10 Best Places to Retire in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is becoming a world-favorite for seniors, and we have searched for the best places to retire in the Dominican Republic so you don’t have to. Consider this your Dominican Republic retirement shortlist.

It is no surprise why and how the Dominican Republic is fast becoming a hub not just for retiring Americans but for a growing number of expats too. There is nothing unlovable about the Dominican Republic’s year-round warm and sunny weather, world-class golf courses, pristine beaches, lower cost of living, and a thriving economy. The Dominican Republic is no longer just a Caribbean vacation destination but presents itself as an almost irresistible option for year-round living.

To make this list, we have put together the best of the best lists from Expat Exchange, Huffington Post, Your Retirement Paradise, Live and Invest Overseas, and Investopedia. These are the cities or towns in the Dominican Republic that stood out on being friendly to expat retirees – affordable, safe, has great options for recreation, great healthcare, and is close to other important facilities.

Not very keen on spending your senior years under the Caribbean sun and prefer something colder and up in the Alpine mountains? Check out our article on the best places to retire in Switzerland!

 

10. Jarabacoa

Jarabacoa has long been known to locals as a favorite vacation spot and it is clearly easy to see why. Retirees will love Jarabacoa’s countryside sights, clean mountain air, and weather that is cooler than the rest of the island. It is perfect for those who are looking for a simple life away from the city and for those who love the outdoors as Jarabacoa is teeming with hiking trails, river treks, and breathtaking waterfalls.

9. Luperon

Luperon is popular among expats and retirees looking for a predominantly laidback local atmosphere. It is a popular destination especially for those who love boating. Though the expat and retiree community is not one nuclear unit, you can expect to find expats all over the small town. The upside: it is cheaper here. The downside: you most likely have to get your Spanish right.

8. Santiago de los Caballeros

Santiago de los Caballeros, or simply Santiago, is the second-largest city on the island and is a growing urban metropolis. Retirees will enjoy its proximity to the beaches without having to be surrounded by the flock of tourists that come to the island all year round, and get the best of city living – stable wifi, cable, phone connections, and 24-hour electricity among others.

7. Samana

Samana is a town located on the northern tip of the island in a province of the same name and is an important tourism region for the Dominican Republic. Despite being part of most Caribbean cruise stopovers, life in Samana town is still quite simple and idyllic. The beach is nothing more than a several minute drive from the residential areas. This small town has maintained its low-key charm while slowly bloomed into one of the 10 best places to retire in the Dominican Republic for expats.

6. Sosua

Sosua and its next door neighbor Cabarete are popular for its young crowd and their usual crowd pleasers of water sports and adventures, bars, and other nightspots; but the small town of Sosua located on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic is also a growing retirement favorite. The beach city has everything about the ideal Caribbean beach life perfected to a T and with retirement communities and more developments underway, it should be on every list of the best places to retire in the Dominican Republic.

5. Cabarete

The beach city of Cabarete is experiencing not just the wonderful reception of retirees and expats for Sosua but also the big chunk of developments that its next door neighbor is experiencing. Retirees will love the growing expat community, diverse and vibrant environment, the beach which is literally just a stone’s throw away, and the affordable real estate.

4. Casa del Campo

The exclusive, planned community of Casa del Campo is every bit a designer retirement and expatriate community. The private resort living development, developed in 1975, has private villas, cabanas, world-class golf courses, and private beaches. Because it is private, you can expect for everything to be catered to the expensive tastes of its residents but also expect for them to be a whole lot pricier than every other destination in this list of best places to retire in the Dominican Republic.

3. Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo is perhaps the only city on this list that is not on the north coast of the island. The capital city, Santo Domingo is not only the largest city in the Dominican Republic but also the most densely populated. Because it is the capital and the largest, retirees can expect major metropolitan perks here – airport facilities, large hospitals, advanced communication technologies, etc.

2. La Romana

There is an entire world to discover outside of Casa del Campo in La Romana, and some of them are cheaper too but not for long. La Romana has long been known as a tourist capital, being the site of many famous Dominican tourist spots like the Altos de Chavon and the old Tabacaleras (cigar factories) and Azucareras (sugarcane mills) and a bustling city of exclusive residences like Casa del Campo. Expect for the real estate to go up in La Romana as a massive $300-million dollar seaside development is underway.

1. Las Terrenas

Bagging the top spot for our list of the 10 best places to retire in the Dominican Republic is the small north coast town of Las Terrenas. Las Terrenas has a booming expat community, good healthcare, international goods suppliers, safe environment, and plenty of things to do both in the water and on land.

Expats and retirees currently residing in the Dominican Republic advise that the best way to find the perfect spot for you among the best places to retire in the Dominican Republic is actually to give it a feel. Rent a car, rent an Air BNB, and experience life in any of these cities – give yourself a preview of what long-term living here feels like.

Which of these cities are you dying to give out a joyride?