Shawna P. Says:
I’ve been told that living in the Caribbean is expensive. And that I would pay the same somewhere like Belize as I do in the U.S. Is that true?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Shawna,
There is a lot of debate about the cost of living in Belize, which is probably what you are picking up on, because there is such a vast range of ways you can live there. If you want to live a North American lifestyle—enjoying the same wines, brand-name foods, and North American-style accommodation you’d expect at home, you will find that Belize is just as expensive Belize, possibly more so. But there are also many ways to save money in Belize.
Ambergris Caye and the Placencia Peninsula are the most expensive places to live in the country. But the towns of Corozal (on the ocean) and San Ignacio (in the interior) are more out-of-the-way, less expensive places where expat communities exist and transplants say life is easy and enjoyable.
One big reason expats save money in Belize is because of the country’s come-as-you-are, unapologetically non-materialistic lifestyle. It is very different from North America, where a great deal of social standing is based on what you own. Fancy things are out of place in Belize, and it is normal to become much more of a minimalist when living there.
It is, many expats report, a refreshing change.
Your monthly cost of living will be most influenced by what you pay for rent. If you own your own home, you’ll get by on less per month. Rents vary quite a bit from region to region. The rents on the cayes and in Placencia— which are Caribbean tourist hotspots—can be up to double those in the nontourist areas.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the monthly costs of living that expats have reported to us across Belize:
- Punta Gorda: $1,500-plus per month.
- San Ignacio: $1,600-plus per month.
- Corozal: $1,950-plus per month.
- Caye Caulker: $2,200-plus per month.
- Placencia and Hopkins: $2,500-plus per month.
- Ambergris Caye: $2,900-plus per month.
You can read about the various parts of Belize in this in-depth article in your IL archives.