Moving to Barbados from Dominican Republic

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Dominican Republic to Barbados — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Dominican Republic to Barbados, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Dominican Republic to Barbados.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

DO
12.4
BB
15.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

DO
27.4
BB
10.0

Dominican Republic generally does better on safety, though Barbados leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

DO
$1,169
BB
$1,153
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

DO
22.3
BB
29.7

Barbados generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Dominican Republic leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

DO
27.0
BB
19.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

DO
3.0t
BB
2.5t

Barbados performs significantly better than Dominican Republic across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

DO
10.7
BB
37.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

DO
39.5%
BB
87.5%

Dominican Republic generally does better on infrastructure, though Barbados leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

DO
5.6%
BB
8.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

DO
$23,100
BB
$17,400

Dominican Republic performs better than Barbados across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

DO
72.6 yrs
BB
78.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

DO
21.2
BB
9.6

Barbados performs significantly better than Dominican Republic across all family life metrics.

Data: Direccion General de Impuestos Internos, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Dominican Republic and Barbados. To live, work, or study long-term in Barbados, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Barbados's immigration authority.

Dominican Republic passport

Dominican Republic passport holder visiting Barbados

Visa Required
Dominican Republic passport holders need a visa to enter Barbados.
Barbados passport

Barbados passport holder visiting Dominican Republic

Visa Free
Barbados passport holders can enter Dominican Republic without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Barbados?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Barbados has 37.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Barbados safe for expats?

Dominican Republic generally does better on safety, though Barbados leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Barbados is 15.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 12.4 in Dominican Republic.

How is healthcare in Barbados compared to Dominican Republic?

Barbados generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Dominican Republic leads in health coverage index. There are 29.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Barbados, compared to 22.3 in Dominican Republic. Barbados scores 77 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Dominican Republic: 77).

What language do they speak in Barbados?

The official language in Barbados is English. In Dominican Republic, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

DO BB
Population 10,694,700 302,674
Currency Dominican Peso (DOP) Barbadian Dollar (BBD)
Languages Spanish English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +1246
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911