The country is registering a return of 9.21%, compared to a regional median of 5.93%, according to the November update from Global Property Guide. Santo Domingo reaches 9.21% and Punta Cana-Bávaro 9.07%, while Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia are also among the markets with returns exceeding 7%
SANTO DOMINGO– The Dominican Republic registers an average gross profitability of 9.21% in the residential rental market, the highest percentage among the 11 Latin American and Caribbean markets included in the November 2026 update of Global Property Guide (GPG), whose regional median stands at 5.93%.
The result represents an increase of 1.43 percentage points compared to the record of one year earlier, according to the international portal specializing in real estate research and statistics, which gathers information from 64 cities distributed in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico and Uruguay.
The comparison places the Dominican market above Puerto Rico, which registers a gross return of 8.46%; Costa Rica, with 7.72%; Panama, with 7.40%; and Colombia, with 7.06%. It also surpasses the figures for Peru, which presents a return of 5.93%, equal to the regional median; Mexico, with 5.79%; Brazil, with 5.64%; Argentina, with 5.46%; Uruguay, with 5.40%; and Chile, with 4.80%.
The difference between the Dominican indicator and the median of the markets studied is 3.28 percentage points, according to data published by GPG.
Dominican Republic versus the markets of the region
A comparison across countries reveals differences in residential property profitability. While the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico register the highest percentages, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia also exceed 7%, with results above the regional median.
The annual evolution shows different variations: the Dominican Republic increased its performance by 1.43 percentage points, followed by Puerto Rico, with 1.04 points; Uruguay, with 0.43; and Panama, with 0.37 percentage points, Colombia increased by 0.18 points and Mexico by 0.15, while Chile advanced by 0.05 percentage points.
Conversely, Costa Rica registered a reduction of 0.08 percentage points; Peru, of 0.04; and Argentina, of 0.17 points. Brazil showed a decrease of 0.07 percentage points.
The regional median, meanwhile, experienced an annual increase of 0.15 points.
Gross profitability by country
| Market | Gross profitability | Annual variation |
| Dominican Republic | 9.21% | +1.43 pp |
| Puerto Rico | 8.46% | +1.04 pp |
| Costa Rica | 7.72% | -0.08 pp |
| Panama | 7.40% | +0.37 pp |
| Colombia | 7.06% | +0.18 pp |
| Peru | 5.93% | -0.04 pp |
| Mexico | 5.79% | +0.15 pp |
| Brazil | 5.64% | -0.07 pp |
| Argentina | 5.46% | -0.17 pp |
| Uruguay | 5.40% | +0.43 pp |
| Chili | 4.80% | +0.05 pp |
| Regional median | 5.93% | +0.15 pp |
Source: Global Property Guide, Rental Yields in Latin American Cities, updated November 2026.
Santo Domingo and Punta Cana outperform other cities
The GPG report's comparison by city reveals differences within national markets. In the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo registers a gross profitability of 9.21%, while Punta Cana and Bávaro reach 9.07%.
Among the Latin American cities with similar returns are Recife, Brazil, with 8.55%; Heredia, Costa Rica, with 8.44%; and Barranquilla, Colombia, with 8.41%. Also included are San José, Costa Rica, with 7.72%; Bogotá, Colombia, with 7.67%; Panama City, with 7.40%; and Medellín, Colombia, with 7.06%.
In Mexico, Mexico City registers 6.77%, while Santa Marta, Colombia, reaches 6.53%. In the Caribbean, Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, shows a yield of 6.44%.
The comparison shows that the two Dominican destinations included in the series are ranked above the selected cities in Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, and Mexico.
Gross profitability in selected cities
| City | Country | Profitability |
| Santo Domingo | Dominican Republic | 9.21% |
| Punta Cana-Bavaro | Dominican Republic | 9.07% |
| Recife | Brazil | 8.55% |
| Heredia | Costa Rica | 8.44% |
| Barranquilla | Colombia | 8.41% |
| Saint Joseph | Costa Rica | 7.72% |
| Bogotá | Colombia | 7.67% |
| Panama City | Panama | 7.40% |
| Medellín | Colombia | 7.06% |
| Mexico City | Mexico | 6.77% |
| Santa Marta | Colombia | 6.53% |
| Isla Verde | Puerto Rico | 6.44% |
Source: Global Property Guide, November 2026.
What measures profitability?
The percentages published by GPG correspond to the gross profitability of long-term residential rentals. The portal calculates the indicator by relating the median annual advertised rent to the median sale price of the properties, using information collected from local real estate portals.
The methodology allows comparing potential rental income with the asking price for acquiring a home, but it does not necessarily represent the economic outcome of a closed transaction or the actual return received by the owner.
In its interpretation criteria, GPG warns that the percentages are calculated before deducting taxes, maintenance, repairs, administration fees, vacancy periods and other expenses associated with the property.
As a general reference, it is estimated that a deduction of approximately 33% of gross rental income allows one to approximate the net return of a property managed under a long-term lease scheme, although the actual costs vary depending on the property and its location.
The portal also points out that returns can vary significantly between neighborhoods, apartment sizes, and property characteristics, even within the same city.
The November regional update expands the comparison of the Dominican market with Latin American and Caribbean destinations and provides a reference on the relationship between acquisition prices and potential rental income.
The results correspond to the markets and cities included in GPG's statistical coverage, not to the entire real estate supply in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Recommended readings:
- Santo Domingo ranks 7th in gross rental yield in Global Property Guide's international comparison
- Punta Cana registers a year-on-year increase of 13.7% in apartment prices, according to Global Property Guide
- MIVHED says it is working to reduce construction permitting time to 30-45 days; announces review with AI
