The True Cost of Owning Property in the Dominican Republic: A 2026 Owner’s Guide

Understanding the cost of owning property in the Dominican Republic starts long before you sign. The purchase price is the headline number, but it is never the whole story. Before you buy a home in the Dominican Republic — whether a condo near the marina or a villa at Casa de Campo® — you should understand what it costs to own it year after year. This guide breaks down every recurring and one-time cost so there are no surprises.

We write this as a buyer's agency working at the resort, so the framing is honest rather than promotional: here is what you will actually pay, and where the numbers move.

Two cost buckets: one-time and recurring

It helps to separate costs into what you pay once, at purchase, and what you pay every year to hold the property. Buyers who only budget for the first bucket are the ones who get surprised later.

One-time costs at purchase

At the transaction itself, plan for:

• Transfer tax of 3% of the higher of the contract price or the DGII appraisal, paid within six months of the deed.
• Legal and notary fees for attorney representation, title search, and closing — contact us for current figures.
• Due diligence costs — survey verification and document checks, usually modest and folded into legal fees.

For the full step-by-step purchase process behind these costs, see our guide to buying property in the Dominican Republic as a foreigner.

Annual property tax (IPI)

The Dominican property tax is called IPI. It is charged at 1% per year on the portion of a property's value that exceeds a government-set exemption threshold, and that threshold is adjusted annually for inflation. Value below the threshold is not taxed.

Two practical points: the tax applies to the registered value, and certain situations — including some primary-residence and lower-value cases — can fall under the exemption entirely. Higher-value villas will pay IPI on the excess. Because the threshold changes every year, confirm the current figure with your attorney rather than relying on an old number.

HOA and community infrastructure fees

Gated resort communities charge a recurring fee for shared infrastructure, security, road maintenance, and common areas. At Casa de Campo® this is the Infraestructura fee. The amount scales with the size and location of your property and is one of the larger recurring line items — it is what funds the 24/7 security and the maintained grounds that make the resort what it is.

Ask for the exact current fee for any specific property before you buy; it varies meaningfully between a condo and a large oceanfront villa.

Property management and staff

Most villa owners do not live on-site year round, so they retain staff or a management company: housekeeping, gardening and pool care, and often a property manager who handles the home between visits. A larger villa with extensive grounds carries more staff cost than a compact home; this is the line item most directly tied to lifestyle and property size.

If you plan to be an absentee owner, factor in professional management from day one — it is the difference between arriving to a ready home and arriving to a list of problems.

Utilities

In the Caribbean, electricity is the cost that surprises North American and European buyers most, because air conditioning runs hard for much of the year. Many villas mitigate this with inverter systems or solar to buffer against grid costs. Beyond power, budget for water, high-speed internet, and gas. Utilities scale with how much you actually use the home and how aggressively you cool it.

Insurance

Property insurance in a hurricane-exposed region is a real and worthwhile cost. Comprehensive coverage protects against storm damage and is strongly recommended for any significant property. Premiums depend on the property's value, construction, and proximity to the coast.

Rental income can offset the carry

Many owners offset their annual costs by placing the villa in a managed rental program when they are not in residence. A well-located, well-managed villa at an established resort can generate meaningful income that defrays — sometimes substantially — the holding costs above. We avoid promising specific yields because they depend heavily on the property, the season, and how it is managed, but rental potential is a genuine part of the ownership math for many buyers.

CONFOTUR: lower holding costs on qualifying projects

If a property sits in a CONFOTUR-designated tourism project, it can be exempt from the 3% transfer tax and from annual IPI for a set number of years — a direct reduction in both your one-time and recurring costs. This is project-specific: it applies to approved developments, generally newer ones, and not to most resale villas in long-established neighborhoods. Always verify a project's CONFOTUR resolution in writing before counting on the savings.

Budgeting for the cost of owning property in the Dominican Republic

As a planning starting point, many owners budget annual carrying costs — IPI, infrastructure fee, staff, utilities, insurance, and management — as a percentage of the property's value, then adjust for how heavily they use the home and whether they rent it out. The right number is property-specific, which is why the most useful step is to get the actual figures for a particular home before you commit. For the resort-specific breakdown, see our Casa de Campo® Cost of Ownership guide.

Where this applies: Casa de Campo®

Casa de Campo® near La Romana — roughly ten minutes from La Romana International Airport (LRM) — is where most of our buyers end up, in part because the resort's services make the recurring costs buy something tangible: security, maintained grounds, and turnkey management. Buyer interest concentrates in Punta Minitas, Punta Aguila, and Dye Fore, each with its own cost profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is property tax in the Dominican Republic?

The annual property tax (IPI) is 1% on the portion of registered value above a government-set exemption threshold that is adjusted each year. Value below the threshold is not taxed, and CONFOTUR-designated projects may be exempt.

What are HOA fees at Casa de Campo®?

Casa de Campo® charges an Infraestructura fee for security, road maintenance, and common areas. It scales with property size and location, so request the exact current figure for any specific home before buying.

Do I pay annual tax on a primary residence?

Some primary-residence and lower-value situations fall under the IPI exemption threshold and pay no annual property tax. Higher-value villas pay 1% on the value above the threshold. Confirm your specific case with an attorney.

Can rental income cover ownership costs?

A well-located, professionally managed villa can generate rental income that offsets a significant share of annual holding costs. Actual yields vary by property, season, and management, so treat any single figure with caution.

What does CONFOTUR exempt and who qualifies?

CONFOTUR can exempt a qualifying project from the 3% transfer tax and from annual IPI for a set period. It is project-specific — typically newer developments — and does not apply to most resale villas. Verify the project's resolution before relying on it.

What should I budget for annual carrying costs?

Plan for IPI, the infrastructure fee, staff, utilities, insurance, and management, then adjust for usage and rental activity. The right figure is property-specific; get the real numbers for a particular home before committing.

Sources: DGII — IPI exempt threshold 2026 · DGII Guide 18 — 3% transfer tax (Law 288-04) · short-term rental taxes (ITBIS). For fees and costs specific to your purchase, contact us. Last verified October 2026 by Caribbean Paradise Homes. General information, not legal or tax advice — confirm your situation with a Dominican attorney.

Caribbean Paradise Homes is a real estate agency specialising in Casa de Campo®, La Romana. For a no-obligation consultation, contact us at info@caribbeanparadisehomes.com.

How is the transfer tax calculated?

It is 3% of the higher of the contract price or the DGII appraisal, paid within six months of the deed. (Source: DGII Guide 18 — 3% transfer tax, Law 288-04.)

Why are utility bills higher than buyers expect?

Mainly electricity: air conditioning runs hard for much of the year. Many villas buffer grid costs with inverter systems or solar. Beyond power, budget for water, high-speed internet and gas.