Cabarete works for remote workers. Not because it’s on the coast, but because it has the infrastructure to get things done. Fast enough internet for video calls. A co-working scene. A community of people already doing what you’re planning to do.
The catch is knowing how it works before you arrive.
Is the internet in Cabarete good enough for remote work?
Yes, with conditions.
The main strip from the town centre to the kite beach has fibre at most co-working spaces and a handful of cafes. You can run a Zoom call, upload files, and use a VPN without it falling apart. Step outside that corridor and you’re on mobile data.
Claro and Altice are the two main providers. Claro covers the beach stretches better. Altice is stronger on the main road. Most remote workers carry both SIMs. A data plan runs $15-25 USD per month. Get a local number when you land. The airport kiosks are fine for this.
Starlink is also available in the DR and a lot of well-set-up apartments and co-working spaces have it. Download speeds run 100-200 Mbps, upload is solid, and latency is good enough for video calls. It’s not universal, but if you’re hunting for accommodation specifically for remote work, ask whether the place has Starlink before you book. Many landlords who cater to nomads have already installed it.
Power cuts happen. They’re not random. There’s a schedule, and long-term residents know it. Most co-working spaces have generator backup. If you’re working from an apartment, an inverter is part of the setup, not a luxury.
Where do people actually work in Cabarete?
A mix of co-working spaces, a few reliable cafes, and good apartment setups.
Agora Cowork is the most established. Air-conditioned, strong wifi, meeting rooms, day passes and monthly memberships. It’s where you’ll find the people running actual businesses. Day passes are around $15 USD. Monthly is roughly $150-200 USD depending on what you need.
A few beach bars near the kite lagoon have wifi strong enough for lighter work. Good for half-days. Not reliable enough to run a client presentation from.
Working from your apartment is entirely viable if you have a dedicated connection. Ask before you sign anything. “Wifi included” can mean a shared router across eight units. Ask for the provider name and request a speed test. Most landlords will let you.
What does it actually cost to live here while working?
Budget $1,200-1,800 USD per month for a comfortable setup. Frugal is possible at $900 if you cook most meals and skip the co-working membership. Above $2,000 and you’re choosing comfort, not requiring it.
Here’s roughly how it splits:
- 1-bed apartment near the action: $400-700/month
- Co-working membership: $150-250/month
- Food (mix of local spots and cooking): $200-350/month
- Transport (moto-taxi or scooter rental): $50-150/month
- Both SIM cards with data: $30-50/month
Cabarete is not the cheapest place in the DR. Jarabacoa and Santiago cost less. But Cabarete has the expat infrastructure and co-working scene that most remote workers actually want to be around.
What’s the remote worker community like?
Bigger than you’d expect. Smaller than Lisbon or Chiang Mai.
Cabarete has been pulling in kitesurfers and people who wanted a different kind of life for 20-odd years. The remote work layer sits on top of that. You’ll find people in tech, design, marketing, and consulting. Mostly from North America and Europe.
The Facebook group “Cabarete Expats” is active. Agora runs regular events. You’ll know people within your first two weeks if you show up.
It is a small town. That’s the trade. You are not going to find the depth of creative community that exists in a capital city. If you need that, Santo Domingo or Las Terrenas will serve you better.
What doesn’t work about Cabarete for remote work?
The heat is real. April to August hits 35 degrees and the humidity makes it worse. Air conditioning in your workspace is not optional if heat kills your focus. Factor that into rent decisions.
The nearest airport is Puerto Plata, 27 minutes away. Not a deal-breaker. Worth knowing before you book a monthly apartment, especially if you fly frequently for client work.
Kite season runs October to April. The town fills up. Prices go up. Availability drops. If you’re arriving in that window without accommodation sorted, you’ll pay for the disorganisation.
One more thing. The pace of life in Cabarete is genuinely slow. That’s the point for most people. But if you’re used to a city where things happen on time and services work reliably, the adjustment period is real. Give yourself a month before you decide whether it’s working.
Is Cabarete the right base for you?
If you want reliable internet, a small but real expat community, and a beach town that doesn’t feel like a resort, yes.
If you need city energy, a wider social scene, or more consistent infrastructure, look at Santo Domingo or Las Terrenas.
Take the quiz to see which DR region fits your actual setup.
