I just finished calculating our costs for living here (2 adults and three small girls) in the DR from January 1 to May 1. Looking at my bank balances I calculate we are living off of around US1100 a month. This includes internet, Vonage phone and cable. I don't have a car or house payment either.
We have made some changes recently to account for my lack of income due to the recession and in fact can be even more frugal if necessary. We typically eat a standard Dominican lunch 4-5 times a week with tacos or spaghetti rounding it out. For dinner it's standard Dominican fare (platano, yucca) 3 times a week with sandwhiches and a homemade pizza once a week for the balance.
We also take the girls to see a movie once a week and weekly see the inlaws. Also, at least twice a week we eat out and that usually costs around US10 a pop or even less and is usually rice and beans or chicken and fries.
My only real luxuries are one beer a day and a sip of rum and my xbox360.
I have no complaints and feel fairly fortunate, as if we had statyed in the States we would have had some big changes to make to get income - like moving from Florida, etc.
We have made some changes recently to account for my lack of income due to the recession and in fact can be even more frugal if necessary. We typically eat a standard Dominican lunch 4-5 times a week with tacos or spaghetti rounding it out. For dinner it's standard Dominican fare (platano, yucca) 3 times a week with sandwhiches and a homemade pizza once a week for the balance.
We also take the girls to see a movie once a week and weekly see the inlaws. Also, at least twice a week we eat out and that usually costs around US10 a pop or even less and is usually rice and beans or chicken and fries.
My only real luxuries are one beer a day and a sip of rum and my xbox360.
I have no complaints and feel fairly fortunate, as if we had statyed in the States we would have had some big changes to make to get income - like moving from Florida, etc.