Moving to Dominican Republic from North Carolina

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from North Carolina to Dominican Republic? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from North Carolina to Dominican Republic, you would find that Dominican Republic is 43.9% cheaper than North Carolina. A $75,000 salary in North Carolina would need to be roughly DOP2,537,867 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 67°F in Asheville, 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?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between North Carolina and Dominican Republic.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 DOP2,537,867

To maintain the same standard of living in Dominican Republic

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 55.1% less

Groceries

pay 48.9% less

Transportation

pay 2.0% less

Housing

pay 64.4% less

Childcare

pay 81.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 49.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 58.66 DOP (August 2026)

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 49% less than cities in North Carolina.

North Carolina

Durham 74%

Dominican Republic

Santiago 25%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Dominican Republic

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from North Carolina to Dominican Republic.

Living there in 2020
14,626 ↑ 4% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Dominican Republic · UN DESA

Who's moving to Dominican Republic?

Top countries of origin for Dominican Republic's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Dominican Republic compared to North Carolina.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

NC
33.6%
DO
27.6%

Dominican Republic performs significantly better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

NC
88.7%
DO
85.0%

North Carolina performs better than Dominican Republic across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NC
3.4%
DO
5.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NC
$59,308
DO
$23,100

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

NC
76.1 yrs
DO
72.6 yrs

North Carolina 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.

Asheville Rain: 37.0 in/yr (940 mm)
67° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Santo Domingo Rain: 57.0 in/yr (1447 mm)
87° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Asheville Santo Domingo
Jan–Mar 52°/32°F (11°/0°C) 85°/67°F (29°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/53°F (24°/12°C) 87°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) 89°/73°F (31°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 58°/38°F (15°/3°C) 87°/71°F (30°/21°C)
View all months
Month Asheville Santo Domingo
Jan 47°/28°F (8.1°/-2.4°C) 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C)
Feb 50°/31°F (10.2°/-0.6°C) 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.7°C)
Mar 58°/37°F (14.4°/2.9°C) 85°/68°F (29.6°/20.2°C)
Apr 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C) 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.1°C)
May 75°/53°F (23.9°/11.7°C) 87°/72°F (30.4°/22.2°C)
Jun 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Jul 85°/65°F (29.3°/18.1°C) 88°/73°F (31.3°/22.8°C)
Aug 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.7°C) 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.7°C)
Sep 77°/57°F (25.1°/13.8°C) 89°/73°F (31.4°/22.7°C)
Oct 68°/46°F (19.9°/7.9°C) 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.3°C)
Nov 58°/38°F (14.7°/3.1°C) 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.4°C)
Dec 49°/30°F (9.4°/-0.9°C) 85°/69°F (29.6°/20.3°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Oficina Nacional de Meteorologiá 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

United States passport holder visiting Dominican Republic

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

Dominican Republic passport holder visiting United States

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

Data: 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 North Carolina?

On average Dominican Republic is about 42% less expensive than North Carolina, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Dominican Republic?

Budget about DOP634,467 for 3 months in Dominican Republic (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Dominican Republic?

From major Dominican Republic cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in North Carolina and Dominican Republic are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Dominican Republic compared to North Carolina?

Dominican Republic performs significantly better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Dominican Republic compared to North Carolina?

The average high temperature in Santo Domingo is 87°F, compared to 67°F in Asheville. Santo Domingo receives around 57.0 in of rainfall per year, while Asheville gets 37.0 in.

What language do they speak in Dominican Republic?

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

Share this

At a Glance

DO
Population 9,535,483 10,694,700
Currency United States Dollar ($) Dominican Peso (DOP)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +1
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 911