- Thread starter tilinmarte
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How many dollars a month can u live in DR!!
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While you're at it, don't forget property taxes and assessments (assuming you own that Miami property). Also, you'll need a reserve in the event your tenant terminates their lease, simply leaves, or just doesn't feel like paying any more (it happens more often when the already-absentee landlord is out of the country).
Is your car already in DR? If not, they won't let a car that old into the country, and you may have to purchase a vehicle there (at a 20-40% markup over US prices). If it is (and that's good), the good news is Hondas and Toyotas are the easiest vehicles to get parts for.
I wouldn't go into any business or buy any property for at least a year after I got there. Learn the lay of the land, and then start building your empire. Else, caveat emptor might just bite you in the backside.
It's been said by those more knowledgeable than me: "The easiest way to leave DR with a million dollars is to arrive with two million."
Be careful, and welcome.
Is your car already in DR? If not, they won't let a car that old into the country, and you may have to purchase a vehicle there (at a 20-40% markup over US prices). If it is (and that's good), the good news is Hondas and Toyotas are the easiest vehicles to get parts for.
I wouldn't go into any business or buy any property for at least a year after I got there. Learn the lay of the land, and then start building your empire. Else, caveat emptor might just bite you in the backside.
It's been said by those more knowledgeable than me: "The easiest way to leave DR with a million dollars is to arrive with two million."
Be careful, and welcome.
Please dont forget, if you rent your place in the USA, you will have repairs (during and after renting), that takes money. You will also need to consider repairs for the 92 Toyota (maybe tires/battery, both expensive), as well as play money. If you bring a sexy mama with you, great, it will be less expensive than finding one here. To find a sexy mamita in Santiago, is easy, but will take some effort on your part not to spoil her (smile). If she stays with you >2+ months, on the <$800/mo you will be receiving, she must love you. Consider her a keeper, as you will not find many like her. Good luck, the DR can be a wonderful place to live, although sometimes very frustrating...
This answer is ALL too true......The hell with the sexy Mama. I just get by on 800 and I own and not rent...I alos eat Dominican..everyday..Rice beans chicken and water to drink not Presidentes....And I live in a cheap to live part of the DR......This place isnt all its cut out to be unless you come here with alot of cash.DO NOT count on working here...When you see what they want to pay you you will be running to the Airport....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cocoleka, you aren't likely to get much response here, since this thread is about another topic entirely. Instead you should find the South West Coast forum, click on new thread and post your questions there.
I know nothing about Bani, but here are a couple of not-too-old threads about it:
http://www.dr1.com/forums/south-west-coast/35467-bani.html
http://www.dr1.com/forums/south-west-coast/55436-information-bani.html
I think that if you are on your own you could live on $1,000 a month if you want a little extra to hang out more often and spend a little extra i would say 1,500 that would be like 45,000 a month or so.
"EVERYONE" Is SOOOOoo Smart!!!
If you can "answer" such a Question as the "OPs", with so many unknown variables involved,but not given, then answer this; .."If you throw a rock into the air,how long will it stay up,and where will it land??
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If you can "answer" such a Question as the "OPs", with so many unknown variables involved,but not given, then answer this; .."If you throw a rock into the air,how long will it stay up,and where will it land??
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Would that rock be in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, and would you be putting a spin on it?
My "POST" Is An "Unanswerable" Question, Just Like The "OP's" Original Question!
My "Point",if there actually IS any, is that too many people pose "Unanswerable" questions on DR1!!!!!
The "Devil Is In the DETAILS"!!!
Lets make a list of some of the "Examples"!!!
Where is the best place to live in the DR"(You Like "water",mountains,forests, cities,countryside???)
How much does it cost to buy a car in the DR?(new,used,make,model,???)
How much does it cost to buy a house in the DR?(Where,size,style,materials????)
How much does it cost to rent a house in the DR?(Same as "above")
What are the "Girls" like in the DR?(age,color,size,"Profession"education?)
"Details" Man,Details!!!
