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Belize doesn’t have a cost of living. It has several costs of living. The traditional view is that Belize is the most expensive country in Central America, yet one of the least expensive in the Caribbean. While there’s truth to that, it really doesn’t take into account that the actual cost of living in Belize can vary from almost nothing to very high. You can live in a luxury four-bedroom house on Ambergris Caye, with air conditioning, telephones and faxes, a dishwasher, microwave and cable TV, U.S. food in your pantry and imported vodka in your glass, and you can spend thousands a month. Or you can live in a small house in Cayo, or around Corozal Town, with no phone or internet, eat beans and rice and rice and beans, and drink local rum for US$600 a month or less. Most expats in Belize choose somewhere in between. Some condos in Belize go for more than US$750,000, but I know one expat who built and equipped his small house, using his own labor, with thatch from nature and timbers from a lagoon, for US$4,000, and that includes furniture and kitchen equipment.
After all, per capita income in Belize is a fraction of that in the U.S. A weekly wage of US$125 to $150 for six days of work is considered pretty good. Tens of thousands of Belizeans live, and in many cases live comfortably, on a few thousand dollars a year. You can, too. Or you can compromise, forsaking those high-cost icons of civilization such as 80,000 BTU air conditioners, while keeping the family car, boat or other toys that you enjoy. Live partly on the Belizean style, partly in the U.S. style, and enjoy the benefits of both, and you’ll get more, for less. One American expat, who returned to Colorado after living in Belize for five years, said he was surprised at how the cost of living in the U.S. had increased since he left. “Compared to Colorado Springs, ANYTHING in Belize is cheap. And I can’t wait to get back — I just don’t have enough money to live here in anything but poverty!”
Price Sampler: What Things Costs in Belize
Here’s a sampler of costs for common items in Belize, as of 2009. All prices are shown here in U.S. dollars. As in other countries, prices for many items vary depending on where and when you buy them.
Transportation
Gallon of regular unleaded gas: $4.65 (the pump price varies slightly by area, and fluctuates frequently reflecting the international price of oil – in 2008 and 2009 the price ranged from around US$2.50 to over $5)
Gallon of diesel fuel: $4.25
Bus fare from Belize City to San Ignacio: $2.50 regular, $3 express
Water taxi from Belize City to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye: $10
One-way adult airfare from Belize City municipal airport to Placencia: $84
One-way adult airfare from Belize City municipal airport to San Pedro: $35
Taxi fare within Belize City: $3-$5
Utilities/Telecommunications
1-kilowatt hour of current (electricity): $0.21
“Current” (electrical service) for 1000 KW monthly: $210
Installation of residential telephone: $50 plus $100 deposit ($500 if you are not a Belizean citizen or permanent resident)
Monthly charge for residential telephone: $10
10-minute call from Corozal to Belize City: $1
10-minute daytime call to U.S.: $8
DSL Internet access: $50 to $200 a month
Digital cellular service: $50 for 250 anytime minutes (incoming calls are free) plus 30 text messages
Water and sewer service: $10-$30+ (varies by area)
Butane, 100-pound tank, delivered: $47.50 (varies by area)
Bottled water, delivered: $2.50/gallon
“Dirt” (trash) pick-up: Free to $10 a month (varies by area)
Staples in Grocery Stores (Prices Vary by Store)
Red beans: $0.90 per pound
Coffee (Belizean, Gallon Jug): $8 per pound
Milk: $2.25 1/2 gallon
Ground steak (lean ground beef): $1.50 per pound
Pork chops: $2 per pound
Chicken: $1.25 per pound
Loaf of white bread: $1 (whole wheat $2.50-$3)
Corn tortillas, freshly made: $0.02-$0.04 each
Bananas: 10 to 20 for $1
Avocados (pears): 6 for $1 (varies seasonally)
Flour, bulk, 1 lb.: $1
Onions: $0.60 per pound (varies seasonally)
Soft drink, Coca-Cola, 12 oz.: $0.50 - 0.75 each
Local rum, liter: $7 - $12
Sugar: $0.27 per pound
Crackers (Premium Saltines): $3.32
Cigarettes, Independence local brand: $3 a pack
Canned soup (Campbell’s Chicken Noodle): $1.80
Cereal (Raisin Bran): $5
Cooking oil (1-2-3 brand from Mexico), 1/2 liter: $1.75
Household Items
Mennonite-made wood dining table: $175
Music CD (pirated): $5
Whirlpool 12,000 BTU air-conditioner: $700
Panasonic 1350-watt microwave: $165
Mabe (Mexican) frost-free 16 cubic foot refridgerator: $675
Small home appliances at Mirab, Courts, Brodies, Hofius or other stores: about 25% to 50% more than prices in the U.S.
