Cost of Living Comparison Between Belize City and Belmopan Cost of Living Comparison Between Belize City and Belmopan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,076 in Belize City versus $1,138 in Belmopan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,657 in Belize City versus $1,612 in Belmopan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,238 in Belize City versus $2,086 in Belmopan.

Living in Belize City costs roughly 5% less than in Belmopan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Belize City 19% lower, Belmopan 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.34 BZD 12.67

$4.86 BZD 9.72

30.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.37 BZD 78.8

$16.79 BZD 33.58

134.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 BZD 11.75

$7.26 BZD 14.52

-19.15%

Cappuccino

$3.69 BZD 7.38

$4.42 BZD 8.83

-16.52%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 BZD 2.70

$0.78 BZD 1.55

73.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BZD 2.56

$0.48 BZD 0.95

166.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 BZD 4.43

$1.46 BZD 2.92

52.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 BZD 6.98

$2.20 BZD 4.41

58.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.19 BZD 6.38

$2.01 BZD 4.02

58.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BZD 2.54

$1.60 BZD 3.20

-20.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 BZD 4.48

$1.66 BZD 3.33

34.94%

Eggs

$2.33 BZD 4.66

$1.89 BZD 3.77

23.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.17 BZD 14.35

$9.03 BZD 18.06

-20.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 BZD 13.23

$6.73 BZD 13.46

-1.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.58 BZD 11.17

$12.03 BZD 24.07

-53.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 BZD 7.46

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 BZD 2.91

$1.08 BZD 2.16

34.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 BZD 4.19

$2.22 BZD 4.45

-5.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.99 BZD 5.98

$5.39 BZD 10.77

-44.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 BZD 5.98

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 BZD 4.77

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 BZD 4.32

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BZD 1.71

$1.51 BZD 3.02

-43.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.99 BZD 7.98

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 BZD 20.18

$17.24 BZD 34.49

-41.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 BZD 3.58

$2.30 BZD 4.60

-22.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 BZD 6.51

$2.28 BZD 4.56

42.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 BZD 3.94

$4.03 BZD 8.05

-51.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.17 BZD 40.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.09 BZD 8.18

$3.01 BZD 6.03

35.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.89 BZD 7.79

$2.94 BZD 5.87

32.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 BZD 3.75

$1.76 BZD 3.52

6.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$10.5K BZD 21.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$209 BZD 417

$148 BZD 296

40.90%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$49.60 BZD 99.2

$50.6 BZD 101

-1.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.1 BZD 108

$36.36 BZD 72.7

48.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.19 BZD 56.4

$44.80 BZD 89.6

-37.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.52 BZD 5.04

Cinema Ticket

$8.28 BZD 16.57

$8.99 BZD 17.99

-7.90%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$63.7 BZD 127

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$681 BZD 1,362

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.29 BZD 74.6

$39.37 BZD 78.8

-5.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.98 BZD 54.0

$22.21 BZD 44.43

21.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 BZD 164

$49.17 BZD 98.4

66.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.3 BZD 177

$62.7 BZD 125

40.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 BZD 556

$446 BZD 893

-37.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 BZD 360

$320 BZD 640

-43.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$612 BZD 1,225

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 BZD 705

$545 BZD 1,090

-35.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$197 BZD 394

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,231 BZD 2,463

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.83

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Belize City: July 14, 2026

Last update for Belmopan: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Belize City and $446 in Belmopan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Belize City vs $17.00 in Belmopan. Groceries flip the comparison at $253 vs $258, with Belize City cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Belize City vs Belmopan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Belize City wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Belmopan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Belize City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,613 in Belize City and $1,707 in Belmopan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $278 in Belize City versus $446 in Belmopan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,076 per month in Belize City versus $1,138 in Belmopan – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Belmopan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,076 in Belize City versus $1,138 in Belmopan, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Belize City but tight or insufficient in Belmopan. The gap between the two cities makes Belize City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Belize City and Belmopan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Belize City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Belmopan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.