A comfortable retirement works out cheaper in Dominican Republic — around £1,650/month for a couple, versus £1,900 in Morocco (about 13% more).
Cost of living, side by side
| Dominican Republic | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Modest (couple/mo) | £1,150 | £1,200 |
| Comfortable (couple/mo) | £1,650 | £1,900 |
| Premium (couple/mo) | £2,400 | £3,000 |
Indicative monthly estimates for a couple — real costs vary by location, lifestyle and exchange rates.
Dominican Republic: Foreigners buy with the same rights as citizens, taking full fee-simple (freehold) title in their own name with no restrictions. Property is registered in the buyer's name at the Title Registry.
Morocco: Foreigners can buy urban residential and commercial property freehold, registered in their own name through the land registry (Conservation Fonciere) via a notary. Agricultural land is generally off-limits unless officially reclassified, and properties in military or security zones are restricted. There are no caps on foreign ownership of residential units.
Dominican Republic: Pensionado residency is aimed at retirees with about US$1,500 a month of pension income (plus roughly US$250 per dependent), with a Rentista option for other passive income; both offer a relatively quick route to permanent residency.
Morocco: Morocco has no dedicated retirement visa; most retirees enter on a long-stay (type D) visa then apply for a residence card (carte de sejour) within 90 days, showing stable pension income and health cover.
Dominican Republic: Private hospitals in Santo Domingo, Santiago and the main expat hubs are modern and cost far less than in the US or UK; expat-focused insurance starts around US$100 a month, often including medical evacuation. Public care is basic, so most retirees insure privately.
Morocco: Expats rely on private clinics in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech and Agadir, where doctors speak French and increasingly some English and care is good value; Rabat's Cheikh Zaid and Marrakech's Clinique du Sud are well regarded. Private insurance runs roughly MAD 500-1,500 (about GBP 40-120) a month depending on age.
Dominican Republic: Holders of Pensionado residency have their foreign pension exempted from Dominican tax, and new residents broadly enjoy favourable treatment of foreign income; the Pensionado also brings a 50% cut in annual property tax and exemption from the 3% transfer tax on a first home. Confirm the current rules when you apply.
Morocco: Foreign pensions transferred to Morocco in dirhams have long enjoyed a large reduction of around an 80% abatement, and recent reforms move further toward exempting basic pension income for residents. It is a genuinely favourable regime, but confirm your own position with a local adviser.
Dominican Republic: Tropical and warm all year, typically 26-31C; the drier, most comfortable season is December to April, with a wetter hurricane-season stretch from June to November. Relaxed and welcoming in the expat areas, though normal precautions against petty crime apply; Spanish is the language with English common in tourist zones, and driving is on the right.
Morocco: Warm and sunny with regional variety: hot inland summers in Marrakech above 35C, milder Atlantic coasts, and mild winters, with Agadir enjoying 300+ sunny days a year. Spring and autumn are ideal. Generally safe and hospitable with a large established expat community; French is the key second language and English less so outside tourism, driving is on the right, and life is affordable and comfortable for British retirees.
Dominican Republic: One-off costs run roughly 4-5% of the price — a 3% transfer tax (waived on a first home for Pensionado residents), plus legal fees of about 1-1.5% and registration. Foreigners take full freehold title, and using a lawyer to verify title is strongly advised.
Morocco: Budget roughly 8-10% of the price in one-off costs, comprising about 4% registration tax, 1.5% land-registry, notary fees of 0.5-1% and agency commission around 2.5%; a purchase usually completes in a couple of months.
Dominican Republic: Las Terrenas on the Samana peninsula for its French-Caribbean flavour, Sosua and Cabarete for an established north-coast expat scene, Punta Cana for resort-style living and flights, and Santo Domingo for city amenities and the best hospitals.
Morocco: Marrakech for culture and a big expat scene, Agadir for the best year-round sunshine and modern comforts, Essaouira for a breezy artistic coastal town, and Rabat for a calm, green capital.
Thinking seriously about Dominican Republic or Morocco?
Two honest Brits, a private call, and straight answers — see if a freehold home abroad is a fit for you.
See if you qualify →