Cost of Living Comparison Between Belize City and Caye Caulker Cost of Living Comparison Between Belize City and Caye Caulker

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,224 in Belize City versus $1,865 in Caye Caulker.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,767 in Belize City versus $2,727 in Caye Caulker.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,311 in Belize City versus $3,589 in Caye Caulker.

Living in Belize City costs roughly 34% less than in Caye Caulker, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Belize City is 11% below, Caye Caulker is 36% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.12 BZD 12.25

$8.74 BZD 17.48

-29.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.3 BZD 101

$32.46 BZD 64.9

55.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 BZD 19.36

$7.68 BZD 15.35

26.04%

Cappuccino

$3.48 BZD 6.96

$4.11 BZD 8.22

-15.33%

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

$1.73 BZD 3.46

$1.47 BZD 2.94

17.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 BZD 2.93

$1.74 BZD 3.47

-15.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 BZD 5.01

$3.02 BZD 6.03

-17.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 BZD 5.84

$4.60 BZD 9.20

-36.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.61 BZD 5.21

$2.92 BZD 5.84

-10.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 BZD 4.81

$1.85 BZD 3.71

29.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 BZD 6.65

$4.45 BZD 8.90

-25.17%

Eggs

$3.39 BZD 6.78

$4.27 BZD 8.53

-20.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 BZD 12.82

$10.89 BZD 21.78

-41.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.95 BZD 15.90

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.53 BZD 15.06

$13.29 BZD 26.59

-43.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 BZD 6.47

$8.14 BZD 16.29

-60.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 BZD 3.08

$1.07 BZD 2.14

43.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.51 BZD 5.01

$1.39 BZD 2.79

80.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 BZD 8.21

$2.93 BZD 5.86

40.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.83 BZD 7.67

$5.47 BZD 10.93

-29.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 BZD 5.07

$4.32 BZD 8.63

-41.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 BZD 4.50

$3.23 BZD 6.46

-30.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 BZD 2.21

$1.74 BZD 3.48

-36.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.10 BZD 10.20

$4.61 BZD 9.23

10.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.10 BZD 20.20

$22.36 BZD 44.73

-54.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 BZD 5.11

$2.17 BZD 4.34

17.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 BZD 6.61

$2.45 BZD 4.90

35.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 BZD 5.59

$4.91 BZD 9.82

-42.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.06 BZD 44.13

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 BZD 8.84

$3.42 BZD 6.84

29.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 BZD 6.07

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 BZD 9.77

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.40 BZD 4.80

$3.03 BZD 6.06

-20.79%

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

$10.7K BZD 21.4K

$10.5K BZD 20.9K

1.93%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.2K BZD 42.4K

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

$376 BZD 752

$202 BZD 404

86.36%

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

$49.51 BZD 99.0

$34.90 BZD 69.8

41.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.91 BZD 91.8

$73.8 BZD 148

-37.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.72 BZD 49.44

$35.02 BZD 70.0

-29.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.51 BZD 5.01

$14.25 BZD 28.50

-82.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 BZD 10.17

$11.84 BZD 23.69

-57.01%

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

$65.1 BZD 130

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$672 BZD 1,343

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.46 BZD 72.9

$74.4 BZD 149

-50.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.85 BZD 49.70

$61.0 BZD 122

-59.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.2 BZD 114

$149 BZD 298

-61.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.51 BZD 75.0

$50.1 BZD 100

-25.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 BZD 683

$1,014 BZD 2,027

-66.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 BZD 380

$748 BZD 1,497

-74.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$565 BZD 1,131

$753 BZD 1,507

-24.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 BZD 656

$1,234 BZD 2,467

-73.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$200 BZD 400

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$836 BZD 1,672

$2,009 BZD 4,018

-58.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

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

Last update for Belize City: August 29, 2026

Last update for Caye Caulker: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $341 in Belize City and $1,014 in Caye Caulker. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caye Caulker pays 140% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $50.0 in Belize City vs $32.00 in Caye Caulker. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $382, 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 Caye Caulker: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Belize City wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Caye Caulker. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Belize City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 140% lower in Caye Caulker. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $341 in Belize City versus $1,014 in Caye Caulker. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,224 per month in Belize City versus $1,865 in Caye Caulker – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Caye Caulker. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,224 in Belize City versus $1,865 in Caye Caulker, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Belize City but tight or insufficient in Caye Caulker. 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 Caye Caulker 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 52% less than in Caye Caulker. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.