Where Should a Foreigner Live in Dominican Republic? Pt. 2

Choosing to live in the countryside, or the faster past city life, can’t go wrong with the small town, and we can't forget the beach towns. Whatever is your choice Dominican Republic has it all.

Where should a foreigner live in Dominican Republic? There are tons of great options as we discussed in the previous article, this Island presents something for everyone. As a foreigner you must prioritize living in a safe area. It's beyond me that safety is almost never in the conversation when future expats talk about living abroad. No, I’m not saying that one must live in fear or implying as if I do myself. I live in a very safe community in Dominican Republic, and I would only recommend for others to do the same. As a foreigner, its best to live where most of what you need is at your doorstep or a short distance away. It’s never a bad idea to live near other foreigners that speak English and can give recommendations on the area. In this article here are two great options for where a foreigner should live in Dominican Republic. 

city view of Santiago de los Caballeros

Santiago de los Caballeros is the second biggest city in Dominican Republic. Located in the North of the island, in the province Santiago. I don't think you're missing anything city-wise when living here in the second biggest city. I must say Santiago de los Caballeros has a good reputation, and quite an interesting name. The name Santiago de los Caballeros translates to St James of the Knights. Dominicans like to shorten words, so instead of saying the full name, the city is referred to as Santiago. This city has a lot coming its way in the near future, such as trains that will take passengers to the nearby airport Cibao International Airport and throughout the country. I recently heard that they're planning on building a highway that runs from Santiago to Puerto Plata. A 1 hour 30 minute drive that some would rather avoid because of single driving lanes, will later become a highway with more lanes, reducing the drive to 30 minutes. Santiago is not as crowded as the capital city Santo Domingo, and definitely less traffic too lol. This city also has a tourist element, so guess will love visiting and taking in the countless restaurants, going to visit the Monumento de Santiago, riding the Telerferico (cable car) or checking out the fabulous nightlife. There's plentiful of nice neighborhoods to live in Santiago such as Villa Olga, Cerros de Gurabo, La Zurza and Área Monumento to name a few. I’ve seen rent for 2 - 3 bedroom apartments in some of the nice neighborhoods on average low as 15000 pesos ($252usd) per month. Now when it comes to buying a property, the pricing on houses to apartments seems to be very reasonable for what is offered. There are options for choosing modern homes or older traditional homes, with every home or apartment building looking different from one another. Santiago de los Caballeros is most definitely a great choice for those into the city lifestyle of having everything to your doorstep, not that far from other amazing nearby towns and there is always something to do. A great choice for where a foreigner should live in Dominican Republic. 

sky view over Punta Cana

Punta Cana has a reputation of being known as the rich people area, whether it's because of all the luxurious resorts or that it may have the biggest expat community in all of Dominican Republic. I’m not sure, but for me that's always been how Punta Cana has been referred to as. Ask me the truth and I tell you no lie, one thing for sure Punta Cana earns that reputation, the rumors are true lol. Punta Cana is where you could definitely get by with English alone, with its high population of English speakers. Being in Punta Cana you won't get to brag about having the lowest prices on the island or even be part of the discussion. Local prices do not live in Punta Cana, and it's not like the expats or foreigners are being singled out, is it lol? Honestly, it's because Punta Cana is a high tourist area, and arguably the most beautiful town in Dominican Republic. Therefore, prices for street food, restaurants, groceries will cost more, not too much either, it won't be North American price range. Now it's quite the opposite when it comes to buying a home in Punta Cana. Surprisingly when factoring in everything, Punta Cana probably has the best prices for new properties based on where a foreigner should live in Dominican Republic. With a Suburb-like feel, Punta Cana gives the community that blissful peace. For guess or anyone at that, who chooses to enter into Punta Cana must pay the toll. I feel the toll gives an extra layer of security for residents. I never heard of any trouble in Punta Cana, only time it comes up is for vacations. Yes, part of living in Dominican Republic is enjoying the resorts too. Locals take a weekend or so to unwind at a plectrum of the many resorts in the area. Most of the beaches are private belonging to the resorts, some resorts may charge a small fee to enter or allow the residents. There are public beaches also that anyone can enjoy. Punta Cana is beloved by the retirees but make no mistake this is not a retirement community. As mentioned before, there are lots of foreigners of all walks of life that call this place home. A great feature is having the Punta Cana international airport, so going back and forth to North America or flying out to see more of the world is that simple. There are shopping malls, massive grocery stores, and many luxurious modern amenities for those who choose to call this place home. A lot of the best that the country has to offer is in Punta Cana, and that’s why it's a top choice, of where should a foreigner live in Dominican Republic.