Im moving to the DR permanently in about another year with my Dominican chica 😅 she owns one acre of land, with bananas, avocados, breadfruit, guavas, zapote, spanish line and pineapples with a small house on the property, she also has an apartment her father left her, i cant wait to get out of the matrix, The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country with heart warming people.
@@mrc2432 The outside/edge of San Pedro is pretty peaceful and cheap. Juan Dolio is a quieter town that isn't quite a city. Those are the only places we know of on the south. I'm sure there are many on the north of the island too
Congratulations on living in DR on such a tight budget. Most ppl would just stay in the US surviving and being miserable. There are so many free things to do in DR. The beaches are free, rivers, and parks. Hopefully your income increases and you can enjoy life more.
Well right now in New York I’m expensive is the rent around $2200 for one bedroom not including personal expenses utilities insurance and by the time you’re done you need more than $6000 Dominican Republic sounds like a great deal
I haven't noticed food prices going up too much. They have been about the same for the past few years here in the DR. But rent has been slowly going up. Public transportation too.
I also use to make the same amount of money a decade and a half ago when I used to live in DR, one of the reasons that I moved was because i I used to think i was not making enough money,After moving to the U.S. I learned throughout the years that the problem wasn’t what I earned, but what I did with the money I earned and the way of thinking I had.
Food will be very expensive if you look to buy American brands and that’s any foreign country. It’s much cheaper if you eat like locals if ever going to a foreign country.
I wish I could eat local food more often because it would be cheaper. But unfortunately for me, a lot is fried or has ingredients I cannot eat 😟 It tastes delicious though
@@yonnyandkayla here @ Miami we pay for the air I breath it is beautiful here but it is extremely expensive- the good news DR has great beaches, cool bars , nice parks , get out and explore the island 🏝️ you don’t don’t need lots of money transportation are cheap there - I went to Bahia de las Aguilas Cabo rojo beach 🏖️ wowww --also - playa ermitaño samana , playa colorada samana , playa fronton samana , caño frío samana , cayó levantado samana , I’m in love with the island greetings 🫡 from Colombia 🇨🇴
Great video with usefull info. I do agree foodprices in the supermarkets in the DR are at US or European level ... expensive... I do realise that we're almost neighbours... greetings from La Caleta (Boca Chica)
Not every food in the DR is fried. If I were in your place, I would have someone cook Dominican food for me that is not fried (rice, beans, carne guisada, green salad, etc); it will be much cheaper in the long run, and also healthier because you won’t be eating anything packaged. My dad always had a very restrictive diet and we just had the lady cook without sopita, low salt, and low oil. As soon as I moved to the US, I got sick and fat (and every Dominican I know, too!); Dominican diet is very healthy, even without any modifications is much healthier than food in the US. You can find someone who already cooks for others out of their home or have them cook in your house; I think it’s totally worth the investment (which is not that much really).
I'm from DR and I see that you don't mention private health insurance....I believe that is a big necessity in my country...I know it's not cheap but... you don't want to get in the hands of the public health system
I am planning to relocate to the Dominican Republic in November. I live alone. Could you recommend a site or a number of an actual person who aides people in finding new expats rental apartments. And also a decent location. Thank you
@WalterMoorer-t5q we live in San Pedro and foreigners don't come to live here, so we don't know anyone who does that, sorry! Almost everyone only speaks Spanish here too. Maybe more touristy cities would have someone who helps with that!
Hi! It depends on the city you are looking at. For San Pedro where we live, I stayed with a friend while I was physically looking for apartments because they are not posted online. There are a bunch listed on facebook marketplace but those are not actually for rent and no one messages anyone back. However, maybe Santo Domingo or Punta Cana are different?
You're welcome! Of course the rates change every day but not by much. And my church went to the DR for a week in 2020 and Mariano was one of the translators so that's how we met ♥️
Also would you recommend San Pedro as a place to visit in the DR (if so what airport should I fly in), I'm thinking of going to Puerto Plada or Punta Canta to do some research on a possible place to retire (ex military) and to have fun and get out the Matrix for my B-Day lol. Thanks in advance ! @@yonnyandkayla
@@theoracle6881 If you want to visit San Pedro and Santo Domingo, I would fly to Punta Cana. San Pedro doesn't have much to see though. The other airport is quite far away on the north. But if you want beaches and mountains, then go north. If you want more city / beaches / resorts then Punta Cana on the south is more of that. There are many quieter cities along the south like Juan Dolio.
