Moving to Dominican Republic from California
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from California to Dominican Republic — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from California to Dominican Republic, you would find that Dominican Republic is 51.6% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly DOP2,118,651 in Dominican Republic to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Santo Domingo averages 87°F vs 74°F in Sacramento, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from California to Dominican Republic.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → DOP2,118,651
To maintain the same standard of living in Dominican Republic
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 63.0% less
Groceries
pay 51.2% less
Transportation
pay 16.5% less
Housing
pay 71.5% less
Childcare
pay 85.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 61.6% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Dominican Republic cost about 60% less than cities in California.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from California to Dominican Republic, based on official data.
people born in United States live in Dominican Republic · UN DESA
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from California to Dominican Republic.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Dominican Republic performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Dominican Republic across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California performs better than Dominican Republic across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
California performs better than Dominican Republic across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Santo Domingo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 85°/67°F (29°/20°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 87°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 89°/73°F (31°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 87°/71°F (30°/21°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Santo Domingo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.7°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 85°/68°F (29.6°/20.2°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.1°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 87°/72°F (30.4°/22.2°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 88°/73°F (31.3°/22.8°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.7°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 89°/73°F (31.4°/22.7°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.3°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.4°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 85°/69°F (29.6°/20.3°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Oficina Nacional de Meteorologiá
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Dominican Republic. To live, work, or study long-term in Dominican Republic, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Dominican Republic's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Dominican Republic
Visa Free
Dominican Republic passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Dominican Republic than California?
Yes — Dominican Republic is on average about 52% cheaper than California. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Dominican Republic?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly DOP529,663 in Dominican Republic on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Dominican Republic?
Usually fine from major cities in Dominican Republic. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Dominican Republic compared to California?
Dominican Republic performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Dominican Republic compared to California?
The average high temperature in Santo Domingo is 87°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Santo Domingo receives around 57.0 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Dominican Republic?
The official language in Dominican Republic is Spanish. In California, the official language is English.
