Cost of living in the DR - how much will we need?

[MikeFisher]

totally agree.
while the beaches are still beauties, they are also full, ha ha.
been a perfect piece of countryside on the oceanfront,
the 1st reason why i stayed in this country after taking some time to travel it around completely during some months.
today it is the needed place to run the business and if all goes well i will be running the hills and stay in the Bayaguana area in a few more years, at least i am preparing such.
even with a law that names all beaches public beaches, aside of the one where i life i could not name much kilometers of such over here today.
Mike

[AK74]

Originally Posted by La Mariposa

Where is Long Beach ? we are talking about the D.R. are we not?? If it was in an illegal bars, I'm sure you were drinking the Extra Viejo without ice..

I see you are not from Puerto Plata.

No prob. Forget about it.

Thanks anyway for nice moments of dear memories on good old time not americanized yet Dominican Republic, papillon!

[robbie]

Well no 4x4 needed in bavaro unless you are driving to Uvero Alto

[Chirimoya]

This thread's meandering off course - let's get it back on track with cost of living advice.

[MikeFisher]

right Chiri,
we will be good boys and gals again.
even that today's road to uvero alto really doesn't require a 4x4 compared to the main road throu bavaro back in the day.
and that's on topic, we can def cut the need of a big jeepeta out of the really needed living costs over here on the east.

basically, whatever whoever whereever names 'decent' living,
as a first thumb rule,
i would say count on the same costs you would face for the same 'decent' living on the exact same social level at home.
just do not forget one big difference:
over here you have absolutely no social backup,
you have to plan prior to a movement
1st* how do you wanna earn your decent living
2nd* how do you wanna earn your decent living plus save enough to be on the sunny side of life when entering the age where no more work /employement/business will be done.
over here you do not have the backup of your own blood like you may have at home when something crashs down/failes.
homecountry gov'nments usually do not wait with open arms for their failed kiddies to come back home to mommy.
many do not have either left the way where family is waiting to welcome them back home to offer the sofa as the future home.
so before any def decicions about a move are done, you should be clear about the amount of money needed for your 'decent' lifestyle til the end of your days, and that needed ammount decides in many cases where you should move to, in case of the area, to get such kind of job.
i.e.,
you make your counts what you need by prior mentioned 'rules',
so you finally find out to what specific area/surroundings you need to move/settle in, but you do not even have the $$ backup cash(i mean CASH, not some money lent from good friends who expect some payback some day) to survive there in the expected 'decent' way of life for at least 1 year in case the awaited job fails for what ever reason or never get's started like expected,
in that case i would highly recommend to stay home, go on with your jobs you are used to and visit this beautiful island once in a while for some good times.
Mike

[La Mariposa]

Originally Posted by MikeFisher

right Chiri,
we will be good boys and gals again.
even that today's road to uvero alto really doesn't require a 4x4 compared to the main road throu bavaro back in the day.
and that's on topic, we can def cut the need of a big jeepeta out of the really needed living costs over here on the east.

basically, whatever whoever whereever names 'decent' living,
as a first thumb rule,
i would say count on the same costs you would face for the same 'decent' living on the exact same social level at home.
just do not forget one big difference:
over here you have absolutely no social backup,
you have to plan prior to a movement
1st* how do you wanna earn your decent living
2nd* how do you wanna earn your decent living plus save enough to be on the sunny side of life when entering the age where no more work /employement/business will be done.
over here you do not have the backup of your own blood like you may have at home when something crashs down/failes.
homecountry gov'nments usually do not wait with open arms for their failed kiddies to come back home to mommy.
many do not have either left the way where family is waiting to welcome them back home to offer the sofa as the future home.
so before any def decicions about a move are done, you should be clear about the amount of money needed for your 'decent' lifestyle til the end of your days, and that needed ammount decides in many cases where you should move to, in case of the area, to get such kind of job.
i.e.,
you make your counts what you need by prior mentioned 'rules',
so you finally find out to what specific area/surroundings you need to move/settle in, but you do not even have the $$ backup cash(i mean CASH, not some money lent from good friends who expect some payback some day) to survive there in the expected 'decent' way of life for at least 1 year in case the awaited job fails for what ever reason or never get's started like expected,
in that case i would highly recommend to stay home, go on with your jobs you are used to and visit this beautiful island once in a while for some good times.
Mike

Good advise Michel Poisson ou Michel le Pêcheur

[MikeFisher]

that's life Mari,
and this life is goood,
'cause there's no other.
Mike

[billyidol]

What a load of rubbish........$2000000.00 us to live comfortably in the DR!!!

i bought my land and built my house and pool $150k (house size 2000sqft)

for example purposes only; if you had $200k with ANOECA @ 14% interest on US dollars= $28000 a year or $2330 interest approx a month

The following are MY expenses;
living expenses for a one person per month in US dollars

• association fees (include water,security) $225
• elect $60 + extra for the pool of $70 = $130 (electricity is expensive)
• pool cleaner $50 (use a dominican company not expensive foreign rip-offs)
• food; $160
• cell; $30
• house ins'; $50 (house value, $80000)
• personal ins'; $30 (single person)
• gardener;$20 (to cut my grass on my small property 15 minute job)
• maintanance of home $30 (cleaner to clean my house 1 day a month from top to bottom...7 hour job)
  cable tv; $17
  Transport; i have a motor bike; negligible anount of money
  Fun; up to you
  internet; i dont have it
  
  Total; $743 US$ for MY BASICS per month;
  
  It is understood that not everyone will live like me and that FUN expenses vary markedly from person to person.
  This amount of $743. 00 i spend is based on fact ...i personally spend an extra $300 a month on fun and eating out (hamburgers and crap bought at the irish pub in cabarete).
  
  Total ($743+$300)= $1043mth or $12516 a year
  
  If you had the above amount of $200,000.00 us$ with anoeca and a monthly interest income of $2330.00 us$ - $1043= Savings will equal per month $1287.00
  
  In MY opinion, living in the DR is very much an option if you follow the above plan
  
  i can assure you i am VERY comfortable living in the DR.
  I would also add if you did have $2000,000.00 and had it invested ( pre current economic situation, of course!) at 5% interest = $100,000.00 you could live virtually anywhere in the world.
  In finishing i absolutley disagree with the posters comment that you need to have $2000,000.00 to live in the DR...........absolute rubbish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  cheers
  BI
  
  
  
  

home;

Originally Posted by AK74

even on your own example we can see that 2 mil of saving are just for a decent (not excessive) life without having to work for survival.
You spend $3000 US month. It means $36 000 US per year. It means that if people think to live 30 years they need $1 200 000 just to live IF PRICES DO NOT GO HIGHER.

Plus they need $250 000 to buy a house. And $$$$ to maintain and upkeep it.

Plus they need a car also with maintanace and repairs.

They need rain day money for emergency.

So even from your own words one
cannot

see how a person can decently live in DR without working with less than 2 mil US
savings.

Interest on money invested in CD`s will be eaten by rising prices.

[billyidol]

Originally Posted by CyaBye3015

OMG, how do I get in on this scam? 10 kids @ $800.00 per month each = 8'000.00 a month. I'll live like a king!

i agree, what a scam!!!!!!!!!!!11

[AK74]

Originally Posted by billyidol

[*]food; $160

Transport; i have a motor bike; negligible anount of money.

Total; $743 US$ for MY BASICS per month;
[/list]home;

Good for you, Billy!

I leave $100 US on my each trip to supermercado Playero.

Driving a motorbike is also a good idea. Especially for a family with two kids.

But we are on the same page, bro. I also have no plans to have family nor kids, because I do not have two mils (shame on me!!)