Rosemary K. Says:
Have housing prices in Placencia, Belize risen in the last few years? What about the price of groceries?
IL Belize Correspondent Shane Kenny Says:
Hi Rosemary,
Housing prices in Placencia (like many other places) have experienced a rapid increase since the COVID pandemic.
In addition, Placencia has experienced a surge in both “snowbird” traffic and long-term residents that are retiring here. This has led to decreased supply with increased demand driving the prices up.
I would suggest looking outside the main village. As you head north, prices can decrease. I have also noted the many people list their properties for far more that they should realistically get for them. A good real estate agent should be able to help you navigate the asking prices.
As far as food prices… Belize has been subject to the inflation seen everywhere else in the world over the last year. This has increased both the cost of groceries and menu items at our local restaurants. Grocery costs will be even higher if you purchase American-brand items (like Doritos or Kelloggs for example).
My wife and I have learned to enjoy things like plantain chips, locally-made tortilla chips, and “fruit loops” from a Mexican company. Not only are we eating healthier (with the exception of the Fruit Loops) but our grocery costs are remaining lower than what we used to spend when we lived in the US.
A way to summarize cost-of-living here in Belize is that it is not as low as other Central American countries, but lower than other places in the Caribbean.
You can read more about the cost of living in Belize on the newly revamped IL website.
You may also wish to join us on February 7 for our online Belize Now seminar, where we’ll go into details about every aspect of life in Belize, including costs of living.
Got a Question?
Send your thoughts to mailbag@internationalliving.com. We’ll post and respond to as many of your emails as we can right here in the e-letter.