Best cities to live in Dominican Republic

For us the best was the north coast (Sosua/Cabarete).  A good mix of touists, locals an a large diverse Expat community.

Great beaches, restaurants, bars, clubs, shops and Santiago with large stores, good medical facilities and such is only a bit over an  hour away.

Came here to get away from the big cities all the congestion and crowds so Santo Domingo did not work for us.

Bob K

Bobby is like a broken record with that "good mix of locals and tourist etc, etc", how long has it been since you are there and never looked back?.. 9 plus years xD. Just bustin your balls FYI, no te quille.

Santo Domingo rules.

@ RDE1000 > You are also in Dominican Republic, do you have any information to share about this subject? Which cities are best to live in DR ?

Thanks

Priscilla

I will say, as always, it depends what you want! 

Jobs - depends on your skill sets but for volume of jobs Santo Domingo or Santiago. But both are big cities.

Low cost - pretty much most rural settings away from the beaches.

Lower cost but tourist expat friendly north coast and Samana.

High quality tourist expat area  east coast Punta Cana, Bavaro and Casa de Campo.

Away from the heat go to Jarabacoa and Costanza.

There are many many other areas, but these are the main ones.

Cabarete is first on my list, Terrenas second.

Bavaro 3rd. i hate traffic so Santo Domingo no way

I  think that readers would appreciate the why...... why do you like Cabarete? Why Las Terrenas?     

Santo Domingo - yup, lots and lots of traffic.  Lots of other reasons pro and con for the big city!

I like Puerto Plata above all.  We have a beautiful beach and several scenic things to look at. A cable car to go to the top of the local mountain, sea food , not real obvious hookers, but available if one really wishes, lots of pretty girls.  What more could one ask for

I also  loved Puerto Plata.  I lived there 7 years and found it beautiful, loved the ocean and the beaches.   It can be a bit tough for expats to find work there but an easier place to open your own business, if that is your thing.  I hate the traffic in Puerto Plata,  hate the motoconchos (motorcycle taxis)  and the lack of respect for traffic rules.  With Jumbo  opening up sometime in the future it will make shopping more interesting.  I love the Malecon and the casetas along the beach.  I dislike the serious lack of places to dance these days......    Puerto Plata is a less expensive option for living in some ways and offers decent services. 

The north coast  should be considered by many.  From Luperon - a sleepy boating community to the west,  to  Samana on the east the   coastline is alive and well.   There is a lot of info on the board regarding these places as well as  Sosua,  Cabarete, Cabrera, Rio San Juan and Las Terrenas.


I think for Puerto Plata itself things are picking up with the opening of the new cruise ship terminal,  the gov't spending some money on advertising the destination and hotels renovating and reopening soon!   I think it is on its way to success again!

The whole place has a 'good mix'........of cueros and chapeadoras!

Nice, do you have anything good to say at all?  Why are you even here?

We just purchase oceanfront land in El Seibo(playa Limon).It's only  45 minute from Punta Cana  but it's most beautiful beach on the Earth,....We will build a House , spend winters there and rent rest of the Year...Our realtor did really good job founding this place.

Lasterrenas...sounds heavenly! Good luck! Hey, where is Tomas Cabrera to champion his favorite place!? We haven't been in DR long enough to know where the BEST place for us is...we just found DR and specifically, Cabrera,  hit all of our must haves! Access to food/produce, decent ferrateria near by for fixes, friendly locals...well established expat presence but in fewer big gated communities,   more rural, less touristy...and oh yeah...beautiful! But that's where DR shines....So many gorgeous and different tropical landscapes!...trade off : airport is an hour or more away...but, I live in metro Detroit and it still takes me 45 minutes to airport!

This is the kind of feedback we need.

brodies2013  good post and good info.

Bob K

El Seibo ...Playa Limon
There is helicopter tour from Punta Cana to Montana Redonda and playa Limon,    .Rancho la Cueva  have tour to Laguna Lemon , Laguna Redonda  and Horse Back raiding on the Beach,    The owner have all information about area,,,,,Small city of Miches is very close by.......We will be there on the end of February and I will post more picture and have more info....

