We very often receive questions from you regarding the cost of living in the Dominican Republic. Today we will take a closer look at which products are cheaper, what we will need to spend more money on, and which stores or restaurants to use to avoid overpaying. The official currency in the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso. However, we can use the dollar without any problems. It should be remembered that we are writing this blog at the end of August 2022. Prices in a year or two may differ from what we present here.
When discussing this topic, it must be remembered that the Dominican Republic is a country located on an island. Consequently, products imported into the country will be significantly more expensive than local ones. Additionally, there is the matter of location. Prices may vary depending on the city we are in. The cost of living in the Punta Cana region may differ from those in Puerto Plata. The same applies to the communities where we would like to live. The most expensive to maintain will definitely be Casa de Campo. This is a community where Hollywood stars own properties. The second prestigious, yet slightly more affordable community is Cap Cana. It should not be forgotten that costs are also an individual matter, but we will try to provide a general picture of prices in the Dominican Republic.
What Are the Basic Living Costs in the Dominican Republic?
First and foremost, fixed costs such as home insurance, health insurance, the cost of purchasing a car, its operation, phone card, or apartment fees or rent must be taken into account. If we purchase a property in the Dominican Republic and would like to insure it, for an apartment of approximately 100m2 we will pay roughly 700 USD annually. Rent for an apartment, depending on location, ranges from 1.5-3.0 USD/m2. Electricity costs approximately 38 cents/1kWh, though this varies for different consumers. Apartment rental, depending on location and standard, is a cost starting from 400 to 1,200 USD. I am excluding luxury properties in this case. Car rental in the Dominican Republic ranges between 50-90 USD per day (with full insurance). A room in a better hotel for one night costs approximately 100 USD.
Basic health insurance for a quarter at a private clinic is a cost not exceeding 140 USD. In the Dominican Republic, purchasing a car involves a higher cost. However, cars do not depreciate as quickly here! Of course, much depends on what car we want to acquire. If we would like to purchase car liability insurance, we must expect a cost of 250 USD annually. Comprehensive car insurance costs 700 USD annually. Personally, I would recommend an SUV with higher clearance, due to the fact that in the Dominican Republic we will encounter many “speed bumps.” For a Toyota Land Cruiser from 2000 in good condition, we will pay approximately 15,000 USD. Standard repairs such as oil changes and brake pad replacements cost approximately 200 USD. It is worth remembering that prices depend on parts, which usually need to be imported from abroad. For a phone card we will pay approximately 45 USD. At this price we receive a package with 300 free minutes and 40GB of Internet.
What Are the Prices of Food Products in the Dominican Republic?
As a rule, prices in supermarkets are slightly higher than those in Poland. For local products we will pay much less, while those that need to be imported will cost more. Starting with local products, for plantains (savory bananas with a high starch content) we will pay the least. One piece costs approximately 2 PLN. One pineapple costs 7 PLN, and for avocado we will pay half as much. It is similar with melon and coconut. The former costs approximately 9 PLN, and coconut around 4 PLN. These fruits bear no resemblance to those we consume in Poland. Dominican coffee Santo Domingo costs approximately 15 PLN. There are various types here, so it is worth trying many. They differ in taste, aroma, and color. Morning coffee on the terrace with a view of tropical greenery tastes excellent. Inexpensive products in the Dominican Republic will certainly include rice, for which we will pay 6 PLN per kilogram. The price of beans is approximately 10 PLN per kilogram. Fresh cucumber, parsley, or lettuce can be purchased at the supermarket for 2 PLN. Better quality water costs approximately 2 PLN per liter.
