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Standard of Living

Living conditions in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Cuba are very different. In the Dominican republic's country side traditional rural dwellings are made of wood with roofs of corrugated tin and are often painted in bright colors. To keep the farmhouse cool, cooking is usually done in a separate structure with slotted sides for the release of smoke and heat. In the city living standards are much better than in the country. In the city you have availability to everything you need to live comfortably. The Dominican republic's infant mortality rate 1n1993 was 49 deaths per 1,000 births, and average life expectancy was 69 years. Hospitals are in Santo Domingo and Santiago, the two largest cities. In the countryside there is lower quality health care. Health programs are offered though the nation's public welfare department and social security departments, however, this only covers about 82% of the population.

In Puerto Rico, people enjoy a standard of living that is among the highest in the Caribbean. Health care on the island has continued to improve since the 1940's. the majority of Puerto Ricans have cars. While income for Puerto Ricans is much higher than in any other Caribbean island it is much lower than in the United States.

Of all three islands Cubans seems to have the worst living conditions of them all. Ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Cuba has been going through what they call a "Special Period." Under the special period, energy consumption is drastically reduced, oxen are put to work out in the fields, people get around in bikes and food is slashed to a minimum survival level. < font color=red>Once recognized as one of the best in the Third World, the health care system in Cuba today is so bad that patients must bring their own bed sheets to the hospital, and surgeons are given one bar of soap per month with which to wash their hands. Black markets buy and sell goods such as food, clothes, liquor, medicine, cigarettes, and gas.