Dominican Republic for Americans: visa, cost of living and safety

Getting in on a US passport

No visa needed for stays up to 30 days; the $10 tourist card is included in your airline ticket. You can extend up to 120 days total through the Dirección General de Migración for a fee, and overstaying brings fines on departure.

Staying longer

Retirees can get residency as a pensioner with a pension of at least US$1,500 a month (plus US$250 per dependent). There is also a rentista residency for people living on steady passive income.

What a month costs

Lean: about $1,010 a month. Comfortable: about $1,380 a month. One person, rent included.

Santo Domingo, from Numbeo (Sept 2026): single-person costs of about $654 a month before rent, plus a 1-bed outside the centre (~$354) for the low figure or in the centre (~$729) for the comfortable one.

Where to base yourself

Santo Domingo

The capital has the main airport (SDQ) with nonstops from New York, Miami and other East Coast cities, and the cheapest rents on Numbeo (1-bed outside the centre ~$354).

Santiago de los Caballeros

Second-largest city, inland, with its own international airport (STI) and a slower, more local pace than the capital.

Punta Cana

Beach and resort area with its own busy airport (PUJ), but Numbeo puts a 1-bed around $960, well above Santo Domingo.

Heads up

The State Department says US citizens have been robbed by people they met on dating apps, and the country has the highest road-crash death rate in the world, so be careful on motorbike taxis and night driving. Don't resist a robbery and don't wear flashy jewelry or watches.

Emergency numbers

Police: 911
Ambulance: 911
Tourist police: POLITUR: 809-222-2026
Anti-trafficking: 911, or the Attorney General's anti-trafficking prosecutors (PETT) 809-200-7393, 24/7
US Embassy: +1 809-567-7775 (after hours, dial 0 for the duty officer)

Level 2 – Exercise increased caution (reissued June 12, 2025) due to crime. No specific no-go regions; violent crime is a concern countrywide, with more police in tourist areas.

Practical

Currency: Dominican peso (DOP)
Plugs: A, B
Nonstop flight from the US: Yes
Typical door-to-door from LAX: about 11 hours

18+ only. If you see anyone who looks underage, or anyone being forced to work, call the anti-trafficking number above or the police. Rules change: check the embassy and immigration sites before you book.