Living expences

[alanflamenco]

I'm relocateing to Puerto Plata from the UK after Easter. Supposing I can find an apartment to rent in the region of 6000-8000 pesos pm, and use public transport, how will my standard of living be on the 45000 pesos pm I will have left from my pension to live on?

[Ken]

Originally Posted by alanflamenco

I'm relocateing to Puerto Plata from the UK after Easter. Supposing I can find an apartment to rent in the region of 6000-8000 pesos pm, and use public transport, how will my standard of living be on the 45000 pesos pm I will have left from my pension to live on?

Are you the only person that will make use of this money? Do you plan to have a telephone and connect to the internet? What is your medical situation? Will you be paying all your medical costs from the RD$45,000? Do you have any insurance charges or anything like that that need to be paid out of your pension money, thus reducing the amount you have for living expenses?

For POP residents, what is available there for rent for 6-8,000 pesos? Is that a realisitic expectation?

[alanflamenco]

I hope I can have a telephone and internet, I have some short term medical insurance, is other medical insurance available in DR, or is it pay as you go?

[rellosk]

My suggestion is that you pull together a budget, outlining what you think it will cost for each item. You may be able to get some information from here:

Prices throughout the DR!

Once you've finished your budget, post it on DR1. You will get lots of responses. It should make for an interesting thread.

[alanflamenco]

Hey, I'm just an ordinary guy, no fancy restaurants, social drinker, non smoker, can I live a reasonable lifestyle on 45000 pesos. Most of my Dominican friends seem to exist on a budget a lot lower than mine, so can I expect a comfortable lifestyle?

[A.J.]

45,000 pesos pm should be managable. However to figure out what you will pay in rent you have to let us know what type of living situation you would like i.e. gated area, 24 lights, water etc. vs. an apartment with 4 walls a few windows and a door. Rent will be your highest expense.

Do you plan on getting a cell phone? Are you going to take public transportation? etc.

[rellosk]

Originally Posted by alanflamenco

.... is other medical insurance available in DR, or is it pay as you go?

Yes and yes. Here are some recent threads discussing the topic:

health care in DR

Health related question..

[alanflamenco]

In all my previous visits I have stayed in hotels, I am familiar with the Barrios as these are where my friends live, I am advised by them that I would not be able to live amongst them as the criminals would soon be attracted to a 'gringo'. I need advice on where the more secure and quieter areas of POP are, but I would be quite happy with a modest place, as long as the water was warm. I assume to ahve the internet there has to be a phone line connected, the same as in the UK.

[carina]

You can easily get a small apartment of 1-2 rooms, unfurnished, and downtown or even in Torre Alta for around 6000-8000 pesos a month.
You will have to pay electricity, cable TV, internet etc additionally.

An apartment of 1-2 rooms, if no a/c, electricity around 1000 pesos/month
Cable TV 400 pesos/month
gas for stove appr. 300 pesos/ 3 months depening on usage
Internet, depending on speed, incl. phone 1300-3000 pesos/month

There are mixtures of immigrants & locals in most areas of POP.
Downtown, Torre Alta, Bayardo, Atlantico etc etc.
The above costs I mentioned are for regular residencial areas, not gated communities where costs are higher.

You can live on 45000 pesos here.

[alanflamenco]

Thanks Carina, very helpful. How about a furnished apartment?