Living in Santo Domingo

Life in Santo Domingo is wonderfull depending who you are and what you are looking for. If you cannot accept a different way of living and thinking diferent than yours....you'd better forget it. An expat is not taking sunbath every day and has to live with Dominicans and speak spanish.... if not I think he will not
stay very long. Vivo en este pais con mucha felicidad.

I'm interested in visiting and possibly relocating to the Jarabacoa area.  I'm in San Francisco, CA now.  I know nothing about emigrating to S.D. and would like to learn.  I am less than 2 years from retirement and looking for a nice place to retire.  Jarabacoa has what sounds like an ideal climate and the pictures of the surrounding countryside look beautiful.  Please share any info you have on immigration laws of S.D.  Thanks in advance.

I have been traveling to the Dominican Republic for the last 10 years. Love the beaches and for the most part have had no problems with the people. I plan on retiring in the US and probably finding something to keep me busy for additional income. Things have gotten more expensive but again it as anywhere these days. For me retiring where the dollar as more value is a plus. Also I speak Spanish, which helps.  If you are from the US don’t expect things to move quickly unless you are paying people to do it for you. That just the way it is.  Simple things become complicated.  I would say you would need anywhere between $2,000- $2,5000.  Santo Domingo is a nice city but like any large city crime is higher, expensive, and humid quite often. Costanzia, Las Terrenes, nice places. Santiago people tend to be stuck up and expensive.  Puerto Plata and Samana totally touristic. If you get to San Pedro ugly little town and again Romana is expensive over rated.  you can fine a teaching job as they  are always looking for teacher in private schools. The pay in not too bad if you have other source of income. Any way good luck to you all who want to move to the Dominican Republic.  I will continue visiting and hopefully move there in 5 years.

After spending  almost  8  years in Puerto  Plata  I moved to the capital. I have found the  transition to be  fairly easy but I gained a lot of knowledge and experience living in POP. 

For me the city  can be a bit intimidating - I don't  really like  big cities.I am in the Colonial Zone and love it. Making friends,meeting people is easy if you are willing to make an effort.

Transportation is no big issue,lots of  options and taxis are fairly inexpensive.

the options for restaurants, shopping, clubs etc is  unbelievable. 

I find when you treat Dominicans with courtesy  and respect you get it in return.

Hello Again
We have emailed back and forth a few times, just wondering why (if it is not a personal question) why you moved from Puerto Plato?
We are still planning on coming down in the near future to check out the Dominican in a deeper manner along with Ecuador.

I moved for  work.   Unfortunately  the North Coast  is pretty much  dying, I received a good offer  and moved.And now I received a great offer and I am changing jobs BUT staying in the  area.

Too bad if things are going south there, enough of that happening right here at home in Canada.
As far as a good starting point goes, to stay while looking around the country, where would you recommend? (with safety and reasonable rental rates}

Outsider4 wrote:

Too bad if things are going south there, enough of that happening right here at home in Canada.
As far as a good starting point goes, to stay while looking around the country, where would you recommend? (with safety and reasonable rental rates}

That all depends what you like. If you are coming to retire  your considerations will be very different then if you will need to  work.

If you need to work then I suggest the  Capital  or Santiago  as there are just more opportunities there.  IF you are retired then it will depend on the  ambiance you want.  If you   need beach and ocean well north  coast,  punta cana or  Juan Dolio area.  If you like mountains and warm but not hot weather  Jarabacoa.......

I have been in Santo Domingo, Zona Colonial, almost 10 years. I do not make much money but I love it (most of the time). You should speak some Spanish and be able to adjust and accept stuff in your life you never thought you would even consider.

Making acquaintances is easy, good friends take time as with anyplace you live.

Learning how to live and do business here is not easy. Business means everyday business, the business of living. Learning the "Dominican way". It all takes time and patience.