I gotta agree with that. Have been here 9 years and never spent more than 2000 per month in groceries (wife+1 kid+1 dog) and that includes the non-edible items, like a$$-wipe, dog food, soap and other sundry items! Even ordering a pizza and other delivery food twice a week, we cannot spend more than 2500? Must be the "Klumps" family if spending 6000 ??
Monthly totals:
Groceries = 1500/month
Car = Zero .. paid for after 4 years and still drive it, cause it works perfect and I don't have to worry about idiots denting the doors on my Series 3.
Car Insurance = 1000 per year
Gas = 150 month
Booze = 500/month (depends on how much you need to de-stress)
Satellite TV (Orbit and Star Select) = 250/month
Internet (hi-speed or at least what they claim is hi-speed) = 249/month
Entertainment (movies/delivered food from Pizza/chinese etc.) = 500/month
Phone = 100/month (absolute max as we use the NET)
Live in company villa, so no water/power/rent to pay
Incidentals (clothes/toys) = 500/month (depends on what you need/want)
Pilot Club Membership (beach club access/discounts at restaurants) = 100/month
Golf Membership = 2700/year (going up to 4000 in 2006)
That's it ... all I can think of ... might have missed something, but nothing major. We live a normal lifestyle, nothing overly fancy, but certainly we aren't hurting. Usually 2 or 3 trips a year to Europe/North America.
Driving has gotten a lot worse, not only the crazy drivers, but the congestion, which is the big problem now. They say they will sort it out, but they have been saying that ever since we got here, so I doubt it will ever be fun again. They wanted a world class city ... now they are getting it and all the problems that come with it. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
Hope it helps somebody!