Santo Domingo: what to see and whether to move there

Is it worth moving to Santo Domingo in 2026

Santo Domingo is the Caribbean's largest city, with moderate prices, warm weather all year and a territorial tax system under which a resident's foreign income is not taxed in the first years. The city suits pensioners, rentistas and entrepreneurs who want a Latin American residence permit without high thresholds. Spanish is needed in daily life, and traffic jams and power cuts in some districts are part of everyday life.

What it costs to live in Santo Domingo

Prices come from two independent 2026 price databases, with pesos converted at the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic mid rate of 5 October 2026, 60.43 pesos per dollar. A square metre in the centre costs about $1,880-2,220.

Where to live in Santo Domingo: districts

• Piantini and Naco - the business and most expensive centre with high-rises, malls and restaurants.
• Bella Vista - a calm district of residential towers, popular with families.
• Mirador Sur - next to a large park with running tracks.
• Colonial Zone - the UNESCO-listed historic centre, colourful but noisy and touristy.
• Gazcue - an old green district near the centre, cheaper than Piantini.
• Santo Domingo Este - cheap housing but further from the business centre.

How to get a residence permit

Russian citizens enter the Dominican Republic visa-free as tourists and pay an extra fee on departure for longer stays. The country has no separate visa for remote workers; it is only being discussed. For long-term living, people obtain a residence permit:

Pensioners and rentistas get a 50% discount on annual property tax and can import household goods duty-free. More on the remote work from the Dominican Republic page.

What taxes are paid in Santo Domingo

The system is territorial: local-source income is taxed. A resident's foreign income is not taxed, while foreign investment and financial gains are taxed only from the third year of residence. Income tax is 15%, 20% and 25% on income above the tax-free 416,220 pesos a year, about $6,890, rising to 480,000 pesos from 2027. Corporate tax is 27% and VAT 18%. More on the Taxes in the Dominican Republic page.

Buying and renting

Foreigners buy property in the Dominican Republic on the same terms as locals. The buyer pays a 3% transfer tax on the price or the tax valuation, whichever is higher, before registration, plus a lawyer and title check, usually 1-1.5% of the price, and registry fees. Each year an individual pays 1% on the total value of property above a tax-free threshold, about 10.7 million pesos in 2026, or about $177,070, with a 50% discount for pensioners and rentistas. In Santo Domingo property is mostly bought for long-term rental to company and embassy staff, and that income is taxed.

Work, business, healthcare and schools

Local salaries are low, about $600-650 a month after tax, so people usually move with foreign income or their own business. Export-oriented companies in free trade zones get tax incentives, while others pay 27% corporate tax. Healthcare for foreigners means private clinics in the city centre, paid for through private insurance. For children there are bilingual and international schools teaching in English, and places at the best ones should be booked early.

Climate and everyday life

The tropical climate keeps temperatures around 25-32 degrees all year, and the hurricane season runs from June to November, so people choose buildings with generators and window protection. Many residential complexes and malls have backup power; without it some districts face outages. Locals drive or use ride-hailing; public transport consists of a two-line metro and buses. The beaches of Boca Chica and Juan Dolio are under an hour away.

Documents for residence

For residence people usually prepare a passport, a police certificate, birth and marriage certificates, proof of income or pension and bank statements. Foreign documents are apostilled and translated into Spanish. In the country the applicant undergoes a medical exam and gives biometrics, then receives temporary residence with later renewal. The process takes several months, so people often first enter as tourists and pay the extension fee on departure.

Pitfalls of moving

• Without Spanish, paperwork, renting and daily matters are hard.
• Rush-hour traffic and weak public transport.
• Power cuts in buildings without a generator.
• Some districts are unsafe at night, so people choose gated complexes.
• Residence documents must be translated and legalised, and the process takes several months.

Murblz specialists choose a residence route, prepare documents and support the application.