Favorable locations

Jarabacoa is nice it's in the mountains and not to busy nice rivers and good amenities.

Welcome.

To live outside expat communities one needs to be at least semi fluent in Spanish. Even to live in Jarabacoa where there is a small expat community would be a challenge without a good understanding of the language imo.

With a good steady sea breeze the need for air conditioning is much reduced. Worth considering some coastal locations.

People are as friendly as the smile. Dont judge the book by the cover.

There are threads on electricity service and cost.

Most medications including generic versions are found here without prescription.

Good, the most advisable thing is to contact a real estate.  Although if we have high places and the temperature is accommodated, you are looking for, DR in winter is sometimes cold (not always) or cool not always only in Constance and Jarabacoa is high in mountains, cold sometimes foggy.  Another mountain lugst and always sunny is Samaná beautiful view of the beach from the heights, in Sosua above "los chivos" Puerto Plata, only if you have to drive a lot to get there ..

luck :Gracias:

in medicines you find yourself without any special problems having your good health insurance,

You do not mention whether you have been to the DR before. Very important, and a guide for further advice. An all-inclusive in Punta Cana does not count   ;0)

If you qualify for residency as a pensioner then that is enough income for a reasonable lifestyle for one person.   Living away from tourist areas generally lowers the overall cost of living.

Thanks for the detailed advice.

Entiendo poco Español y quiero aprender mas.  ¿Puedo encantrar bien tutor?   ¿Quanto es? 

Maybe I will start in an expat community and hunt around for more variety.

And looking for a tutor is best once you know where you will settle if you like face to face!

I guess by seeking a higher location, you want cooler and drier environment.

The higher mountain ranges tend to be wet except less so down in the south west.

The Pedenales province is going to get developed and will be a new tourist hub in years to come. The mountain ranges behind are dryer and the winds in that part of the country are steady.

The south west is beautiful with very small expat communities at this time but with two by passes under construction around Bani and Azua and an aiport it will become much more accessible quickly from the capital.

The mountains north of Azua around Padre Las Casas are also drier and lovely but few expats.

I live in a low mountain area in Monte Plata province north of the capital but it can get very hot and humid here with lack of breezes.

My wife and I will be coming to Las Terrenas in two weeks and staying for six months. Any recommendations for clothes to pack for the winter months would be appreciated

winter clothes are the same as summer clothes.  shorts, t shirts, sandals, some lightweight long trousers for date night.

Your wife will want a sweatshirt or  light  sweater.  Evenings near the ocean can get breezy!

I wore a light jacket twice last winter - breezy evenings in open-air restaurants. I also wore lightweight pants on those nights.