What's the cost to live...?
A very difficult question to answer for anyone, as each persons standard of living is distinct. Since nobody has given you a reply, it trust they are thinking the same...
I can only refer to my particular case and outline the expense I incur routinely and I have left out Mortage/Rent as you indicated (cost are annualized and given monthly below):
Hired help ....................... $9,000/ea. person
Fuel (gas,LPG,diesel)......... $12,000
Electricity........................ $10,000
Food...............................$16,000
Beer................................$3,600
Rest. (1/week)..................$4,500
Insurance(auto)................$1,000
Insurance (all others). .......$5,000 (ARS Humano Platinum Plan & Dental for 1)
Misc. Household expenses...$1,500 (pool chems., maint items, fertilizer, etc.)
Tel/internet.....................$4000 (2 cels.)
Auto maint......................$2,000 (oil service, tires, repairs, brakes, wash)
Misc. expenses.................$5,000
I drive to Santo Domingo (from Samana) weekly and live ~20km out in the countryside. My electric bill is based on my usage at home for 2 people and 2 live-in domestic employees (rate of 13 pesos/kwh). Beer is 4 cases/month. Eat out once per week (nothing fancy). Full coverage medical and dental for one person (not two). Again, I have left out the cost of home/apt (assume you will pay cash for your place, as I did). Misc. expenses cover all out of pocket monthly expenses (newspapers, beggers, coffees, tolls, sodas, colmados, candy, parking, gun permit etc.)
I also did not include any of my travel expense to the USA (done frequently) or cost of lodging in Santo Domingo when I travel. I do not go to bars/discotecs and live a quite lifestyle. Hope this helps.
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