Sorry this thread is about what areas to LIVE IN,  not to  visit honey.  Great info,  how about putting this in the thread about Las Terrenas and Samana?

Hi Planer,
We will be living in this area in the Future and We already purchase a  land to build House in El Seibo -Playa Lemon........

Awesome.. please create a thread and tell us the whole story. Then Update us as you go through buding ! It really helps others! And we will all help whenever we can.

I'm still waiting to retire to make my move, but I've been visiting the DR for 10 years now.  I know the thread is about where to live, but my advice is to visit as often as possible and visit as many cities as possible.  I have been as far Northwest as Monte Cristi and as far Southeast as Bayahibe.  I have seen some beautiful country with beautiful people along the way. I have also seen the bad side and found myself very scared.   I think every place as a little something for everyone. Don't ask the waiter what to eat, he'll just push the special of the day. Go to the buffet and taste a little bit of everything. Then gorge yourself on what taste best to you.

Good advice!

You would have to include Cabrera on the List. it is a typical small friendly town who welcomes visitors with open arms.

DarkRemy,

I agree with your advice. My first trip to the DR was at a resort in Punta Cana. I didn't enjoy that as much at all as I like to be around the people.  My last trip to DR I had the opportunity to see Santo Domingo, Santiago and Puerto Plata by bus. All of those cities offer something different while some things are similar. I have spent considerable time in La Romana. 

My next trip I hope to see some other cities in the DR.

The country has lots of varied experiences for sure. 

I always have maintained that those that visit the Punta Cana area and stay at an AI resort (never leaving the resort complex or area) really never have been to the Dominican Republic

Bob K

I have visited  Sosua  for 8 yrs now  staying at  1st at  casa-marina resort but I  got off the resort almost everyday and got to know some locals and things to do ' last 6 yrs I stay at a condo for 1 month to 6 weeks and enjoy Sousa because I am familiar with it plus the little town of chamericos ; I feel safe here but do exercise caution; last year it was bad for pick pocket thieves ;  I have rented a car and have been right up to semana   5 years ago ; a lot I bet has changed over those years ; I have noticed the traffic has increased  in sosua and cabarete  but some of those sleepy towns like Rio San Juan and nagua and  gasper hermandez will be on my list this march to visit ;the trouble with Puerto Plata  is that is way to congested for traffic and places to see and places to eat ; I do like the macelon  but I doubt it will help  to revitalize puerto plata or sosua   as cruise passengers depart port by 8 pm  so  passengers are most likely to be back by 6;30  not seeing any night life in  or enjoying a good meal at restaurants that do not open till after  4 pm ; so why even upgrade hotels no one is going to be staying there over night ;and Iwas once in santiago again a nice city nice malls  but very busy  for traffic  but at least the entertainment and eating places are concentrated in a nice area ;
tours  ; the trouble  with tours from the resorts is they take the people through some of the worst shanty towns getting to their destination  and people think the whole Dominican is poor and shabby ;

The cruise ship industry will have a positive impact on hotel/resort stays in about 2 years.  People who visit the ports -  about 20%  will come back for a longer holiday!  That takes about  2 years to start happening!   

Puerto Plata is already seeing some changes, more money being spent on tours, taxis and restaurants. IT all helps!    Hotel chains and owners are seeing what is happening and starting to  invest some money back into the area!  All good for the area.

Each town of any size here has traffic issues -  lack of proper planning is to blame along with poor enforcement of traffic laws!

As you go farther east on the north coast there are some  lovely  quiet places!  Let us know your thoughts after you visit.!

Hi, Icame to the DR last September for a visit, I spent some time in Punta Cana, it's ok  ,then I went to Cabreata looking at rental houses, didn't llike the congestion so I drove to Cabrera and fell in Love with the town and moved there last December and am totally enjoying living here.

We love the bright Turquoise water and white sandy beaches in Punta Cana!:-)  The town of  El Cortecito is cute and small enough with grocerie stores, vets, bakeries, bars and plenty of restaurants. There are several gated new single family villa communities and lots condos to choose from. They are building a Blue Mall in Punta Cana and the Bavaro Tropical Mall  just starting so it will have the feel of living in the suburbs which I'm used to, but with the tropical Caribbean setting that I'm looking forwarrd to. Plenty of beautiful places to choose from for everyone's lifestyle in the DR.

