Aerial view of a palm-lined Dominican Republic coastline at golden hour

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Thinking about actually moving?

Practical, honest information for U.S. expats considering a move to the Dominican Republic — plus hands-on help for the parts that are hard to do from abroad.

Before you go

What to actually expect

This is the information we give friends who ask, not a tourism pitch.

  • Cost of living

    A comfortable single-person budget in Santo Domingo or Las Terrenas runs noticeably lower than most U.S. metro areas — housing and dining out are the biggest swings, and imported goods are the biggest surprise cost.

  • Healthcare

    Private clinics in Santo Domingo and Santiago are modern and affordable by U.S. standards, and many doctors trained in the U.S. or Europe. Private health insurance is worth budgeting for from day one.

  • Internet & remote work

    Fiber internet is widely available in Santo Domingo, Santiago, and the north coast tourist towns, with reliable speeds for video calls. A backup mobile hotspot is standard practice given occasional outages.

  • Schools

    Bilingual and international schools are concentrated in Santo Domingo, Santiago, and Punta Cana, following American, British, or IB curricula. Spots at the most established schools fill up — plan ahead.

  • Neighborhoods

    Piantini and Naco in Santo Domingo suit people who want city convenience; Las Terrenas and Cabarete suit a slower, beach-first life; Punta Cana and Cap Cana suit those prioritizing resort-style amenities.

  • What surprises people

    How much daily life runs on WhatsApp instead of email, how far a modest budget goes for household help, and how much slower bureaucracy moves than back home — plan buffer time for anything involving paperwork.

Legal and residency matters — visas, residency applications, property closings, and business formation — are handled by licensed Dominican attorneys we refer you to. Island Life Entertainment does not provide legal advice.

Relocation packages

Hands-on help, in three levels

Sample starting prices — final quotes are confirmed after a short call about your situation.

  • Explore

    A structured two-week look before you commit to anything.

    $450

    one-time, sample pricing

    • • Neighborhood orientation in two cities
    • • Cost-of-living breakdown for your situation
    • • Introductions to bilingual real estate agents
    • • Banking, SIM card, and internet overview
    • • One week of WhatsApp follow-up questions
  • Settle

    For people who have decided and now need it to actually happen.

    $1,900

    one-time, sample pricing

    • • Everything in Explore
    • • Rental search and lease review support
    • • Utility and internet setup
    • • Bank account opening accompaniment
    • • Driver's license and vehicle guidance
    • • Healthcare and insurance orientation
    • • Referral to a licensed Dominican attorney for residency filings
  • Full Relocation

    Door to door, including the family and the container.

    $4,800

    one-time, sample pricing

    • • Everything in Settle
    • • Household shipping and customs coordination
    • • School search and enrollment support
    • • Pet import coordination
    • • Ninety days of concierge support after arrival
    • • Business setup introductions where needed

Get started

Tell us where you're at in the process

We'll reply on WhatsApp or email within 24 hours.