Now getting back to my "Rock" question!
The "answer" is: If You Throw a "Rock" into the air,he NEVER comes down!
You see, "Hot Air" rises !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry "Rock"!:cheeky:
My "Point",if there actually IS any, is that too many people pose "Unanswerable" questions on DR1!!!!!
The "Devil Is In the DETAILS"!!!
Lets make a list of some of the "Examples"!!!
Where is the best place to live in the DR"(You Like "water",mountains,forests, cities,countryside???)
How much does it cost to buy a car in the DR?(new,used,make,model,???)
How much does it cost to buy a house in the DR?(Where,size,style,materials????)
How much does it cost to rent a house in the DR?(Same as "above")
What are the "Girls" like in the DR?(age,color,size,"Profession"education?)
"Details" Man,Details!!!
Now getting back to my "Rock" question!
The "answer" is: If You Throw a "Rock" into the air,he NEVER comes down!
You see, "Hot Air" rises !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry "Rock"!:cheeky:
First of all, people who make 150 dollars / month in free zone do not live alone. they live with a family where other members of the same family also produce income. They generally live in a run down area where no one pays electric, water or cable. They steal it all. They usually eat rice beans, yuca, platano and eggs and usually eat one big meal a day. Now-a-days, no one can live alone on 150 dollars / month. You must have outside support or other income.
Now the Op wants to live in sanchez libertad with a car? Good luck. sanchez libertad is a dangerous Barrio in santiago and considered a ghetto. Your car nor your belongings will be safe. You will be lucky if they don't steal your car or vandalize it the very first week of your stay. Better not keep anything of value in the apartment because chances are, you will be robbed when you are away from home.
AZB
Now the Op wants to live in sanchez libertad with a car? Good luck. sanchez libertad is a dangerous Barrio in santiago and considered a ghetto. Your car nor your belongings will be safe. You will be lucky if they don't steal your car or vandalize it the very first week of your stay. Better not keep anything of value in the apartment because chances are, you will be robbed when you are away from home.
AZB
Ensanche Libertad
So your are coming around my neck of the wood. I have a nice house in Cerros Don Antonio. Is paid for, I pay electricity, a maid, tuition and transportation for my baby. We have to buy food for 4 adult and a 2 year old. We have been able to last in the the Dr with about 25,000 pesos per month. I n regards to robberies. Donde quiera roban. i assume if you own a home around here you know lots of people. Please send me a private message so i can help out and invite you to lunch when you come down.
Some questions: do you buy water filters evey month
If you are paying approx $250 US for electricity, and another 250 for generator equaling $500 per month for electrical - what are you using that is costing so much - 24 hr airconditioning?
10,000 month allowance - for what - hair care...etc
Your lifestyle is your lifestyle but I can personally see where our family wouldn't have a lot of the same expenses, and could easily drop about 25,000 off that.
A 1 bed condo that I rent out to tourists, who only use the AC when they are in, and clearly use less electricity than an average family, still averages me 150 bux per month, so $250 for a house, plus the same for a generator back up, sounds like a good average.
My thoughts go along the same lines Bob - we don't have a swimming pool so I don't know about purifiers etc, but ELECTRICITY?? Our bill we keep at under 3,600 pesos by keeping it under the 700 Kwh per month.
Change the restaurant - 6 meals equals RD $3,000 max.
Reduce your gardeners pay by RD $1,000 & give it to the maid!
Alcohol is not conducive to living in a hot climate - reduce that to RD $1,500
My lawn mower has lasted me 6 years already & doesn't look in need of any repair - maybe my gardener is a little more careful?
My inverter batteries have lasted years too (4 are 8 years old, 4 are 6 years old & the other 4 are 3 years old)
My clothes last quite well here as I don't let the maid wash them (I actually manage to put it in the washing machine myself & thereby control the amount of powder used!!!!). I might go mad on a mew shirt every 6 months or so from the S/hand shops/non typical clothes shops in town (RD $200 per month!).
