Pros and cons of living in DR

Pros of living in the Dominican Republic

1. Climate

As you probably already know, the Dominican Republic is warm all year round. The tropical climate also gives you humidity, sending warm rains from time to time. Moreover, the average daytime air temperature is about 78.8 °F (26 °C), and the water temperature is about 80.6 °F (27 °C).

2. Nature

No doubt, the Dominican Republic is best known for its stunning white-sandy beaches with turquoise water. Tropical forests and mountains impress tourists from the first seconds. In our opinion, the most amazing thing is that there always remains a piece of unknown, untouched nature, which is now rarely found anywhere else. That is why it is always interesting to explore something new and unusual here.

3. Beaches

It would probably be a crime not to mention the stunning beaches of this country when talking about its advantages. Moreover, this is the most common reason why tourists are so eager to get to this paradise in the Caribbean.

4. Low prices

Well, of course, it always depends, but we should say that living in the Dominican Republic is way cheaper compared to most countries in Europe or the USA.

5. No visa required

So, the need for a visa depends on the country you come from. The citizens from countries such as the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, and a list of European countries do not need a visa to enter. They are allowed to stay with a tourist card for up to 30 days.

6. Easy to extend your stay

Tourists can stay without a visa for up to 30 days. And if you forget to extend your stay, you will be required to pay just a fine. Additionally, we should note that the prices for extending the stay are not exorbitant at all.

7. Amount of activities

Living in the Dominican Republic, you will definitely not be bored. The locals themselves are friendly and cheerful. Moreover, it is the best place to do water sports or golf.

8. Dominican cuisine

Without a doubt, if the food is bad somewhere, there is nothing to stay in a place like this. Fortunately, this is definitely not about the Dominican Republic. There is a huge variation in meals with blends of herbs and crops with beef, pork, cheese, oregano, saffron. Also, do not forget about the amazing seafood right at local restaurants on the ocean shore. Be sure that traditional Dominican food is a fusion that will make your mouth water.

9. Coffee

Well, there is no surprise that Dominican coffee ranked as one of the best in the world. And there are many specific areas where this coffee is grown. Moreover, arabica beans are grown here the most. Therefore, you can be sure that your morning Dominican coffee will energize you for the whole day.

10. Rum

For sure, the Dominican Republic is known for its high-quality rum exports. The taste of it is smooth enough, because of the natural process of distillation and aging, that is why rum has its unique flavor. Additionally, a good and relatively inexpensive rum can also be an alternative here.

Cons of living in the Dominican Republic

1. Salaries

As we have already mentioned, it is possible to get paid enough money to live comfortably. But this “enough” applies only to the Dominican Republic. The reason for this is that in most cases, with a regular position, you will earn several times less there than in the USA or Europe.

2. Driving and traffic jams

We cannot fail to mention this, as in big cities such as Santo Domingo it is always noisy and there are big traffic jams all the time. In addition, locals in the Dominican Republic are very dangerous to drive. They rarely have the rules we are used to, more often than not, they simply do not follow them. In addition, there are a lot of motorcycles that go fast and usually without traffic rules. So, if you are not an experienced driver, then you should not get behind the wheel first, it is better to hire a private transfer.

3. Corruption and bureaucracy

This is still a problem in the Dominican Republic. There is a fairly high level of corruption in the country. As well as bribes, which we do not recommend giving, and it is better to contact the police directly. Additionally, much time is wasted due to bureaucracy because some bills have to be paid in person.

4. Healthcare

Well, this topic is especially relevant in rural areas, because there are fewer medical services and the quality of health care is declining. But we should also mention that there is free treatment in public hospitals. Nevertheless, foreigners prefer to visit some private clinics, which are typically unaffordable for locals who do not have health insurance.