Cost of Living in Belize: Rent, Housing & Income

Belize pulls in expats and retirees who want a Caribbean coast with English as the official language. A first look at the rent numbers is encouraging, but the everyday items tell a more mixed story. The amounts below are for the country as a whole and come from crowd-sourced estimates on Numbeo and Livingcost, converted to US dollars. The sample is small, with a modest number of contributors, so read these as rough guides.

The data were last checked on Oct 13, 2026.

The World Bank's price level ratio for Belize was 52.6 in 2025, with the U.S. at 100. At market exchange rates, the same basket of goods and services cost about 53% of its U.S. price.

GDP per capita, adjusted for purchasing power, was 14,966 international dollars in 2025 (U.S.: 90,027 international dollars in 2025). Consumer prices rose 1.1% in 2025 (U.S.: 2.9% in 2024).

Housing is the cheapest part of the budget. A one-bedroom apartment in a town center is $275 – $1,000/mo, and outside the center $223.97 – $750/mo. Notice that the difference between the two is small, and the top of the central range is much higher than the middle, which points to a few expensive listings.

A three-bedroom home runs $550 – $2,800/mo in the center and $300 – $2,000/mo outside. Waterfront and tourist areas can sit above these numbers, so ask about location before you assume the average applies.

Rent in this data is lower than the single-person total of $875/mo for everything else. That is unusual. In most countries here, a one-bedroom costs more than a month of non-rent expenses. In Belize the reverse is true, and the items below hint at why: a liter of milk is $4.27 each and utilities are high.

Basic utilities for an 85 square meter apartment are $91.49 – $373.28/mo, broadband is $38.36 – $80/mo and a mobile plan is $35 – $50/mo.

A monthly transit pass is $22.41/mo, but many people rely on cars, taxis or boats. Fuel, vehicles and imported goods are not in the table.

An inexpensive restaurant meal averages $8.94 each with a range from $5.97 each to $20 each. A dozen large eggs are $2.89 each. Compare those with milk above: local products and imported products are priced differently, so your food bill depends on what you buy.

Numbeo lists an average monthly net salary after tax of $1,091.56/mo.

That figure is lower than the single-person total, and the gap between local pay and an expat's spending is common in popular destinations. If you plan to earn locally, check actual job offers and ask about housing and health coverage.

Numbeo puts a single person at $875/mo before rent and a family of four at $3,143.50/mo. Livingcost reports $574/mo for one person without rent and $1,038/mo with it.

The two sources differ because they count categories differently and rely on small samples. Livingcost's lower figures suggest a spending style closer to what residents do, while Numbeo's include more imported items. These are guesses about why they differ, not findings from either site.

• Health insurance and medical evacuation coverage.
• Residency or retirement program fees.
• Flights, shipping and furniture.
• School tuition.
• Taxes and legal costs. Check the Belize government immigration pages and use a licensed advisor.

Look at listings in the specific area you plan to live, because tourist zones and inland towns can be far apart. Ask whether utilities, water and internet are included. Visit in both the dry and rainy seasons if you can, since electricity use for cooling affects the bill.

The transit pass in the table, at $22.41/mo, is only part of the story. Belize has limited public transportation in some areas, and many residents use a car or a golf cart on islands. Fuel, repairs and insurance are not part of these estimates, so add them if you plan to drive.

Start with the rent you can find in your preferred town, such as the $223.97 – $750/mo range outside a center, then add utilities at $91.49 – $373.28/mo and food. Leave room for items that cost more than expected, such as imported groceries and appliance repairs. A modest cushion matters more here than in a place with a larger set of choices.