Meat in the Dominican Republic is not among the most expensive. Chicken is most commonly consumed here, followed by beef, and pork least frequently. For poultry we will pay approximately 20 PLN per kilogram. Beef costs on average between 40 and 60 PLN. The price of pork is approximately 25 PLN. Dominicans love to fry meat in deep oil, which costs on average 8 PLN for 0.5L. If we would like to buy coconut oil or olive oil, we will pay approximately 20 PLN. It should not be forgotten that meat tastes much better here. The meat we consume here most often comes from local farms. Unfortunately, the Dominican Republic does not have a strong culture of cold cut production, so for some people the taste of local products may not be satisfactory.
Luxury products such as rum will be much cheaper than imported alcohols. For very good quality local spirits we will pay approximately 60 PLN. A bottle of Johnny Walker Black will be three times more expensive. The price of Marlboro cigarettes in the Dominican Republic is approximately 30 PLN. Dominican chocolate and Dominican beer cost approximately 10 PLN. Coca-Cola costs very similarly, as for a 2L bottle we will pay approximately 6 PLN. Eating at local restaurants will be much cheaper here. For lunch we will pay just under 5 USD. If we would like to dine at European restaurants with table service, then we will pay approximately 20 USD per person.
Prices of Home Furnishings
Prices of electronic equipment are higher here than in Europe. This is mainly due to customs duties imposed by the government. Therefore, equipment such as a computer, drone, iPad, headphones, or anything that can be transported in a suitcase is worth purchasing in Europe. From stories we have heard from our friends living in the Dominican Republic, we know that they even send a coffee machine as additional luggage on the plane, because such good equipment cannot be found locally. The cost of furnishing an apartment of 100m2 is typically approximately 15,000 USD. There is an IKEA locally, so if we are looking for an economical solution, it is worth heading there. However, local carpentry production should not be forgotten, as it can work wonders. For items such as coffee tables, benches, wardrobes, or tables, one should turn to locals. We will certainly not regret it, and we will give the apartment a bit of Caribbean atmosphere. Due to very limited selection compared to what is available in Europe and the USA, shopping on Amazon is popular. In the Dominican Republic there are many courier companies that handle deliveries of these packages.
Summary
The Dominican Republic is primarily a vacation destination. There are many hotels here that attract masses of tourists. This destination is becoming increasingly popular for retirement. According to TravelPulse magazine, it is the third best place to retire and to invest your money. Living costs and fees will certainly vary depending on location. For all products on the beach we will pay much more than in a store, but this is a practice applied worldwide. Due to the fact that this is an increasingly popular destination, the cost of living can be somewhat higher. However, this should not discourage us, because after some time we will learn to take advantage of the goods that the Dominican Republic offers us. This will certainly bring many benefits, primarily health-related. It will also allow us to save a bit of money. Below we provide a list of other food products with prices:
- Fresh baguette – 3 PLN
- Whole grain bread – 8 PLN
- Toast bread 1 kg – 20 PLN
- Butter – 7 PLN
- Eggs 30 pcs. – 19 PLN
- Flour 2 kg – 16 PLN
- Salt 1 kg – 3 PLN
- White sugar 1 kg – 8 PLN
- Milk – 6 PLN
- Coconut milk – 18 PLN
- Corn flakes 1 kg – 10 PLN
- Tea – 10 PLN
- Cookies 800g – 10 PLN
- Jams – 10-30 PLN
- Ketchup – 10 PLN
- Yogurt 1L – 22 PLN
- Philadelphia cream cheese – 22 PLN
- Shredded mozzarella – 30 PLN
- Olives – 9 PLN
- Orange juice 1.7L – 18 PLN
- Barilla pasta – 12 PLN
- Corn in bag 0.5kg – 5 PLN
- Cherry tomatoes 0.5kg – 6 PLN
- Strawberries 500g – 20 PLN
- Frozen seafood 100g – 20 PLN
- Toothpaste 3 pcs. – 27 PLN
- Laundry detergent 1kg – 17 PLN
- Dish soap – 7 PLN
- Razors 5 pcs. – 22 PLN
- Head&Shoulders shampoo – 45 PLN
- Deodorant – 14 PLN
Jędrzej Pacak