Entertainment
Fish and beans and rice at local restaurant, Hopkins: $4
Fish, French fries and cole slaw dinner, San Pedro: $12
Lobster dinner at nice restaurant, Belize City: $30
Movie theater ticket, Princess, Belize City: $8.50
Rum drink at bar, Placencia: $3
Belikin beer at bar in Cayo: $2.50
Shelter Costs
Rent for simple two-bedroom house in Corozal Town: $200 to $400
Rent for modern two-bedroom apartment in San Pedro: $800 to $1,800
Cost to build a reinforced concrete home: $40 to $100 per sq. ft., finished out moderately
Small concrete house and lot in Belmopan or Cayo: $30,000 to $100,000
Modern three-bedroom house and beachview lot in Consejo: $145,000--$250,000
Two-bedroom condo on Ambergris Caye: $200,000 to $750,000
Medical Care
Office visit, private physician: $25
Teeth cleaning, private dentist: $40
Root canal and crown, private dentist: $250 - $500
Building Supplies
50# bag of cement: $6 to $7
“Prefab” Mennonite House, 800 sq. ft, set up on your lot, $16,000+
Family Budgets in Belize
As noted, the cost of living varies greatly in Belize, depending on your lifestyle, preferences and place of residence. Here are several different budgets.
Monthly Budget (in U.S. Dollars) for Affluent Couple in San Pedro
This budget reflects the cost of living for a 45-year-old affluent expat couple that rent a two-bedroom condo on Ambergris Caye. Assumption: The couple owns a golf cart for transportation, owns a small boat and spends freely for entertainment and personal expenses.
Rent $1,250
Electricity (1000 KW) 210
Telephone (including long distance) 150
Water 100
Bottled water 80
Butane 50
Groceries 400
DSL or Cable Internet 50
Entertainment and dining out 400
Cable TV 25
Golf cart maintenance 100
Boat expenses 350
Health insurance 378
Out-of-pocket medical/dental care 150
Flights to Belize City (monthly) 140
Other travel expenses 300
Clothing 100
Household help 350
Other personal expenses 250
Total $4,833
Monthly Budget (in U.S. Dollars) for Middle-Class Couple
This budget reflects the cost of living for a 55-year-old expat couple that owns their own home in Placencia. It assumes that the couple has paid for their US$150,000 house and therefore do not have a house payment. Also assumed: their 2002 Ford Explorer is paid for and that they choose to purchase health insurance, which includes medevac coverage, from an international insurer.
Electricity (750KW a month) $158
Telephone (including long distance) 110
Butane 45
Groceries 320
Cable TV 25
Internet 50
Entertainment and dining out 200
Property tax 24
Auto insurance 20
Health insurance 300
Out-of-pocket medical expenses 150
Home insurance (at 2% of value) 300
Gasoline (40 gallons a month @ $3) 120
Auto maintenance 100
Clothing 75
Other personal expenses 150
Household help/care taker (part-time) 200
Other 125
Total $2,472
Barebones Budget
This budget is for a single 60-year-old permanent resident in a Belizean-style rented house near San Ignacio. Assumptions: The individual uses public transportation and takes advantage of local public health care system.
Rent $250
Transportation (bus and taxi) 40
Telephone 40
Groceries 150
Entertainment 75
Butane 20
Water, dirt (trash) pick-up 25
Electricity (400 KW) 84
Local health care and medicines 95
Cable TV 20
Clothing 20
Other personal expenses 50
Total $859
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