Could you forward me contact info on the real estate agency and  or agent that helped you find land in Seibo / Playa Limon. Please Please Please.

Thank you so much!

Alfred

Tell me, where are the bad areas?

Bad is a relative term. There are bad areas everywhere!  Depends what is bad for you.

I currently live in Santo Domingo. For beach loving retirees it may be considered bad. For many ot tocks but there are bad areas I dont go to.

I also love the north coast and particularly Puerto Plata.  I dislike Sosua and Cabarete. In all 3 places there are bad areas.

It would help us to define your idea of bad!

First off welcome to the forum.
All cities and towns have "bad" areas as I am sure is the case in your home town.
We live in Sosua/Cabarete area and regardless of what planner thinks we love it, but yes there are bad areas in these towns as well and we would not live in those areas.

Bob K

Hahahaa  and Bob would hate the capital...

This is true. I would not want to live in SD in any area.  Too many people, too congested and to much of a big city.  Remember I am a small town mountain boy

Bob K

Yup thats the point. We donr all want or need the same things.

So tagging something good or bad is not easy or fair.

Hi Planner,

My husband and I love SDQ, everything this world class city offers, culture, theater, museums, arts, intl concerts, foodie scene... it’s a very intl place that can feel like an alternative to the touristy (beach towns) and the opposite -local but lacking first world amenities - (small towns). It’s definitely Dominican but “elevated” for lack of better word. Which is what we like. My husband is from Santiago originally, which isn’t a city we’re big fans of, too dirty not a lot to do. All that being said, we’re having trouble finding affordable housing in SDQ. We live in Charlotte NC where you can find “luxury” apartments for rent for $900 maybe less if there’s a special. Houses are pretty cheap too. We were in SD for a month (PC for a month, Santiago 2 months) and found that food cost us twice of what it does at Trader Joe’s (no fancy items like cheese and wine). While there we looked for a house to rent (with yard for dogs) and couldn’t find anything nice that wasn’t a mansion. Everything was either in a safe area but very expensive(arroyo hondo, cazicazgos, etc) or extremely cheap and a ghetto rough area and no yard. Doesn’t seem to be much of a “middle class” option. Are we missing something? Much appreciated! Also I’m new to the forum, if this question belongs elsewhere please let me know. I’ve read so much on this forum but couldn’t find specific info on cost of rental houses in SD. Thx!

There are several "middle class"  neighborhoods honey and they can take time to find. We all say "boots on the ground" to find them for example "Miramar" several middle class pockets. " Ensanche la Fe" same thing.

In Miramar I had a 3 bedroom townhouse with back enclosed huge patio, front yard with carport enclosed for 18,000 rd!

The places yiu want are put there! There are a couple websites you can check but the links are on my.computer and I am on my phone. I will try to remember to post them tomorrkow. Feel free to remind me!!!

Wonderful! Thank you for your help. I’ll start googling those neighborhoods while I plan our next visit. I’d almost lost hope for SD. Thx so much. Looking forward to the info.

Let me know when you are visiting, we can meet for a drink.

I have to agree on Santo Domingo offering tons of sights, culture, restaurants, shopping etc.  Love the Colonial Zone and living here - always something happening, theater, shows, nightlife/bars... except the last year or so the area has just become so polluted (more business, more people = more garbage).

Lived in Puerto Plata for about 6 months once, and honestly was bored out of my mind though I was about 15 min walk from the malecon/beaches.  I work from home and have flexible schedule, and it was hard to make friends/find social activities. The expats (mostly retired) seemed to already have their own friend circles set. And there were very few events for expats outside of Cabarete and Sosua (which I dislike as well like Planner:)).  But the countryside of POP is lovely and exploring is so much fun. Not something you can do every day though.

Constantly debating whether to stay in the capital or try out Bavaro again (have stayed at least 3 weeks once) because I am in tourism and still seems like more business is to be found there than any other part of DR...