Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo, Central America & Caribbean
Living in Dominican Republic: the short version
The Dominican Republic offers Caribbean beaches, low costs and one of the region’s most accessible residence programmes. Pensioners and people with passive income get immediate permanent residence and an exemption on foreign income under Law 171-07.
Best for: Retirees, people with passive income and beach lovers seeking an affordable Caribbean base.
Why people move here
- Pensionado and Rentista routes give immediate permanent residence
- Foreign income exemption for qualifying residents
- Low living costs and warm weather all year
What to watch out for
- Power cuts and patchy infrastructure
- Petty crime and traffic in Santo Domingo
- Hurricane season from June to November
How to move to Dominican Republic: main visa and residency routes
Summaries only — requirements and income thresholds change. Always check the official sources below.
- Pensionado residence
- For retirees with a lifetime pension of at least US$1,500 a month, plus US$250 per dependant.
- Rentista residence
- For people with stable foreign passive income of at least US$2,000 a month.
- Investor residence
- For investing at least US$200,000 in a Dominican business or real estate.
Healthcare for newcomers
Private hospitals in Santo Domingo, Santiago and Punta Cana offer good care at moderate prices. Expats should hold private health insurance.
Cost of Living
Cost of living index: 35 (NYC = 100)
Rent (1BR)
$600
Rent (3BR)
$1100
Groceries
$250
Transport
$40
Utilities
$120
Internet
$40
Dining Out
$80
Tax System
Corporate Tax
27%
VAT / Sales Tax
18%
Social Security
5.9%
Capital Gains
27%
Income Tax Brackets
| Income Range (USD) | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 - $6,900 | 0% |
| $6,901 - $10,400 | 15% |
| $10,401 - $14,450 | 20% |
| $14,451 - Above | 25% |
Culture
The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti and is the Caribbean’s most visited country. Santo Domingo has the oldest colonial city in the Americas, and merengue, bachata and baseball are national passions.
Traditions
- Carnival in February
- Merengue and bachata dancing
- Baseball season
- Independence Day (27 February)
Cultural Values
- Family
- Faith
- Joy and music
- Hospitality
Common Greeting: ¡Hola! / ¿Qué lo que?
Cultural Tips
- • Power cuts still happen; many homes have an inverter or generator
- • Dress smartly for government offices
- • Bargain politely in markets
- • Drink bottled or filtered water
🍽 Food & Cuisine
Dominican cuisine is Caribbean comfort food, shaped by Taíno, Spanish and African traditions, with rice, beans, plantains and stews.
La bandera
Rice, red beans and stewed meat, the everyday “flag” lunch
Mangú
Mashed green plantains with pickled onions, eaten for breakfast
Sancocho
Hearty stew with several meats and root vegetables
Tostones
Twice-fried smashed green plantains
Sources and methodology
Figures on this page are estimates in US dollars, compiled from the international datasets below and converted at recent exchange rates. The cost of living index uses New York City as 100. Guidance was last reviewed on . Found something out of date? Tell us.
Official Dominican Republic sources
Data sources
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — individual income tax
- Numbeo — cost of living (crowdsourced prices)
- World Bank Open Data — economic and population indicators
- OECD Tax Database — tax rates and social contributions
- ILOSTAT — employment and unemployment
- UNDP Human Development Reports — health and education
- UN World Population Prospects — population
Quality of Life
Job Market
Average Annual Salary
$8,000
Job Difficulty
Difficult
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Work Permit Required
Yes
Top Industries
Languages
Official Languages
Other Languages Spoken