I Quit My 9‑to‑5. Now I'm Living My Best Life.

No. One of the biggest misconceptions is that you need to be rich to move abroad. What you need is a plan. You can rent a decent apartment in Santo Domingo for $500–$900/month, and basic groceries like rice, beans, chicken, and plantains are very affordable. But money alone won't build you a life — an income strategy will.

It depends on where and how you live. In Santo Domingo, a comfortable life runs about $1,500–$2,500/month. In smaller towns, you can get by on $800–$1,200. When Jay's family moved from Fort Lauderdale (where they spent $4,600/month), they cut expenses by 50% and upgraded their lifestyle at the same time.

Most expats who make it work have remote income: customer service, freelancing, e-commerce, coaching, content creation, or online businesses. Jay's advice: if you don't have income already lined up, you shouldn't be moving anywhere. Getting a local job isn't ideal — wages in the DR are very low and you need a work visa.

You don't need to be fluent to move, but learning basic Spanish will change your experience completely. It helps with rent negotiations, everyday errands, building real friendships, and avoiding the "rich foreigner" markup. Most Dominicans appreciate the effort even if your Spanish isn't perfect.

Like any country, it depends on where you are and how you move. Jay has said that he actually feels more at ease out in public in the DR than he does back in the States. Use common sense, learn the neighborhoods, and don't flash money around. The culture here is warm and community-oriented.

Thinking money is enough. Jay's family learned this the hard way in 2015 — they moved without a real plan, opened a restaurant with no experience, and lost everything. The second time, they moved with remote income, a budget, and a strategy. That made all the difference.