cost of living

I am curious ! If I were an average Dominican, living in the DR, how much money would I need to survive on per month. Let's use the assumption that there is no cost for my housing, I don't own a car. So basically we talking about personal care items and food.

My other question is what happens when you need medical care and don't have enough money to pay for the doctor or medical treatment.

That will teach you to ask a simple question. Make sure you porvide this person your date of birt, social security number, batismal record and income tax returns for the last 30 years. What an ignorant answer, no that wasn't an answer but a rude and inconsiderate question

How long is a piece of string? A policemen was expected to provide all the above for himself and his family for about $US 100 per month. That is almost a guarantee of malnutrition. You can assume that groceries and personal care products are priced the same or slightly higher than in the USA.

If you are employed, you usually have medical insurance so that most of the cost of going to a private clinic will be paid by the insurer. If you do not have medical insurance, you go to a public hospital where, after a long wait, one of the attending physicians will often try to steer you to his private clinic. If you are operated on in a public hospital, you will pay for all medication, IVs, and so on. If you have no money at all, the surgery will be free.

Although the cost of medical care in a private clinic is only 10 to 20% of the equivalent treatment in the USA, medical emergencies can place a tremendous burden on poor families. In some cases an attractive, decent daughter has been known to prostitute herself to pay for the treatment. Unfortunately many professional prostitues will invent a sick relative to extract a larger fee for their services.

The sanitary conditions and diet of a poor family almost guarantee a high rate of illness.

I hope the above answers your question.

I have asked some Dominican friends for estimates on the cost of living for "average Dominicans". The average Dominican, I'm told doesn't live alone, like many young adult Americans do, but shares responsibilities with his family. We used a model of a four member household, whether it is an two adults with senior parents, or two adults with young children. We used a standard of living that would approach the equivalent of a lower-middle class American family of four, the family being able to meet basic necessities satisfactorily - well nourished, attending school and/or work, church goers, average health requirements, standard utilities, wardrobe acceptable to middle class standards, four room average house meeting American minimum housing code standards. The problem with using these standards is that the "average Dominican" can't meet these standards because the cost is estimated at RD$10,000 while the "average Dominican" family has an income of RD$1,000. Since the recent changes in gas, import, and other prices are not stabilized yet, and wages have not increased, the cost of living is changing as we speak.

ISW the RD10,000 a monthly or weekly income?

Tom

thanks. all the figures are estimates per month.

Acoiris

This means two person could live quite "comfortable" in the DR on $1600.00USD per month? I would think that would be able to include a decent used car etc

Thanks

Tom

US$16,000 per month would seem to provide a decent living for two in the DR if they own their house. How they would earn that much while living there would be the problem.

Speaking in terms which reflect the original question. ( how much would the average dominican be required to make, per month......) Are you speaking in terms of dollars or pesos ??

Do you mean own their house with no mortagae, or an apratment with no monthly rent? I'm confused on this, basic shelter is usually the prime item in cost of living charts

Thanks,'

BTW, there would be a steady invcome from US TReasury bonds

Tom