We've all been around it a few times, and the baseline amount for two adults to live in the DR at a level reasonably close to middle class life in Middle America is somewhere around 2-2.5k/month. That assumes minimal driving, moderate spending habits, no issues with alcohol/drugs/looking for love in all the wrong places, and eating locally produced food.
That number can go up very substantially and quickly if you are living in Santo Domingo or one of the nicer touristy areas, have school age children, and/or have an affinity for luxury.
Keep in mind, that number relates to folks who have been in the country for a few years, settled in, and learned the "real" costs of everything. The "gringo tax" assessed against newbies who simply don't understand the system is quite real, and rather steep.
Personally, my advice would be to stay for a shorter term period - say, two to six months - to get a sense of the actual lifestyle and attendant costs. If you are an all or nothing kind of person and insist on selling everything and throwing caution to the wind in a rush to move out here (which is a REALLY BAD idea, btw), then the second best thing would be to figure out a reasonable budget, and then double it.
I wanted to bring the thread back to the main theme which is cost of living. And for most of us it is cost of living as compared to somewhere, like the States or Europe. For me, the main issue is the cost of housing.
Say that food is the same as the States. Say internet and phone are as well. (I think that they are cheaper but it has been a long time), ditto electric.
Health insurance is a lot less but some will counter that health service is as well, I do not think so but the argument can be made. Some meds are cheaper.. OTC stuff like vitamins and big bottles of ibuprophen.. a lot more. Clothing? you buy on line unless you really like polyester.
But RENT? Rent is a bargin here . Since housing is usually a quarter to a third of one's budget, that is a big piece of the pie.
And ownership, well, I do not own. (see above) but ownership here is not the same as in the States where you are essentially just "renting" from the State.. your condo fees are going to be more in the $300 range there than the $50 range here.
So when we say a "middle class lifestlye" that covers a lot of ground.
For those of us who are smack in the middle of the middle or below it, I think that one can have a much higher standard of living here than in the States.
For the rent I pay here, I think I would only get a studio down in Crack Alley in Florida. (or a doublewide). To find a walkable down town location... well, in Miami, I would pay in week more than I pay in a month here
Home for Rent - 7300 Ocean Ter Apt 112, Miami Beach, FL 33141 - realtor.com?
So with $3 to $4 k a month here, one is Living Large. Whereas back in the US, at least, one is just getting by.
But, one is NOT running with the wealthy here, certainly not in Santo Domingo. Not with the wealthy Dominicans whose wealth is astonishing or really even with a lot of the ex pats who are here "on assignment" with governments or NGOs or multinationals and have their lodgings, cars, utilities, and school bills paid for.
There are also luxuries here, such as maids, which I could NEVER afford in the States, and who have made my life infinitely more luxurious.
I don't own a car which is a luxury in and of itself. I take taxis. Or publicos. Or conchos in the campo. And buses. Or sometimes rent for a day or two. (I did the math once and figured I could take two cabs a day and rent a car every weekend and still come out ahead.. but I can walk to everything I need)
It is the folks who have under $2k a month who have to really figure out if they can make it here or if they want to because there is no safetly net or back up if something happens. With that amount, you are limited to looking for apartments under $500 which are here but get harder and harder to find. Your health insurance can go up to $200 a month, depending. Then the utilities can kick in at $200 combined. (just arguing here).
That leaves you $1100 just for food, right?
So it still looks like you have plenty.
But the apartment probably has a 5% increase in the lease.
So put that away right way. Plus another 10% just for safety. So there is another $225.
Down to $875.
Ok you are not a big boozer, but you like to go out a bit, like to eat steak every once in a while. So say $600 for food and entertainment?
Then you need to go home, what, once a year? once every two years? You have $3300 a year left to go and see your mother, your kids, your grandkids, whatever.
You made it.
*you hope that you are not put on any expensive meds but you have some safety with the savings.. your insurance covers some meds.
* you also hope that the landlord will not REALLY increase the rent but you are prepared to move if need be.
I am addressing this really to people who are thinking of retiring here or have an income from assets or a secure income flow from something on line. (there are a few rare birds who have started succesful ventures here but do not count on it).
We used to say it was 1.5k for a single person.. But I have a friend who has about that I think that I would have to say now that the figure is really more like 2k a month for a single person living in SD with a solid, really, Upper middle class lifestyle.
And I would add 500 to 1k per person per month for anyone living with.. for insurance, food and eating out. I found that I spent much more on eating out when my sister was here.. because I had someone to eat out with!
But that amount of money will NOT buy that lifestyle in the USA now.
