- Thread starter Benadonia
- Start date
Thinking of moving to the Dominican Republic
Yes we are city people but this will not restrict us, we are humble, hardworking and do not expect to live like we are on holiday. We both want to get out of the London lifestyle and take the time to slow down and appreciate life, we have never lived in the Caribbean but always wanted to visit and possibly move depending, we have both lived out side the uk mostly sharing with locals and renting small simple places, we are not much into tourism or luxury getaways but just like to live in vibrant places with strong
cultures.
The DR is not the only place we are researching so other comments on other places is welcome.
choose carefully
I too plan on moving there. I however plan on moving more towards the country side where its much cheaper
to live in considering you could grow your own fruits and vegetables. My rent there for a nice 3 bedroom would be $300 ( US DOLLARS ) a month with indoor restrooms. Looking just like a normal USA apartment. So I
suggest you look carefully to live in a neighborhood where lights doesn't go as much as well as the water which is a big factor. Get lots of candles unless you plan on taking a generator to get lights on at all times and placing a water tank as a back up when you have no water running.
Other wise it's a beautiful cheap country to live in. I wish you and your girlfriend all the luck.
As far as permanent residency is a little costly and a little hard. I'm going through that process now and its a
headache.
I too plan on moving there. I however plan on moving more towards the country side where its much cheaper
to live in considering you could grow your own fruits and vegetables. My rent there for a nice 3 bedroom would be $300 ( US DOLLARS ) a month with indoor restrooms. Looking just like a normal USA apartment. So I
suggest you look carefully to live in a neighborhood where lights doesn't go as much as well as the water which is a big factor. Get lots of candles unless you plan on taking a generator to get lights on at all times and placing a water tank as a back up when you have no water running.
Other wise it's a beautiful cheap country to live in. I wish you and your girlfriend all the luck.
As far as permanent residency is a little costly and a little hard. I'm going through that process now and its a
headache.
Not to be a negative nelly, but people have a preconceived idea of Caribbean life. I know I did and the reality could not have been further from the truth.
I'm also from England and living in England is much much cheaper than living in DR.
My advice to young people looking to venture into DR for the experience is this.
The country spits out far more than can make it home, far, far more. It is not a place to be without a good amount of money behind you, even short term you always need emergency, get out of dodge cash available, always, and I mean a decent amount or you could have a very nasty time should you get caught up in something, be you involved or not, it happens far to often.
If you have no large amounts of money then forget about considering setting up, and forget about being able to work and save. Going off your post, you will be working hard and dipping into savings just to get by on basics.
The reality is that only very good and lucky investors or those living off income from outside the country (pensions, business overseas), or people with something special to offer professionally can ever make it a real success, as in living a professional, profitable comfortable lifestyle. No one can land in DR with nothing and expect to work thier was up the ladder into comfort, that just is not available without ties to the cou try with those who can help you, which are few.
By all means save up and fly in, but fly in with the intention of leaving. With this attitude you will make your life much less stressful and the experience easier to walk away from. If something happens while in the country and opportunity knocks then you can take it. But there is very little oportunity that you do not need to create yourself.
For a nation who 'thank god' they have very little to be thankful for.
But it does happen. I have a friend that went Cabarete for 2 weeks, 3 years ago, and he has never left. He just bums around, he earns his money translating several languages and lives very comfortably. So it's there if you have something to offer, and can make that work for you on your own initiative. But that is very rare.
I wish you luck and adventure. Stay safe and within the bounds of reality. Many you will meet will be absolute fruitcakes. Nowhere else in the world can I say attracts more nutballs and odbods, losers and luckies, the deluded and in denial.
Many are really really happy, many, and they are those who have made it work with what they had, and none of them started with nothing, or little.
Be cool, enjoy!
I'm also from England and living in England is much much cheaper than living in DR.
My advice to young people looking to venture into DR for the experience is this.
The country spits out far more than can make it home, far, far more. It is not a place to be without a good amount of money behind you, even short term you always need emergency, get out of dodge cash available, always, and I mean a decent amount or you could have a very nasty time should you get caught up in something, be you involved or not, it happens far to often.
If you have no large amounts of money then forget about considering setting up, and forget about being able to work and save. Going off your post, you will be working hard and dipping into savings just to get by on basics.
The reality is that only very good and lucky investors or those living off income from outside the country (pensions, business overseas), or people with something special to offer professionally can ever make it a real success, as in living a professional, profitable comfortable lifestyle. No one can land in DR with nothing and expect to work thier was up the ladder into comfort, that just is not available without ties to the cou try with those who can help you, which are few.
By all means save up and fly in, but fly in with the intention of leaving. With this attitude you will make your life much less stressful and the experience easier to walk away from. If something happens while in the country and opportunity knocks then you can take it. But there is very little oportunity that you do not need to create yourself.
For a nation who 'thank god' they have very little to be thankful for.
But it does happen. I have a friend that went Cabarete for 2 weeks, 3 years ago, and he has never left. He just bums around, he earns his money translating several languages and lives very comfortably. So it's there if you have something to offer, and can make that work for you on your own initiative. But that is very rare.
I wish you luck and adventure. Stay safe and within the bounds of reality. Many you will meet will be absolute fruitcakes. Nowhere else in the world can I say attracts more nutballs and odbods, losers and luckies, the deluded and in denial.
Many are really really happy, many, and they are those who have made it work with what they had, and none of them started with nothing, or little.
Be cool, enjoy!
Paid $100 a month for one bedroom in Los Charamicos. Pay $175 a month for two bedroom in Santo Domingo Este one block off Mendoza. I know exactly where I am, I show respect to those around me and I don't stick my nose where it doesn't belong.. No problems.
