Cost of living in Dominican Republic — 2015

I bet Bob K !    and by the way, it is -25 Celsius here this morning !!.

i feel the same way.  we have been living here part time for the last 4 years.  but this year, i met some extraordinary people and made me feel the same way.  i am now family, they share everything they have with me and they love me lie family.  this has no cost in my eyes.

i am Canadian and in the last 5 years, people have changed a lot because of a very divisive government. there is a lot of racism, hate, divisiveness and i cannot wait to be here full time.  life is so beautiful here in the DR and it is because of its people.

Not sure you have posted in the correct thread.
You agree with who and what.
Maybe you meant to post this here I the everyday life
https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=449894

Bob K

Cost of living in Bavaro

it is fairly expensive compared to the rest of the island

Apartment 2 bedrooms: 30000 RDS for north american standard and 15000 for comfortable dominican style apartment
Electricity: rarely see shortage and excellent supply from CEPM
Without AC: 3000 rds
With AC: 6000 rds
Water: bottle from 10 to 40 rds, 5 gallon at 70rds delivered or 50rds if you pick up
Food: fairly expensive as they know it is a tourist area, even fruit and vegetable stand is more expensive that super market most of the time i say 4000-5000 rds per week for 2 people
Restaurant: you have to avoid tourist area or it will be more expensive than canada.
Beer 120rds for cerveza, large at 150rds , pollo frito con papa frita 200rds, average price in a restaurant for a dish is about 350-400rds
gua gua: 25-40 rds
lots of beach access free, bring your own chair
cinema: 200rds and half price from Tuesday to Thursday
mobile phone basic plan: approx 1000rds monthly
cable: 1600 rds


cost of living overall is higher than everywhere else on the island but you have a north american lifestyle here.  you have the choice of spending time with the locals and going to local places to save a lot of money or hanging out in tourist areas where you spend a lot more.

my personal preference is to spend as much time as possible with dominican people.  i find they are amazing people, very accepting, non judgmental, they accepted me immediately and started calling me hermano. they share the little food they have, the only coffee, they help me out with the language, they teach me their ways.  i simply love them for who they are and for the amount of love they can give you.  i am so fortunate to be able to be part of them.
thank you to all my dominican family.

Thanks for your post!  Yes Bavaro and Punta Cana are expensive areas to live.   Can you imagine  running a whole villa???  Yikes.

By the way, your electricity is supplied through a private company,  would you mind posting the KW rates for us?   Thanks.

Canadianowne  thanks for the info. This is even more expensive than here on the north coast which is another tourist area.

Yes please post your kilowatt hour rates and does it vary depend on usage.

Wow that is a lot for water.  I am about to take in 10 bottles for replacement at 35 pesos per bottle.

Bob K

the kw/hr rate was 14.9 but went down last month because of the low price of fuel.  i think it is now 13.1 but as soon as i have the exact number, i will share it with you. the rate is fixed so doesnt vary.

Our max right now is 10.86 and gradually rises to that level starting at about 4.44 for the first 200 KW hours then rises to 6.97 for the next 100 KW before going to 10.86 for the next 400 KW hours. Over 700 it is a flat 12.something.

We keep ours to under 700 (mid 600s) and average bill is about 4300 pesos

Bob K

Hello everyone and happy Monday !
I checked out online gym membership fees . I like to go to the gym for a little bit of treadmill time but especially for my zumba classes.  One gym in Cabarete charges $50.00 a month. I found it very expensive for the DR..I pay $55.00 in the States and my gym has 2 pools too.
Is $50.00 an accurate amount for the DR ?
Thanks.

wow, your rate is excellent. but do you have constant supply or you have many black-outs and shortages daily?
here in Bavaro, it is owned by CEPM.  We rarely see black-outs.  you might get a power outage once every second week for 5 minutes.  Service is excellent but costly as it is diesel generators who runs the turbines.

Private energy in this county is always expensive.  Even the regular crappy energy is expensive if you go over the 700 KW hours a month. 

That is why the new "inverter technology" appliances and air conditioners are so awesome.