When we had THREE dogs (2 were large dogs) their food never exceeded RD $400 per month AND they ate well!!
Our propane lasts us about 5 months (100 lb size) i.e. about RD $200 per month.
Have you tried getting the people you talk to on the telephone to use skype? Using this facility your telephone bill will reduce dramatically. MY bills (for two lines one of which is internet Flash at RD $3,500 approx.) never exceed RD $4,000 per month & I use internet on two computers nearly all day .... EVERY day)
Your contingency fund must be doing extremely well Lindisfarn - time to re-allocate it on something else!:cheeky::ermm:
PLEASE don't take these comments/observations negatively Lindisfarn - like Bob, I am only trying to be helpful with some suggestions (you WERE trying to be helpful weren't you Bob??).!:cheeky: ~ Grahame.
Change the restaurant - 6 meals equals RD $3,000 max.
Reduce your gardeners pay by RD $1,000 & give it to the maid!
Alcohol is not conducive to living in a hot climate - reduce that to RD $1,500
My lawn mower has lasted me 6 years already & doesn't look in need of any repair - maybe my gardener is a little more careful?
My inverter batteries have lasted years too (4 are 8 years old, 4 are 6 years old & the other 4 are 3 years old)
My clothes last quite well here as I don't let the maid wash them (I actually manage to put it in the washing machine myself & thereby control the amount of powder used!!!!). I might go mad on a mew shirt every 6 months or so from the S/hand shops/non typical clothes shops in town (RD $200 per month!).
When we had THREE dogs (2 were large dogs) their food never exceeded RD $400 per month AND they ate well!!
Our propane lasts us about 5 months (100 lb size) i.e. about RD $200 per month.
Have you tried getting the people you talk to on the telephone to use skype? Using this facility your telephone bill will reduce dramatically. MY bills (for two lines one of which is internet Flash at RD $3,500 approx.) never exceed RD $4,000 per month & I use internet on two computers nearly all day .... EVERY day)
Your contingency fund must be doing extremely well Lindisfarn - time to re-allocate it on something else!:cheeky::ermm:
PLEASE don't take these comments/observations negatively Lindisfarn - like Bob, I am only trying to be helpful with some suggestions (you WERE trying to be helpful weren't you Bob??).!:cheeky: ~ Grahame.
More Curious than anything. I know that electricity is more expensive, as is fuel in the DR, but if I want to maintain a North American lifestyle I would stay in Canada. I've found that in a well built house in the DR fans are adequate for cooling, especially if you have located the house to take advantage of afternoon breezes plus strategically placed vegetation. Part time Gardener unless the property is huge. Less pamper for the pets, less TV, more music, more local food, not a big drinker, frugal wife, Mother-in-law will not let anyone else in the kitchen or do laundry. Restaurant about twice per month. I could certainly spend 100,000 plus per month but without trying too hard I could whittle down to around 60,000.
Every-ones idea of living decently is different. If your lifestyle has you eating out extensively in good restaurants I believe the DR if far more expensive, the same if you buy quality clothing and footware. I like Dominican food but like to have a good t-bone, prime rib or New York strip once in a while. These are expensive everywhere. Pools are expensive to maintain, but I think worth the price. Pets- I would wash them myself, prune them also, I like to garden but understand someone preferring to pay someone else, especial at the rates for domestic servants in the DR. There is not a maid alive that could satisfy by wife and mother-in-law, so this would not be a cost for me. The 12 hr air conditioning explains the electrical cost- not a criticism - just make sense on why the expensive electrical bill. I don't wear used clothing but it wouldn't bother me, clean, functional, and looks are all important. My Honda lawnmower lasted for 8 years without a repair here in BC and Ontario where I have a reasonably big yards 75 x 150.
We did not ask for advice on reducing our lifestyle and we are not complaining. Living decently here is not cheap. Secondhand clothes!!!!!!!!! UGH!!!![/QUOTE]
Says it ALL really, doesn't it. Good luck to you Lindisfarn. ~ Grahame.
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