What if you were born in Dominican Republic?

If you had grown up in Dominican Republic instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Santo Domingo could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Palm-lined beach at Cabeza de Toro, Punta Cana. Photo: Danu Widjajanto, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Dominican Republic

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in DOP and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Dominican Republic: DOP 61,100Rs 279,000
Rent (city centre): DOP 17,700
Transport (public transport): DOP 4,150
Food: DOP 8,830
Saved: DOP 9,160

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Dominican Republic: DOP 140,000Rs 640,000
Rent (suburbs): DOP 35,800
Transport (public transport): DOP 9,550
Food: DOP 23,900
Saved: DOP 21,100

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Dominican Republic: DOP 228,000Rs 1,040,000
Rent (city centre): DOP 55,700
Transport (car): DOP 21,300
Food: DOP 27,800
Saved: DOP 63,700

Try it with my own income

A day in Santo Domingo

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Santo Domingo, a city of mild winters around 25°C and warm summers around 28°C.
Commute
Public transport is limited here, so you share rides or use taxis and buses for a longer commute.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
Everything happens in Spanish; English is not widely spoken.
Lunch
Lunch might be la bandera: rice, red beans and stewed meat.
Evening
You get home with DOP 21,100 saved each month. You stay alert in some areas at night.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast, the mountains and forest trails.

Dominican Republic compared with Pakistan

	Dominican Republic	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	1.7× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	74 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	14 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	5.1%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	26°C	26°C
Languages	Spanish	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	DOP	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Dominican Republic, living in Dominican Republic and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Dominican Republic?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around DOP 140,000 a month at the same level in Dominican Republic (about Rs 640,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Dominican Republic more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 1.7 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Dominican Republic?

Mainly Spanish. English is not widely spoken.

Can I actually move to Dominican Republic?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Dominican Republic page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.