100 Cable-$450 Phone-$1,600 Internet (Banda Ancha)-$2,042
Groceries (Jose Luis supermarket, Puerto Plata)-$10,000
Health insurance-$1,500
Water-$210
Pet food-$1,800 (large bag, premium)
Vet visits-$2,000
Truck is already paid for
Hope this helps!
Al
Rent-$8500
Fuel-$1,000 per week
Tuiton-950
Recreo (snack money)-$900
Light-$1,100 Cable-$450 Phone-$1,600 Internet (Banda Ancha)-$2,042
Groceries (Jose Luis supermarket, Puerto Plata)-$10,000
Health insurance-$1,500
Water-$210
Pet food-$1,800 (large bag, premium)
Vet visits-$2,000
Truck is already paid for
Hope this helps!
Al
Thanks - this will be helpful to many. The dog does rather well!
Yanandu
Yanandu
Ok, here it goes (figures are in RD$):
Rent-$8500
Fuel-$1,000 per week
Tuiton-950
Recreo (snack money)-$900
Light-$1,100 Cable-$450 Phone-$1,600 Internet (Banda Ancha)-$2,042
Groceries (Jose Luis supermarket, Puerto Plata)-$10,000
Health insurance-$1,500
Water-$210
Pet food-$1,800 (large bag, premium)
Vet visits-$2,000
Truck is already paid for
Hope this helps!
Al