That is a bit high as there are other gyms in the area that are less.  Try the one above the casino in Sosua

Bob K

We have CEB private electrical company in our area, which is a division of CEPM. The rate in La Estancia Golf course (10 minutes from La Romana)  was 16.48 now 14.28, in Bayahibe and Dominicus was 14.88 now down to 13.17 - probably the same as in Punta Cana. We do have power 24/7, but paying for it In case we have a problem the guys come to fix it within 20 - 30 minutes, any time of the day or night. And they do not take any tips!!!!!!
Our average bill is around 4,500 per month, we don't use A/C much, but using washing machine and dishwasher. The biggest consumption is the hot water of course, we used to have a gas hot water heater in our previous places, which was more economical to run (about 1,500 pesos for 4 -5 month for gas fill), but the initial cost is around 20,000 pesos plus installation.

Denise

Thank you Bob !

.I love the true culture not amoung lots of ex pats. I feel like one of the people yes  upper class people locals and expats alike. 3 bed room gated big pool and nice gym $300.00 elect $35.with air condish in bed room only need it for an hour than its to cold off for 4 hrs. food local simple $400.pr Mo, the food is limited and some what tastless  but ive lost 30 lbs need to loose 30 more.coffee higher that nyc i dont eat packsdge foods they can be expencive and unhealthy mostly fresh fish, local  vegie, potattos
In Manhattan i ate in the best resturants for 30 years so i dont care about resturants ,nothing up to NYC standards anyway.i whats netflix and amizon sleep better have time to breath quiet life is great 4 me .$2,000- 3,000 pr mo.
i hate fancy hotels had enough want to see CUBA,BELISE, CENT AND SO AMERICA .
IM HAPPY DOING LESS   LESS IS MORE . I WILL BY A OLD TOYODA  INS $5.00 A MONTH CAR 60 - 80,000MI s MAYBE $4-7,000 NOTHING FANCY DEPENABLE RIDE I DONT NEED TO SHOW OFF .SELLING MY FANCY ROADSTER IN nyc im happeier with less  live somewhat simple life

Do write them down, dictate them on an iPad, do not let those experience to fade away.
There are so many people with non-adventurous lives, their souls would hum along your lines.
God bless.

Florin ????

Bob K

I think he was talking about  recording memories of living here.  We often forget what has happened to us over the years..... would make a hell of a book!!!!!

can someone tell me why renting an apartment /condo for one month is so much more expensive  then long term ; I am going to be renting a bungalow at natura village bungalows on camino del llibre for  about $900 US for 31 days ; I have searched when there  but yes there are probably cheaper but  they are too far out from main area odf sosua and when you take in the many moto conchos you need to take for back and forth it almost works out the same  but maybe some one can enlighten me on it  many Imet at checkpoint bar say I can rent cheaper but no one comes up with a name ; thank you ; I'm coming march 24  if any one needs me to bring them something you cannot get there feel welcome to write mre  but nothing too expensive  like a car lol

you can find multiple apts in Sosua for less than $500 a month.  You can try looking at Trip Advisor under vacation rentals for Sosua Dominican Republic.  Or just Google Sosua DR rentals


Bob K

Message addressed to Gypsi401 in regard of trials and errors
Aq

FlorinM wrote:

Do write them down, dictate them on an iPad, do not let those experience to fade away.
There are so many people with non-adventurous lives, their souls would hum along your lines.
God bless.

Short term rentals are meant for tourists.  They are more expensive to maintain, you need to advertise to keep them rented and often owners go periods of time with no tenants. That is why they are more expensive.   

Longer term rentals are meant for  people who live here.  They get rented on one year leases with renewals that are automatic.

Planner is correct but during low season (non tourist season) you can get some pretty cheap short term rentals as well.

Bob K

Yup some people adjust pricing according to season,  some don't.... .just shop around.

MPDesjardins had mentioned the cost of a half a chicken 3.5lbs for 200RD. This is great specific info. here in Canada meat has the biggest impact on my monthly food budget and I am sure it is the same in DR.

We are big meat eater so I am very curious.

