I'm not sure if you actually live in DR full time, but food has got incredibly expensive since the pandemic. And is now way more expensive than the UK or the US in my opinion. If you just look at a menu online for any pizza place, you'll find that the pizzas come in at about RD$ 800 - RD$ 1000, and to this they add 28% taxes so we're talking at least RD$ 1000 - RD$ 1300. Then add on the drinks and the sides and maybe a glass or two of wine or beer for the adults and it easily comes to RD$ 6,000 - RD$ 8,000.
I'm talking about somewhere you would go for dinner, like Segazona (now Era Ora) in the Colonial Zone, or M7 on the Malecon. Maybe you could get Little Ceasars take-out for less.
I agree food is too expensive (and very low quality) in DR.
But so is water. Corraplata charges 700 pesos min charge - for that you get an empty pipe, but every one pays the bill in hopes one day water will reappear.
So you order a 3000 gallon truck for 3000 pesos and after it bumps up the hill it's 2500 gallons. A family of 4 probably uses ~300 gallons a day, maybe more if you have a pool and take evening showers.
So you'll need 3 trucks a month.
Doing the math that's over $150/mo for water.
More than most families ever pay in the US where it's about $45 and always available at 60 psi pressure (No paying for electricity for a pump)
The DR is becoming quite expensive. Home prices on par, or higher, than many parts of US, unless you have a zinc roof in a barrio.
I paid $80 for electricity this past month. I run my AC 3 hours per evening, when it's hot, do 4 loads of wash a week and have a MW, toaster and 3 ceiling fans with Led lights. That's maybe less than you'd pay in US unless your lucky enough tho have Florida Power & Light which is incredibly cheap.
Gasoline is near $5/gallon. Car mechanics are way cheaper in DR but expect to go 3 times for the same issue and that's if you help them solve the problem with parts and diagnosis.
Once DR is equal to North America in cost the main advantage here is being near an ocean and mild winters.
And yes I'm investigating returning. If not for my loyal dogs I'd be gone already.