...and that's the thing.
I guess I would never consider moving to a place where my quality of life would be substantially reduced. While I don't live like Bill Gates, all the bathrooms are "indoors," the power stays on, and the water is drinkable. Life is, to say the least, very comfortable, and my expectation of moving would have to largely incorporate that.
Yes, I would be happier with a smaller space if that meant warmer weather year-round, and being close to water is very nice.
But living in the tropics with no AC, eating the plato del dia because McDonald's (which is horrible food to begin with) is a wee rich for my budget, and thinking life is good because I've got internet and twice-monthly visits from a woman with tattooed-on eyebrows named la gatita just doesn't sound like the best way to live your life.
I guess I would never consider moving to a place where my quality of life would be substantially reduced. While I don't live like Bill Gates, all the bathrooms are "indoors," the power stays on, and the water is drinkable. Life is, to say the least, very comfortable, and my expectation of moving would have to largely incorporate that.
Yes, I would be happier with a smaller space if that meant warmer weather year-round, and being close to water is very nice.
But living in the tropics with no AC, eating the plato del dia because McDonald's (which is horrible food to begin with) is a wee rich for my budget, and thinking life is good because I've got internet and twice-monthly visits from a woman with tattooed-on eyebrows named la gatita just doesn't sound like the best way to live your life.
If that is your standard of life and you are comfortable living as gutter class native then it is great. I just couldn't for any long period of time. And that is the difference. I expect you knew that wasn't long term, that was not your ambition, you were not deluded that a quality future was going to come from that. That is the mentality people should have. If you don't have it, then know you are leaving and the experience will be far more enjoyable.
"if someone is telling that to rent something decent in Santo Domingo you need at least 2 k USD... this is just ridiculous...."
This is ridiculous. I am looking for a place to move to SDQ soon. I was shown some here some there so far. VERY decent ones (most in Bella Vista) etc. All of them are in the range of 500 to 1 K USD for minimum 3 BR / 2 rest room objects.
My impression is that apartments are cheaper in SDQ than they were years ago.
Of course there are still those biased ones (owners, real estate agents) who make their living renting overpriced places and of course don't like to hear about or let others hear about that you can indeed find decent places in decent neighborhoods for less than 2 K...
This is ridiculous. I am looking for a place to move to SDQ soon. I was shown some here some there so far. VERY decent ones (most in Bella Vista) etc. All of them are in the range of 500 to 1 K USD for minimum 3 BR / 2 rest room objects.
My impression is that apartments are cheaper in SDQ than they were years ago.
Of course there are still those biased ones (owners, real estate agents) who make their living renting overpriced places and of course don't like to hear about or let others hear about that you can indeed find decent places in decent neighborhoods for less than 2 K...
exactly. your comfort zone is 3 bedroom flat for 500- 1000, for me it would be something 1 bedroom in 200-300 range....
and for the others : they feel bad if they wont spend at least 2 K for their flat. but that's ok. they are one of the reasons why economy still rolls...;-)
and for the others : they feel bad if they wont spend at least 2 K for their flat. but that's ok. they are one of the reasons why economy still rolls...;-)
Consider the smaller cities if you wish because if the base for your rent is $200 or $300 per month then in cities like Moca or Tamboril that is hacienda living. Even in Santiago their exists very nice 3br apartments in good neighborhoods for $250. Shoot in rural provinces like Valverde $250 is TV star soap opera living for housing(for one or 2 folks, not a family of 9).
And Derfish, Bro...no one is going to help you with the bills because you are a rich man from the US, sell some gold bullion or stocks and bonds to support your family.
And Derfish, Bro...no one is going to help you with the bills because you are a rich man from the US, sell some gold bullion or stocks and bonds to support your family.
I think the hardest part for me is bordom. If I move there full time I would need something to do. and I have to have a girlfriend I get lonley.
My appartment is 10,000 but i spent a long time geting it set up 3 years it is nice now still no ac but 3 fans in my bed room. I could do it on 800.
I am ok with public cars taxi are a lot cheeper then in the usa but it can add up. Finding frends can be heard I have one good dominican family that
I spend time with. I think I would need to try and reach out to more gringos in santiago if I was to stay there full time. Trouth is if you have a
constent income with out working you are lucky in my book.
My appartment is 10,000 but i spent a long time geting it set up 3 years it is nice now still no ac but 3 fans in my bed room. I could do it on 800.
I am ok with public cars taxi are a lot cheeper then in the usa but it can add up. Finding frends can be heard I have one good dominican family that
I spend time with. I think I would need to try and reach out to more gringos in santiago if I was to stay there full time. Trouth is if you have a
constent income with out working you are lucky in my book.
With all due respect, I disagree. I have lived in several places on the island paying a similar quantity of money, I have never seen anything like "gutter class native". We have had almost 24/7 electricity (meaning that I have been working from home and we have not had inverter), water even 5 times weekly and excellent cellphone reception. No burglaries due to the fact that all the neigbours know each other and take care of each other.
There are upscale barrios (where obviously hardly any expats live), that are filled with good people.
You're way off the point buddy!
I was replying to where he was living for those prices, I know exactly what you get for your buck in those locations. I am aware of rental prices and yes you are correct, you can find property at low cost, we all know that, the country is obviously ull of cheap accom. Missed the point!:tired:
Gutter class native?
Hardly, I just live like a middle class Dominican, that means no gated compounds, no bars on the windows, no dogs, no security and not living in fear while constantly having to look over my shoulder every time I step outside my little mansion. I also ride the bus and use the metro. If my peace of mind is gutter to you then so be it. I'm guessing you only use the words "gutter class native" on this forum, not in public.
No more off topic post on this one.