What area are you living?
What is the aprox price per pound for
Chicken?
Ground Beef?
Port Chops?
Steak?

How about Bread per loaf or buns per doz?

Here in the Sosua/Cabarete area with sales you can get
Chicken at 39RD a pound (parts) whole chicken at 44RD (about $1US)
Ground beef at 65RD leaner grind 80RD
Pork chops 179RD
Steak all over the place.  It is the only thing that we buy imported (other than supporting my addiction to Nathan's hotdogs) So our steaks are about 325 to 450 a pound depending on the steak.

Bob K

Like a lot of expats we get to know the local markets! Each run great sales on different days ,plus there is a local guy "The Veggieman " that makes regular runs to Constanza for fresh produce.
35% off produce at LaSirena on Wednesdays..20% off meat cuts on Thursday etc..although today the local market is flooded with some cheap deals on peppers/tomatoes due to the temporary ban on exports of same ..due to the "Medfly" detected at Punta Cana Airport..Pd 11 RD  apound for peppers.tomatoes at LaSirena( Puerto Plata) today!! Score!! Will be making some homemade salsa aka pico de gallo..and a big batch of fresh Chili this week!!!
Local bakery rolls..Pan de Agua are 5 pesos each..French bread 25 -40 RD

PRices for many items are set nationally but industry associations and or the government.  The bread "group" for example just upped the price of bread to 7 pesos from 5 pesos. 

Some stores do run sales.

Right now because of the fruit fly issue in the USA imports,  most local fruits and veggies are on sale big time. Producers are stuck with produce they cannot move. Take advantage of it....

Pan de agua still at 5 pesos a roll.

Yes the red pepper sale yesterday at Pola was amazing (70% discount) we too will be eating a lot of Salsa and stuffed peppers.

Buying locally at markets and off the veggie trucks certainly can lower you costs and the food is very fresh. We also have a guy selling seafood (shrimp, lobster when in season) off a truck at 1/3 off the market prices.

Katie you are correct when you get used to the local markets and specials you can save a bundle.  But even with Grand Cayman Vodka on sale we still broke the bank

Bob K

Yes I can confirm pan de agua is still 5 pesos a roll.  I just got back from Super Pola and bought a bag of 5 fresh rolls for 25 pesos.  They went great with my Nathan's hotdogs for lunch

Bob K

It is not just the cost of living in the DR,  the cost of getting there is insane.   Round trip from Miami to SD is now $214,  To POP is $598 now.  Almost 300% more for no rhyme or reason. American won't comment when asked why.  The north shore is losing a great deal of tourism because of this while SD & Punta Cana and other sites are gleefully enjoying their boom.    With the airlines getting into their  pre-bought cheap fuel that is reflected in lower fares, American is increasing theirs.   In my opinion, a fish begins to smell.  Others profit when the north shore  declines or remains static.  Any thoughts on this vast price differential?   Somewhere, someone is laughing.

gypsy this has been a problem for the last 10 years that I have been here.  American has a stranglehold on the north coast and adjusts if fares accordingly.

A huge money grab for them.  We try to avoid using them when we can but sometimes we are forced into one their crazy priced seats.

Bob K

2500 RD for electric?  US$56 - a month?  really that cheap?

It depends on where and how you are living.  If you are in a small1 or 2 bedroom apt or villa and don't use the AC much have one frig, one tv, one or two computers and don't run a pool pump then $56 a month is reasonable.

We live in a larger villa with one large frig, one freezer, pool pump, ceiling fans and very rarely use the AC and our bills are about $100 a month.  IF we use the AC it doubles.  They have a funny system here basing costs on consumption.  However once you reach 700KW hours a month you bill basically doubles as the higher rate is applied from KWH number 1 and you loose the step gradients.  So at 695 KWH our bill is just over $100. If you use 701 KWH our bill is nearly $200.

Bob K

Electricity is  tied to consumption, the more you use the higher the KWH charges.

Flights - supply and demand is largely responsible for the cost differences of the flights.

Thanks again.  Sounds like we won't get sticker shock then.

You learn quickly  where to shop and you likely already know how to haggle.....