Ok yes Punta Cana seems like a good choice, I have been to Boca Chica a small beach town and loved it ! I also took a bus (an hour drive) to Santa Domingo for a day trip, hired a tour guide and had a great time. I didn't want to leave DR and that was like 10 years ago! thanks again@@yonnyandkayla
If you come and live in the Cayman Islands,,, then you will be great full for the prices you pay . My rent here is kyd 1700 for one bed apart , which in usd is 2023 only for rent …… and our salary don’t increase from 2200 per month
@@yonnyandkayla yeah ! Others places are worst then DR , I have been here for 10 years now and I’m looking forward to go back to DR . It’s easier if you have your home instead of paying rent .
I think you need to change the title to surviving in the DR. No car, no TV to even watch a movies, no AC, going out to enjoy good food and nice restaurants maybe twice a month, and no traveling around the country to get to know how beautiful and awesome is the island. I think you probably are doing that because your savings/income is very low but honestly this is a pretty tied budget to live in the DR as a foreigner and enjoy life here.
That's so interesting to hear your perspective. Others think we're rich compared to what they have. I guess the ability to enjoy life is not based on possessions at all ☺️
I can verify she is telling the truth cost of things. But you will need $2500 per month at least to live a middle class life. But anything under $1500 is living in poverty
There’s a difference between living in poverty and living frugally. The fact that the average salary in the DR is $400/mo and they’re spending $700/mo tells you they’re not living in poverty, just modestly.
@@lrbolotin1227 there isn’t difference in living off $400 per month or $700 per month. 😂😂$300 more isn’t going to make much of a difference in living condition
What area do you stay in? I couldn't make out location. And $100 a month unit cool to save money to pay rent 6 months in advance which would be cheaper
How did you exactly manage to get wi-fi for $30/month and pay using only credit card? I am in USA and would like to get it for a friend in San Pedro de Macoris. Do you think I can open and manage this account remotely? Thank you.
We have the cheapest plan with Altice and I pay on the Altice app with my credit card. I had to open the account in person though. You cannot open it remotely but you can manage it remotely. They asked for my passport and rent agreement to give me service at our apartment.
My school pays for it so I have no idea, I'm sorry. It doesn't come out of my pay. And Mariano is Dominican so his is free. I don't think it's super expensive though
Depends where you buy, too. Bodegas sell you exactly what you need (a pinch of salt, for example). Popular markets have fresh vegetables, fruits, rice, etc for dirt cheap, but you do have to wake up super early and dig into it. Supermarkets are expensive, especially if you don’t follow a Dominican diet.
You eat like junk that’s why. Buy from the local trucks, make your own peanut butter, stop eating cereal etc. eat rice beans meats and fruits etc, your money will go far
On That budget isn’t living and enjoying life. That just existing in DR. No AC, bedroom look like a prison view , no eating out, no money for entertainment. You can only stay in the house all day because go outside will cost money. You will need $2,500 at least to enjoy life in DR
Not everyone would enjoy a life on that budget I guess. But I could never stay in my house all day 😂 that sounds horrible... We find things to do that don't cost money
@@yonnyandkayla going outside cost money 😂😂. Even going to the beach, you have rent chairs and umbrella. And when you see people eating at restaurants, and the smell of the food, you would want to eat too. Or be drooling 🤤 like a street dog 🐕 😂😂 . Or if you are craving frozen yogurt from sweet frog 🐸 , that cost money too. There isn’t no free museum or free zoo. What activities that is fun that don’t cost money ?
@@LivingtheDRdream maybe you would be drooling and maybe you need to rent chairs but not everyone is the same. That's what makes the world so great. We are all different ☺️
@@yonnyandkayla I love food and eating out. I would never be drooling because I eat out everyday literally 😂 I spend on average 5000 peso per day on eating out ( me and 2 kids and my girlfriend) but not everyone have the same income as me. But an average person would need $2500 usd per month to live comfortably and good in DR. Dr isn’t that cheap except for rent and medicine and car repairs.
