I will share with you my actual costs for relocating to AC, for those considering it for the future. I committed myself to keep a low profile when living here, while maintaining a fair comfort level for myself. Remember, I live alone. (thank God)

Rent: 10,000 per month
3 bedroom + maids room. Fully detached house. Two full bathrooms with double-size showers. Large eat-in kitchen with rear (8x10) foyer! Living/dining room is about the size of Champagne Bar. Walk-in pantry. Large front, side and rear yards. The house was in perfect, move-in condition. I just repainted the interior and exterior to suit my color preferences, but it really didn't need it.

Visa extension:
Express service from Swagman Travel on Fields: 2770 peso

Electric: I have not received my first bill yet, but as I have two a/c units (3/4 HP, 1.5 HP) and two fans, I expect to pay no more than 5000 peso/month. The smaller unit runs continuously, but the larger one gets shut off at night.

Two hot water heaters 3500 peso
(the kind that hook up to the shower head) including installation by electrician

Condura Fridge (mid-size) 8000 peso

Sharp ¾ HP a/c unit 13000 peso

Samsung 1.5 HP a/c unit 17500 peso

A/C installation with two bracket/cages 1500 peso

Pensonic large floor fan (stainless) 950 peso

Dish-draining cabinet 675 peso

29" Samwon TV 12,350 peso

Computer chair 2400 peso

Computer table 2665 peso

Three piece velour sofa set 10,000 peso
(really gorgeous set) Three-seater plus two club chairs & coffee table

King size bed (master bedroom) 5500 peso
decorated steel tube headboard/footboard/frame plus one quality spring mattress

King size bed (guest bedroom) 4000 peso
Box spring with six legs and top mattress 

Outdoor plastic dining table and chairs 1109 peso
Gas Stove Stand 800 peso
Suteki Rice cooker/steamer 549 peso
Promac single burner gas stove 379 peso
Gas tank plus fill, hose, and regulator 1500 peso
Assorted kitchen shit 2000 peso

Computer 8000 peso
I bought the oldest and ugliest piece of shit I could find and then modernized its brain and guts. I only need it for email and internet telephone use. Good thinking on my part. When the bastards broke into my place they must have taken one look at the yellowed monitor, hard drive case and keyboard, and left it for worthless-just as was my intention. Who's laughing now?

Internet:
Cable modem 12625 peso (try to buy a used one if you can)
1 month deposit 2750 peso
installation 2000 peso
LAN card 500 peso
lightning prot. 395 peso
patchcord 295 peso
connector 155.5 peso

total: 18720.5 peso

Cable TV (needed for cable internet)
Deposit 1350 peso
Monthly 495 peso

Water:
I have not receive a bill yet, but shower gets heavy use: myself, the girls, before and after........you know. 

Garbage removal: 100 peso/month

Gardener: 200 peso per visit (once or twice a month is all that is needed. They will try to come every week)

So, to put it safely, I spent about 115,000 to 120,000 peso to set myself up here in AC. (not including the 5000 peso I spend with private car and driver to drive me around for five days looking for a house. So lets say 125,000 peso, plus a cell phone (5000) plus 1 years rent in advance, makes it total 250,000 peso, about $4900 USD. That kind of money will barely get you an apartment deposit, some furniture and one months rent in Toronto. Here you are practically set up for the whole year.

Personally, I plan to put a lot more stuff in my house, after the locals have gotten tired of breaking in to my place. A remodeled kitchen in my head at this time, maybe a pool table, but I'm in no rush.

My monthly living expenses are:

Rent 10000
Cable (tv+internet) 4100
Electric 5000
Misc. utilities: water,
Garden, garbage 5000

Total: 24100 peso = $470 USD

I cook and eat mostly at home (just another excuse for the girls to come over on their own time) and I don't drink alcohol, so my grocery/laundry bill comes to maybe 4000 to 5000 peso/month at most.

So I can live here for about $600 USD/ month very comfortably. Without nightlife spending, of course

If you eliminate the internet cable and the a/c usage and rent a more modest place, you can get away with maybe $200 USD per month.

My entertainment/nightlife spending is my own business, thank you very much. But you can easily spend a basic 2000 peso a day in the bars between drinks and 1 bar fine per day.

That's 60,000 peso per month which is another $1160 USD bringing the grand total for life in paradise to: $1760 USD per month for really living it up. If you have a steady girlfriend (which might only reduce your nightlife spending a little bit) you might get away with $1000 USD per month total.