What income is considered Middle Class

DRsantos

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Sep 17, 2012
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After being here a few years i just wanted to know how other people on this forum think about this.

If Middle class for a 2 person income would be anywhere from 40.000- to 100.000 us dollars a month in the US, how much would that be in the DR in the city areas.

So which income is considered as middle class in the DR city areas, what is your opinion?
 

joe

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Jan 12, 2016
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Well in a parallel universe where you live, 100k US a month.
GEEZ......forget it. Check your decimal location.
 

rfp

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Jul 5, 2010
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Middle class is 2500-10 k US dollars a month in Santo Domingo. In Santiago, La Vega, Puerto Plata, La Romana you can fake it on less. Middle class would be defined as US visa holding, dual Income families with home ownership or rent subsidized by other investments. Over 10 k you get into the rich folks and there are lots of them.
 

rfp

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Off Topic.......................
 
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bob saunders

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Jan 1, 2002
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There are lower ends of all economic levels such a lower middle income, upper middle income....etc. Here in the DR it is really hard to know what a family income is as they will never tell you, or the government if possible. I would say based on my own observations that a family income of 50-60,000 pesos per month is enough for middle class status here in the DR.
 

CristoRey

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In this country I?d say its anyone who can afford to pay all of their bills
on time and put three square meals a day on the table for the entire family
with or without a second income. Holding an American visa/ dual citizenship
does not necessarily mean they are middle class earners.
RD$ 40,000 + per month.
 
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Casino127

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Jan 13, 2012
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I don t know much what is middle class in the country side where i am. Poor fox when they are lucky to have a job are making
600 pesos a day and the rich rancheros are king full of cash. middle class for me would be teacher, nurse, shop owner, police
captain and this goes around 20.000 pesos a month. I am sure this must be different in SD , STI, SFM and POP.
 

Meemselle

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Oct 27, 2014
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Middle class

Based on what I know from my Dominican friends here on the North Coast (because they certainly don't talk about money to me, but I used to pay them), if you have your own house and there are at least two people in the house working, and one or more might have another P/T job on the side, somebody has a vehicle (whether concho or car), and there is somebody in the family to stay at home to do the cooking, cleaning, tending to the elders/babies who live at home, and they have employers who pay their seguro: I'd err on the low side and say RD$30,000 could do it.

But if you're talking POP or Stgo and "middle class" includes having a part-time cook/maid, and maybe one of the cheaper private schools, then I'd up it to RD$60,000.

I may be low-balling it.
 

Uzin

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Oct 26, 2005
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I think we should more clarify the household income and an individual person income, individual income of people here is pretty low, unless they are business owner or the like, just working for someone else in an office or store doesn't pay much, even with a master degree.

Now you have two or three or more people working in one house you have a good household income (it is common that even 3 generations of a family lives in the same house here).
 

AlterEgo

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Jan 9, 2009
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South Coast
Based on what I know from my Dominican friends here on the North Coast (because they certainly don't talk about money to me, but I used to pay them), if you have your own house and there are at least two people in the house working, and one or more might have another P/T job on the side, somebody has a vehicle (whether concho or car), and there is somebody in the family to stay at home to do the cooking, cleaning, tending to the elders/babies who live at home, and they have employers who pay their seguro: I'd err on the low side and say RD$30,000 could do it.

But if you're talking POP or Stgo and "middle class" includes having a part-time cook/maid, and maybe one of the cheaper private schools, then I'd up it to RD$60,000.

I may be low-balling it.

My husband's family is what I would call solidly middle class, living in Santo Domingo. When we began spending our winters in DR, 4-5 month stays, my husband asked his brother about his cost of living. His answer was that we needed $3,000USD a month, or about 135,000 pesos, so I think you did low-ball it for Santo Domingo.

That being said, we live there on less, mostly because our house and car are paid for.
 
Aug 21, 2007
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I don t know much what is middle class in the country side where i am. Poor fox when they are lucky to have a job are making
600 pesos a day and the rich rancheros are king full of cash. middle class for me would be teacher, nurse, shop owner, police
captain and this goes around 20.000 pesos a month. I am sure this must be different in SD , STI, SFM and POP.

I agree with this. Costs of everything from apartment rentals to food to entertainment needs vary from towns to cities to campos. I pay different wage rates in Jamao than I do in Sosua. I would be thought a fool if I paid the same.

Although costs of living (and thus, wages) are less in the campo, the quality of life is simple and good.

In one family I know, the wife is a teacher. Schools in Jamao are 1/2 day, so her wages are less. She earns much less than $1,000 USD a month. Her husband teaches a few classes (3 hours a week) for me. His monthly wages are about $100 a month. They live a simple life. Have friends over for meals. Volunteer. Take leadership roles in the church. And swim in the river. Life is simple, but good.

In the city, money is needed to function from day, to day. In the campo, everyone takes care of everyone else. Money, walls and gates don't provide security. Friends and family do.

Lindsey
 

rfp

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Jul 5, 2010
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Totally agree. If you are out of the capital and have housing and car paid for a "Middle Class" life is very possible on less than 2k. Many families live in smaller population centers, send their kids to private religious schools, have a decent car and house and live a decent life on 800-2000 a month