Housekeepers cost Samana area

@karynllanders

Wow, also not to sure but @planner made add some information.

I thought I also saw a new law or updates about hiring domestic help and taxes, etc..again not sure... but if so,  beware because the person that you hire will know.

Of course they try. 1000 pesos for 3 hours is already good pay. And make sure they do the work how you want it. Unless you like buckets of water thrown in the house.

I've only hired cleaners for one-off cleanings, like when moving out of a rental. I've paid 2500-3000 for a full 8-hour day.

Are those quotes from individuals or services?

(Also - I might know someone for you to get a quote from! I'll let you know.)

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

I saw information about full time help where minimum wage expectations are set on monthly minimums. I will only have 3 hrs twice week. Part time should not apply the standard.

Here’s what I found: minimum monthly salary for domestic workers at about RD$13,000 per month, effective May 1, 2025 — up from RD$10,000 previously. This is the legal minimum that employers should pay for a full-time domestic worker (approximately 44 hours per week).

DR1

+1

If paid daily instead of monthly, that minimum works out to about RD$546 per 8-hour day based on the same wage formula.

Paying more than 1,000 Rd for a 3 hour day would be out of line in my opinion.  However, depending where you are located you may want to add transportation to that! 

Best way to find someone is from others in your area or recommendations!

@karynllanders

HI Karyn,

We pay 1700 for one time.  Our place is about the same size as yours.  She spends 4 hours here. 

Best,

John

I’ve had a quote of 2500 for a 8 hour day, so if you divide in half for 4 hours 1250  , which I thought was a lot because I have construction guy working for me for 1200 for an 8 hour day… and working hard , outside in the sun all day , so I passed on the cleaning job  good luck

@Tippj

Wow, 1200 a day for 8 hours , construction, outside ?

$2.50 dollars an hour....? Maybe its just me but call center jobs pay more! Maybe it's just your area that you are able to pay that rate...interesting

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

1200 per day is pretty much the standard for construction work.

@Papito NL

It was years ago, but since Puerto Rico started rebuilding after the hurricane and made it easier for foreign workers to come in, prices here have more than doubled.  You would be paying almost $2,500 RD per day for a general labourer.  If you only need him 1 day, possibly a bit less, but if you need him returning everyday, like for a house build, you're paying much more now.

@Papito NL

Well,  not in Santo Domingo now or anymore...you lucked out..glad it worked out for you.

Best!

DB

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Call center jobs are considered  skilled here!   Remember construction is using a lot of unskilled and illegal workers so there is downward pressure on salaries.

I should edit my post above to  say this applies in specific areas. 

San Cristobal. Construction workers average 1200 a day at the sites. But it’s not a tourist/expat area and I usually keep my gringo face out of sight while my Dominican relatives do the negotiation or the price goes way up.  It’s how it works and why you see different numbers in threads like these. Even Dominicans who are known to work abroad get higher quotes.

@Papito NL

Makes sense....rates vary by area of the country for various trades, even call center jobs. Skilled versus non skilled to planner point

The guy working for me said on regular construction jobs he only gets $800 pesos a day  ( not sure what kind of work he’s doing while there) and gets paid every 2 Weeks’s  , and that’s only if the money is sent to the job , the money might come at the end of the month , so if you stop working there you’ll never get paid because who’s ever on site at the time of the money delivery gets paid first , no one is waiting for you to stop by ,  , a lot of those jobs sites have financial problems  , and that’s why some don’t get finished…. He doesn’t have two nickels to rub together never mind taking a plane to Puerto Rico

There are huge issues with money in construction sites. The bigger the project the bigger the issues.

I live in a luxury tower in Santo Domingo east and there is construction beside me of another tower. They are over a year behind already.

When money comes in the realtors take a cut, the construction company takes a cut, the engineers take their cut and what's left goes to the actual construction.  Taking profit and commissions come first not at the end of the project.

@planner

The man that’s working for me also has mentioned , that at the construction site , you can borrow money in advance from the supervisor of the sites  but if you borrow say $1200 pesos over a two week period for say traveling expenses back and forth , yer have to pay back $1500 ,  the more you borrow the higher the fee which he takes out of your pay

before you receive it

@Tippj

Yes, that common here in the DR everywhere in the country. Unfortunately,  it just compounds the overall problem for many Dominicans and basic daily living expenses.

I personally take a different approach when paying for labor work if I so request..luckly I have neighbors and teen age/young adults in the neighborhood that are great for construction work and light labor work I may need that I compensate.

@Tippj

That's a whole other racket