Counting the Cost

Here is a brief idea of what the 'cost of living' is in our part of the world:
-gas = $0.21 USD per LITER
-phone calls to US = $0.50 per minute
-filtered water for home = $3.30 per water jug delivered (we use 2-3 per week)
-electric company deposit = $550
-movie ticket at a VERY nice theater = $8.00
-fresh CARAMEL popcorn at movie theater = $1.91
-fresh loaf of bread from bakery = $1.91
-men's hair cut at "Men's Saloon" = $5.50
-four chicken breast at market = $5.50 - $8.00 (depends on what is available)
-box of name brand cereal = $5.50 - $8.00
-pint of name brand ice-cream in store = $7.00 - $8.00
-pecans in shell = $26.00 per kilo or $11.18 per pound
-red/yellow bell peppers per kilo = $7.12
-small can of diced green chillies = $3.80
-1/4 kilo of deli lunch meat = $7.40
-1/4 kilo of deli sliced cheese = $4.10
-Starbuck's Caramel Machiatto = $4.65
-Out to dinner for 2 = $17.00 (ave for local food) ; $27.00 (ave for american food)
-full-time housemaid for one month (40 hour work week)= $275 per month...not a misprint
-one month (2x per week) of car washes by our apartment security guard = $13.69 per month (a luxory I'm more than willing to pay!)
-one year of schooling at local private school (ave) = $10,000 per child (kindergarten - grade 12)
-fine for running red light = $1000 USD...not a misprint
-tax on any alchoholic beverage = 18%...typically only westerners buy alchohol in this region/ forbidden to locals

*This country does not use 'change' on a regular basis. In fact we have been given small boxes of 'chicklets' or small candy bars instead of recieving the .25, .50. or .75 in return. I did hear of a local woman who received several boxes of 'chicklets' instead of change. She then returned to the store and PAID for some items with her boxes of 'chicklets'. I'd better start saving my candy bars and chicklets. Imagine what I could buy with a KING SNICKERS bar!