@@MassielPerezTorres-xh2qqDepending where and how you want to live ... but out of the big cities there are a lot of oportunities... I live in La Caleta (Boca Chica) in a rented solitary house with 2 bedrooms on a 600 m2 terrain for a monthly rent of only 14000 pesos or +/- 237 US$ with a variety of fruit trees and coco palms... avoid apartments because in the weather conditions in the DR you'll want and definitly need a space to go and sit outside with some privacy !
You are very conservative to be an american but there are people over there living in less than that a month but they dont have the possibilities as you do
Yes most people we know live on less than we do. But the Americans I know live on much more. I have a hard time saying we "need" money for things that aren't basic necessities because others need it more than we do.
@@yonnyandkaylaI totaly agree that Americans do think that everybody out of the DR is a millionaire and has a lot of money to spend and are talking as if spending 2000 PLUS US$ a month is nothing and the most normal thing in the world...average pension in Belgium is about 1400 Euro or +/-1524 US$ ... just to say that a lot of foreigners have to do it AND DOING IT in the DR with a lot less than 2000 US$... averedge salary in the DR is only 30000 pesos or +/- 507 US$ !
@@McDidi58 Yes many foreigners do have quite a bit of money. But we live in the DR so I don't know why people think we have money. I am a foreigner, but I'm not working in the US anymore. I live and work in the DR now.
Im moving to the DR permanently in about another year with my Dominican chica 😅 she owns one acre of land, with bananas, avocados, breadfruit, guavas, zapote, spanish line and pineapples with a small house on the property, she also has an apartment her father left her, i cant wait to get out of the matrix, The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country with heart warming people.
That sounds amazing!!! We would love to have fruit trees one day and yes the people are what make this country so special ♥️
Where is a good place to get a house with inexpensive acre or more? Somewhere not too far from a city ?
@@mrc2432 The outside/edge of San Pedro is pretty peaceful and cheap. Juan Dolio is a quieter town that isn't quite a city. Those are the only places we know of on the south. I'm sure there are many on the north of the island too
Congratulations on living in DR on such a tight budget. Most ppl would just stay in the US surviving and being miserable. There are so many free things to do in DR. The beaches are free, rivers, and parks. Hopefully your income increases and you can enjoy life more.
Yes, there is a lot to do for free! But we do want to build a house here eventually and be able to travel around the island more often
You can save money buy buying in your local mercado. Supermarket tends to be more expensive than the local Mercado or street vendor (marchante)
They usually dont have everything you want so by the time you go to the smaller ones it can be frustrating and costly in gas
Well right now in New York I’m expensive is the rent around $2200 for one bedroom not including personal expenses utilities insurance and by the time you’re done you need more than $6000
Dominican Republic sounds like a great deal
And if you can work remote from the US. then it would be an even better deal!
Every years prices going up. Do you think this happening only in DR.? Just came from a 7 countries tour. It is expensive everywhere and going up.
I haven't noticed food prices going up too much. They have been about the same for the past few years here in the DR. But rent has been slowly going up. Public transportation too.
I also use to make the same amount of money a decade and a half ago when I used to live in DR, one of the reasons that I moved was because i I used to think i was not making enough money,After moving to the U.S. I learned throughout the years that the problem wasn’t what I earned, but what I did with the money I earned and the way of thinking I had.
That's so true and a great reminder!
Thanks Kayla for such valuable information. We are schedule to be in San Pedro in March. God bless you both.
That's exciting!!! We love this city so much. God bless you ♥️
I will be from 13 April 2024 😊
@@TomaszBarbarewicz Yay!
Food will be very expensive if you look to buy American brands and that’s any foreign country. It’s much cheaper if you eat like locals if ever going to a foreign country.
I wish I could eat local food more often because it would be cheaper. But unfortunately for me, a lot is fried or has ingredients I cannot eat 😟 It tastes delicious though
In the DR the only thing you should go in supermarket for is the meat
🤣😂🤣
Good video thanks
You are in paradise make the best of it. - I’m in Miami can’t take it anymore - extremely expensive here
Awww 😟 But yes we love living here!
