Dotcom and three New Zealand-based associates are on electronic bail while facing charges, laid by United States prosecutors, relating to the Megaupload website.
A total of seven men involved in the file-sharing website face charges including conspiring to commit racketeering, conspiring to commit money-laundering, copyright infringement and aiding and abetting copyright infringement.
Mr Dotcom and his wife, Mona Dotcom, are seeking to free up money from a restraining order to cover living expenses estimated at $220,465.56 per month.
The expenses include ongoing staff costs of $29,000 a month, which covers general staff, nannies, a butler and Mrs Dotcom's personal assistant.
The couple also say they rack up power bills of $8500 in power and gas, and landline phone costs of $5000 per month, said Crown Prosecutor Anne Toohey.
The pair are seeking to free up the money from a RaboBank account under Dotcom's name containing $300,000.
Initial negotiations on February 9 indicated the couple would need $10,000 a month to live, said Ms Toohey.
The hearing continues this afternoon, with counsels representing Mr Dotcom and Mrs Dotcom due to give their arguments.
