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: $1,076 in Belize City versus $1,878 in Caye Caulker.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,657 in Belize City versus $2,698 in Caye Caulker.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,238 in Belize City versus $3,518 in Caye Caulker.

Living in Belize City costs roughly 43% less than in Caye Caulker, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Belize City is 19% below, Caye Caulker is 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.34 BZD 12.67

$8.67 BZD 17.33

-26.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.37 BZD 78.8

$32.84 BZD 65.7

19.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 BZD 11.75

$7.56 BZD 15.11

-22.35%

Cappuccino

$3.69 BZD 7.38

$3.94 BZD 7.89

-6.35%

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

$1.35 BZD 2.70

$1.53 BZD 3.07

-11.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BZD 2.56

$1.77 BZD 3.54

-27.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 BZD 4.43

$3.01 BZD 6.02

-26.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 BZD 6.98

$4.43 BZD 8.86

-21.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.19 BZD 6.38

$2.97 BZD 5.94

7.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BZD 2.54

$1.85 BZD 3.70

-31.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 BZD 4.48

$4.45 BZD 8.89

-49.66%

Eggs

$2.33 BZD 4.66

$4.19 BZD 8.38

-44.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.17 BZD 14.35

$11.15 BZD 22.30

-35.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 BZD 13.23

$7.82 BZD 15.63

-15.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.58 BZD 11.17

$13.18 BZD 26.36

-57.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 BZD 7.46

$8.09 BZD 16.19

-53.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 BZD 2.91

$1.13 BZD 2.26

28.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 BZD 4.19

$1.34 BZD 2.68

55.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.99 BZD 5.98

$2.87 BZD 5.75

4.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 BZD 5.98

$5.45 BZD 10.90

-45.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 BZD 4.77

$4.54 BZD 9.08

-47.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 BZD 4.32

$3.21 BZD 6.42

-32.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BZD 1.71

$1.71 BZD 3.42

-49.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.99 BZD 7.98

$4.46 BZD 8.92

-10.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 BZD 20.18

$22.62 BZD 45.25

-55.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 BZD 3.58

$2.28 BZD 4.56

-21.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 BZD 6.51

$2.44 BZD 4.89

33.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 BZD 3.94

$4.95 BZD 9.91

-60.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.17 BZD 40.34

$22.86 BZD 45.72

-11.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.09 BZD 8.18

$3.53 BZD 7.07

15.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.89 BZD 7.79

$3.05 BZD 6.09

27.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.88 BZD 9.76

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 BZD 3.75

$3.05 BZD 6.11

-38.69%

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

$10.5K BZD 21.0K

$10.7K BZD 21.4K

-2.15%

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

$21.4K BZD 42.9K

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

$209 BZD 417

$197 BZD 394

5.92%

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

$49.60 BZD 99.2

$35.15 BZD 70.3

41.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.1 BZD 108

$74.9 BZD 150

-27.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.19 BZD 56.4

$35.59 BZD 71.2

-20.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.52 BZD 5.04

$14.13 BZD 28.27

-82.17%

Cinema Ticket

$8.28 BZD 16.57

$11.91 BZD 23.83

-30.48%

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

$74.8 BZD 150

-50.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.98 BZD 54.0

$59.6 BZD 119

-54.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 BZD 164

$149 BZD 299

-45.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.3 BZD 177

$49.51 BZD 99.0

78.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 BZD 556

$986 BZD 1,973

-71.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 BZD 360

$751 BZD 1,502

-76.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$612 BZD 1,225

$758 BZD 1,517

-19.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 BZD 705

$1,250 BZD 2,500

-71.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$197 BZD 394

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,231 BZD 2,463

$2,026 BZD 4,052

-39.23%

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 Caye Caulker: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Belize City and $986 in Caye Caulker. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caye Caulker pays 65% 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: $39.00 in Belize City vs $33.00 in Caye Caulker. Groceries flip the comparison at $253 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 75% 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 65% 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: $278 in Belize City versus $986 in Caye Caulker. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Caye Caulker. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,076 per month in Belize City versus $1,878 in Caye Caulker – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,076 in Belize City versus $1,878 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 75% less than in Caye Caulker. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.