@@yonnyandkayla here @ Miami we pay for the air I breath it is beautiful here but it is extremely expensive- the good news DR has great beaches, cool bars , nice parks , get out and explore the island 🏝️ you don’t don’t need lots of money transportation are cheap there - I went to Bahia de las Aguilas Cabo rojo beach 🏖️ wowww --also - playa ermitaño samana , playa colorada samana , playa fronton samana , caño frío samana , cayó levantado samana , I’m in love with the island greetings 🫡 from Colombia 🇨🇴
@@CarlosRamirez-vo1jt wow you have been all over!!!
@@yonnyandkayla I vacation there jjjj - look up this places (TH-cam )
Hello my friend!🎉 You guys are our favorite couple in the DR!
Awww we appreciate it ♥️
Great video with usefull info. I do agree foodprices in the supermarkets in the DR are at US or European level ... expensive... I do realise that we're almost neighbours... greetings from La Caleta (Boca Chica)
Greetings! Some of my students live in Boca Chica and go to school here in San Pedro
Nice video with good information! I can't wait to retire and go back to my country, DR. In the meantime, I'll visit yearly.
I hope I can retire here too when the time comes ♥️
Not every food in the DR is fried. If I were in your place, I would have someone cook Dominican food for me that is not fried (rice, beans, carne guisada, green salad, etc); it will be much cheaper in the long run, and also healthier because you won’t be eating anything packaged. My dad always had a very restrictive diet and we just had the lady cook without sopita, low salt, and low oil. As soon as I moved to the US, I got sick and fat (and every Dominican I know, too!); Dominican diet is very healthy, even without any modifications is much healthier than food in the US. You can find someone who already cooks for others out of their home or have them cook in your house; I think it’s totally worth the investment (which is not that much really).
@lrbolotin1227 That's a good point! Yes the food is healthy and fresh too
buy land, build a house, grow some food and raise chicks (depending where), it might be cheaper. you can get around in a scooter.
That sounds perfect. With some fruit trees too.
Hey girl!! Great to hear from you.
It's good to hear from you too!!
Hi there, it's cheaper to live in cotui. U can even get a house for 35-75.00 per month.
@esperanzamaneiro2628 wow that's cheap! How does the monthly salary compare? In the DR, it is roughly $500 USD but many people make less than that
Gos bless you . i am from DR in i live PA wish comeback one day to my country..
God bless you! Yes come one day soon ♥️
Thank you for the video
You're welcome!
I'm from DR and I see that you don't mention private health insurance....I believe that is a big necessity in my country...I know it's not cheap but... you don't want to get in the hands of the public health system
That's a great point to add! My employer paid for my health insurance so I didn't include it in my monthly costs.
I am planning to relocate to the Dominican Republic in November. I live alone. Could you recommend a site or a number of an actual person who aides people in finding new expats rental apartments. And also a decent location. Thank you
@WalterMoorer-t5q we live in San Pedro and foreigners don't come to live here, so we don't know anyone who does that, sorry! Almost everyone only speaks Spanish here too. Maybe more touristy cities would have someone who helps with that!
The intro is too cute lol
@@leslielajaeee ♥️♥️♥️
Hi thanks for this great video. Do you have any recommendations of how to find rentals? Are there certain websites you would recommend? Thanks.
Hi! It depends on the city you are looking at. For San Pedro where we live, I stayed with a friend while I was physically looking for apartments because they are not posted online. There are a bunch listed on facebook marketplace but those are not actually for rent and no one messages anyone back. However, maybe Santo Domingo or Punta Cana are different?
@@yonnyandkayla thanks!
Awesome and thanks for the conversion rates! How did y'all meet?
You're welcome! Of course the rates change every day but not by much. And my church went to the DR for a week in 2020 and Mariano was one of the translators so that's how we met ♥️
Wow, awesome thank-you, I hope to meet a woman like you ! first time on your channel and now a new subscriber ! @@yonnyandkayla
Also would you recommend San Pedro as a place to visit in the DR (if so what airport should I fly in), I'm thinking of going to Puerto Plada or Punta Canta to do some research on a possible place to retire (ex military) and to have fun and get out the Matrix for my B-Day lol. Thanks in advance ! @@yonnyandkayla
@@theoracle6881 If you want to visit San Pedro and Santo Domingo, I would fly to Punta Cana. San Pedro doesn't have much to see though. The other airport is quite far away on the north. But if you want beaches and mountains, then go north. If you want more city / beaches / resorts then Punta Cana on the south is more of that. There are many quieter cities along the south like Juan Dolio.
