Best Cities in the DR for Expats

Santo Domingo is the oldest European-founded city in the Americas and the DR's undisputed urban hub. For expats, it offers everything: multiple hospitals including internationally accredited ones, a huge variety of international cuisine, strong fiber internet, an active expat social scene, world-class shopping malls, and direct flights home from Las Americas airport.

The best neighborhoods for expats are Piantini, Naco, Bella Vista, and Serralles. These are safe, walkable within neighborhood boundaries, and have the restaurants, gyms, and supermarkets expats want. Uber works well. Spanish is more important here than on the tourist coast.

Santiago is the DR's second city and the cultural heart of the Cibao region. It is often overlooked by expats focused on the coast, which keeps prices significantly lower than Santo Domingo. The city has its own international airport (STI), several good hospitals, a growing restaurant scene, and a strong local character.

Los Jardines, Bella Vista, and the Pontificia Universidad Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) area are the most expat-friendly neighborhoods. The city is more compact and less chaotic than Santo Domingo. Daily life is more Dominican in feel, which some expats prefer. It is a one-hour drive to the north coast.

Jarabacoa is the DR's mountain escape. Sitting at around 530 metres above sea level in the Cordillera Central, temperatures are noticeably cooler than the coast. No air conditioning needed for most of the year. The town is surrounded by rivers, waterfalls, and hiking trails. White water rafting is literally down the road.

The expat community here is smaller but passionate. Most are retirees, adventure-lovers, or people fleeing the coastal heat. There is a proper supermarket, several good restaurants, and a handful of expat-run businesses. Healthcare requires driving to Santiago (about 90 minutes). Not suited to remote workers needing reliable daily connectivity.

La Romana is a smaller city on the southeast coast anchored by the famous Casa de Campo resort complex. For expats in that orbit, it offers world-class golf, marina access, polo fields, and a refined expat community that skews toward wealthier retirees and seasonal residents. Altos de Chavon, the replica Mediterranean village within Casa de Campo, hosts an art school and cultural events.

Outside Casa de Campo, La Romana is a working Dominican city with good supermarkets and restaurants but less internationally connected than Santo Domingo. Bayahibe and the southeast coast beaches are nearby. The small La Romana airport (LRM) handles some charter and regional flights.

Constanza sits at 1,200 metres and is genuinely unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean. The temperature can drop to 10°C at night. The surrounding valley grows strawberries, garlic, and vegetables for most of the DR. It is the least touristy destination on this list and the most authentically Dominican.

A tiny but real expat community of retirees and off-grid types has settled here. Infrastructure is limited but improving. Constanza is for those who want the cold-climate mountain life, complete quiet, and genuine local immersion. It is not for anyone relying on strong internet or quick healthcare access.