Cost to travel to the Dominican Republic

Last Updated on December 27, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

The Dominican Republic is an island country in the northern Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Dominican Republic is Santo Domingo, and the official language is Spanish. From a tourist point of view, the Dominican Republic is the most visited country in the Caribbean.

Christopher Columbus explored the island on his first voyage to America, reaching these lands and claiming them for Spain in 1492.

How much does it cost to travel to the Dominican Republic?

Every vacation comes with its cost and if you are dreaming about traveling to the Dominican Republic, you should budget around $120 per day. According to past travelers, you will have to get almost $35 per day out of your pocket for meals, while local transportation would cost you almost $7 per day. Also, for a hotel room for a couple, you will have to pay $150 per night. So, plan on spending around $1,700 for a one-week vacation with your partner in the Dominican Republic. In case you are going alone, you will need around $760 for a one-week vacation.

You may reduce the costs of this vacation if you are traveling as a family of three to four people as the hotel rooms can be shared and the tickets for children are cheaper. Also, the costs per day will get lower if you are traveling for a longer period of time, such as a month.

Below, we are going to talk about the main cost categories, so you can get a better idea of how much your dream vacation to the Dominican Republic would cost.

1. Accommodation Costs

A single person would spend around $80 per night for a hotel/hostel room in the Dominican Republic, while a couple would have to pay $150 for a double-occupancy hotel room. But the costs for accommodation could be even higher or lower, depending on the period, level of luxury, and type of hotel.

2. Transportation Costs

Like in most cities, taxi rides are more expensive than local transportation. Plan on spending around $7 per day for local transportation in the Dominican Republic. In case you want to travel between cities in the Dominican Republic, you will spend around $18. But the costs may vary depending on the date, length of the route, and the type of transportation used.

3. Flights Costs

The cost of a flight ticket to the Dominican Republic depends on the date, the airport you are leaving from and arriving at, the airline company you choose, and whether you are traveling economic or business class. For instance, a round-trip flight ticket, economy class, from Los Angeles to Santo Domingo costs around $950.

4. Food Costs

According to previous travelers, you would spend around $35 per day for meals in the Dominican Republic. But the cost may vary depending on what you would like to eat and the type of restaurant you choose. Obviously, street food is much cheaper than the food served at luxury restaurants.

You might also like our articles on the cost of trips to Jamaica, Thailand, and the Maldives.

5. Alcohol Costs

The amount of money you will spend on alcohol in the Dominican Republic depends on you. But you should budget at least $9 per day for drinks.

6. Handouts and tips

In the Dominican Republic, tipping is a very common practice. Bills at restaurants collect 8% VAT and 10% tip. A tip of 5-10% for a meal is appreciated but not required. You have to give a few dollars to the porters (butlers) at the hotels. Instead, you don’t have to give anything to the taxi drivers. Check at the restaurant if taxes are included. To know more about this, just ask the waiter. If they are not included, you must calculate 10% for service and 8% VAT. Furthermore, you can tip around 10%.

At hotels and resorts with all-inclusive services, it is not necessary to tip. However, if you are satisfied with the services, you are welcome to show it with a small “gift”.

7. Entertainment Costs

Plan on spending around $30 per day for fun activities in the Dominican Republic such as day tours, museums, various attractions, and other sightseeing experiences. For example, for water skiing you will have to pay almost $24, a full-day snorkeling trip costs $32, paragliding is $60, and the price for one hour horseback ride is $38.

The main attractions in the Dominican Republic

Spectacular beaches, breathtaking landscapes, luxury resorts, and a well-developed infrastructure – these are the things that attract tourists like a magnet to the Dominican Republic. The geographical diversity is a bonus: from heavenly beaches, and lush forests to impressive mountains and desert areas, the Dominican Republic has a lot to offer the adventurous tourist.

Most tourists who choose the Dominican Republic as their vacation destination, go to Punta Cana Puerto Plata and La Romana, resorts that offer everything visitors can dream of – the best hotels, restaurants, and dream beaches.

Those who are bored of the beach can take a trip to the Samaná Peninsula, the mountain areas, or the less touristy towns.

Among the main tourist attractions in the Dominican Republic is the small town of Las Galeras, which attracts more tourists eager to explore. Obviously, here too you will find idyllic beaches such as Playa Rincon, La Playita, and Playa Fronton. Of course, the city is also worth exploring.

If you are passionate about Kiteboarding, then Kite Beach in Cabarete is the ideal place for you. Cabarete organizes various water sports competitions – kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing, and stand-up paddleboarding.

Every winter, from December to March, thousands of whales enter Samana Bay to mate and give birth. Because it’s a super popular tourist attraction, you’re sure to get a deal on a day trip to this gorgeous area. From Punta Cana, such a trip costs around $65.

Travel tips in the Republican Republic

Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic. In the tourist areas, however, many residents understand and speak English and even other languages of international circulation, such as German and French.

The American dollar is accepted in most tourist areas, being even preferred, because it is very well quoted. In many tourist areas, the price is displayed in US dollars and Dominican pesos.

Avoid shorts and dress decently when entering places of worship.

Dominicans are very friendly, so it is very likely that they will respond to the greeting in a more affectionate manner.

Also, they will appreciate your effort to speak in Spanish. The main topics of conversation for the locals are the state of the country and the national sport, baseball.

If you want to buy souvenirs, you must always ask for discounts, or better, say what price you are willing to pay, negotiation being very often practiced.

When traveling by car in the Dominican Republic, you must drive with the windows closed and the doors locked because theft from a motorcycle is practiced at traffic lights. The recommendation is to use only hotel taxis. Thefts from cars, on the person, or those in which a weapon is used are frequent.

Circulation at night is not recommended because there is a risk of meeting unattended animals, and the roads are not properly lit and sometimes not even signalized. Thus, it would be good to travel with other people, especially during the day.

Although you are taught to respect general hygiene rules, in the Dominican Republic you have to do this more than in other places. Take with you some broad-spectrum antibiotics, anti-diarrheal medicines, and solutions against mosquitoes, because you can get sick with dysentery or dengue fever.

When is the best time of year to go to the Dominican Republic?

As an idea, in the Dominican Republic, it is always warm, so you can come here on vacation at any time of the year. But perhaps it would be ideal to avoid the rainy season, although then it’s good weather for trips, nature blooms and prices are lower. The Dominican Republic has a tropical climate with two seasons: rainy (May to September) and dry (November to April).