Ok yes Punta Cana seems like a good choice, I have been to Boca Chica a small beach town and loved it ! I also took a bus (an hour drive) to Santa Domingo for a day trip, hired a tour guide and had a great time. I didn't want to leave DR and that was like 10 years ago! thanks again@@yonnyandkayla
I'm sitting looking at my $2400 a month rent and hearing expensive there is $500 bucks. Yeah-- I'm outta here.
When your income is $700 a month, $500 is expensive to you
If you come and live in the Cayman Islands,,, then you will be great full for the prices you pay . My rent here is kyd 1700 for one bed apart , which in usd is 2023 only for rent …… and our salary don’t increase from 2200 per month
Wow that's so expensive compared to here
@@yonnyandkayla yeah ! Others places are worst then DR , I have been here for 10 years now and I’m looking forward to go back to DR . It’s easier if you have your home instead of paying rent .
@@mariaelenagarciagroves2364 We are hoping to buy a home in the next few years because we don't want to pay rent anymore...
Yes rent is getting expensive
You didn't mention health care cost.
@easyrawlins2392 I actually didn't pay for it. The school that I worked at covered it all, so I have no idea how much it is, sorry!
Eating American foods is your issue
Gosh, she is so cheery! 😳
I think you need to change the title to surviving in the DR. No car, no TV to even watch a movies, no AC, going out to enjoy good food and nice restaurants maybe twice a month, and no traveling around the country to get to know how beautiful and awesome is the island. I think you probably are doing that because your savings/income is very low but honestly this is a pretty tied budget to live in the DR as a foreigner and enjoy life here.
That's so interesting to hear your perspective. Others think we're rich compared to what they have. I guess the ability to enjoy life is not based on possessions at all ☺️
@@yonnyandkayla
Your comment 🎯
I can verify she is telling the truth cost of things. But you will need $2500 per month at least to live a middle class life. But anything under $1500 is living in poverty
There’s a difference between living in poverty and living frugally. The fact that the average salary in the DR is $400/mo and they’re spending $700/mo tells you they’re not living in poverty, just modestly.
@@lrbolotin1227 😂😂😂 they both are the same lifestyle
@@LivingtheDRdream Maybe you should hang out more with people that actually live in poverty so you can learn the difference.
@@lrbolotin1227 there isn’t difference in living off $400 per month or $700 per month. 😂😂$300 more isn’t going to make much of a difference in living condition
No air conditioner? It's hot as hell down there. Why would you want to live in a foreign country with no A/C??
I'm always cold and this is the first time in my life that I'm not. I imagine it would be too hot for others but I love it ♥️
Most people don’t have AC in the DR. Fans work just fine.
What area do you stay in? I couldn't make out location. And $100 a month unit cool to save money to pay rent 6 months in advance which would be cheaper
We live in San Pedro de Macoris
How did you exactly manage to get wi-fi for $30/month and pay using only credit card? I am in USA and would like to get it for a friend in San Pedro de Macoris. Do you think I can open and manage this account remotely? Thank you.
We have the cheapest plan with Altice and I pay on the Altice app with my credit card. I had to open the account in person though. You cannot open it remotely but you can manage it remotely. They asked for my passport and rent agreement to give me service at our apartment.
Thank you. Did you have to create online account (user name and password) to use Altice app?
@@jerzbondon No, but Altice gave me a number and a password to sign in when they gave me service.
How do yall bring in income?
I teach at a bilingual school and I tutor students in the US. online. My husband is a translator.
Sheesh I couldn’t I like to have fun and look nice
We all have different priorities in life 😁
@@yonnyandkayla💯
what about health insurance ??
The school where I teach at provides health insurance here in the DR and my husband is Dominican so he does not pay for his.
HEY,
How much is health insurance:?
My school pays for it so I have no idea, I'm sorry. It doesn't come out of my pay. And Mariano is Dominican so his is free. I don't think it's super expensive though
Best local Health Insurance is Senasa Larimar... about 5300 pesos (+/- 90 us dollar) every 3 month for 1 person and doble from 70 years and up...
Grocery prices look like US prices😮
Yes! Only they haven't gone up. They have been pretty much the same price every year.
