Re: further revision & figures by Acoiris
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.