Permanent residency for four family members shouldn't be more than about $5,000, depending on any additional services desired. That's if someone's holding your hand and doing a lot of the running around on your behalf. It's a two-year process in many countries, so pretty much worth it if you can afford it. We've helped a lot of folks get their's in Chile.
Citizenship generally takes about five years after temporary residency has been approved - again, depending on the country. But a lot are like that. There's nothing to it. You just go down and show that you've been in the country at least half of each year and you're in.
RE: Alleged Victim of Dollar Vigilante's TDV Immigration Comes Forward And Tells His Personal Story