Depends where you buy, too. Bodegas sell you exactly what you need (a pinch of salt, for example). Popular markets have fresh vegetables, fruits, rice, etc for dirt cheap, but you do have to wake up super early and dig into it. Supermarkets are expensive, especially if you don’t follow a Dominican diet.
You eat like junk that’s why. Buy from the local trucks, make your own peanut butter, stop eating cereal etc. eat rice beans meats and fruits etc, your money will go far
Yes! We eat rice, beans, meat and fruits almost daily and they are delicious ♥️ the fruits in the US. don't compare.
Why is food so expensive?
I think it's because a lot of food is imported from other countries so it's taxed and has shipping costs. But the food that's grown here is cheap.
This dude took sand to the beach to DR YIKES !?!?!?! Lmao hopefully he gets a seasonal hall pass
You're not invited to the 🇩🇴TETEO 🇩🇴🕺🏻💃🏻🍻🍾🥃🍹🇩🇴
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😮😮😮😮😮😮🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
♥️♥️♥️
On That budget isn’t living and enjoying life. That just existing in DR. No AC, bedroom look like a prison view , no eating out, no money for entertainment. You can only stay in the house all day because go outside will cost money. You will need $2,500 at least to enjoy life in DR
Not everyone would enjoy a life on that budget I guess. But I could never stay in my house all day 😂 that sounds horrible... We find things to do that don't cost money
@@yonnyandkayla going outside cost money 😂😂. Even going to the beach, you have rent chairs and umbrella. And when you see people eating at restaurants, and the smell of the food, you would want to eat too. Or be drooling 🤤 like a street dog 🐕 😂😂 . Or if you are craving frozen yogurt from sweet frog 🐸 , that cost money too. There isn’t no free museum or free zoo. What activities that is fun that don’t cost money ?
@@LivingtheDRdream maybe you would be drooling and maybe you need to rent chairs but not everyone is the same. That's what makes the world so great. We are all different ☺️
@@yonnyandkayla I love food and eating out. I would never be drooling because I eat out everyday literally 😂 I spend on average 5000 peso per day on eating out ( me and 2 kids and my girlfriend) but not everyone have the same income as me. But an average person would need $2500 usd per month to live comfortably and good in DR. Dr isn’t that cheap except for rent and medicine and car repairs.
@@LivingtheDRdream 😂 hey if you have enough money to live how you want to live that's awesome
Where do you pay 350 USD in dr?
$350 for what?
For rent
@@MassielPerezTorres-xh2qq we pay $220 USD for rent in San Pedro de Macoris. We have two bedrooms, a porch, and parking for our moto
@@MassielPerezTorres-xh2qqDepending where and how you want to live ... but out of the big cities there are a lot of oportunities... I live in La Caleta (Boca Chica) in a rented solitary house with 2 bedrooms on a 600 m2 terrain for a monthly rent of only 14000 pesos or +/- 237 US$ with a variety of fruit trees and coco palms... avoid apartments because in the weather conditions in the DR you'll want and definitly need a space to go and sit outside with some privacy !
Peizoz peizoz 😂😂😂😂😂
You are very conservative to be an american but there are people over there living in less than that a month but they dont have the possibilities as you do
Yes most people we know live on less than we do. But the Americans I know live on much more. I have a hard time saying we "need" money for things that aren't basic necessities because others need it more than we do.
@@yonnyandkaylaI totaly agree that Americans do think that everybody out of the DR is a millionaire and has a lot of money to spend and are talking as if spending 2000 PLUS US$ a month is nothing and the most normal thing in the world...average pension in Belgium is about 1400 Euro or +/-1524 US$ ... just to say that a lot of foreigners have to do it AND DOING IT in the DR with a lot less than 2000 US$... averedge salary in the DR is only 30000 pesos or +/- 507 US$ !
@@McDidi58 Yes many foreigners do have quite a bit of money. But we live in the DR so I don't know why people think we have money. I am a foreigner, but I'm not working in the US anymore. I live and work in the DR now.
You're living a very cheap life compare to La Romana
I think San Pedro is one of the cheaper cities to live in. And we love it here ♥️
You got a plethora of issues.
SAT 6/22/2024 Mobile Alabama 36617 >> Kayla, THANK YOU
You better start eating more rice and beans woman lol
If rice didn't make me tired and extremely bloated I would eat it more 😂 but I already eat it 3 times a week