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: $1,085 in Belize City versus $1,894 in Caye Caulker.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,646 in Belize City versus $2,733 in Caye Caulker.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,206 in Belize City versus $3,572 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

$6.19 BZD 12.39

$8.64 BZD 17.27

-28.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.07 BZD 78.2

$33.35 BZD 66.7

17.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 BZD 11.66

$7.27 BZD 14.54

-19.81%

Cappuccino

$3.58 BZD 7.15

$3.97 BZD 7.95

-9.82%

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

$1.35 BZD 2.71

$1.52 BZD 3.04

-11.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 BZD 2.59

$1.77 BZD 3.54

-27.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 BZD 4.46

$3.01 BZD 6.02

-25.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 BZD 7.20

$4.57 BZD 9.14

-21.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.18 BZD 6.37

$3.08 BZD 6.17

3.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 BZD 2.49

$1.85 BZD 3.69

-32.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 BZD 4.36

$4.50 BZD 9.01

-51.56%

Eggs

$2.42 BZD 4.85

$4.22 BZD 8.45

-42.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.11 BZD 14.21

$11.23 BZD 22.47

-36.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 BZD 13.30

$7.54 BZD 15.08

-11.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.59 BZD 11.19

$12.97 BZD 25.94

-56.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.92 BZD 7.83

$8.40 BZD 16.81

-53.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 BZD 2.93

$1.08 BZD 2.15

35.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 BZD 4.21

$1.41 BZD 2.82

49.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.02 BZD 6.04

$2.96 BZD 5.92

2.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 BZD 5.74

$5.41 BZD 10.83

-46.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 BZD 4.74

$4.35 BZD 8.70

-45.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 BZD 4.51

$3.09 BZD 6.19

-26.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 BZD 1.89

$1.71 BZD 3.42

-45.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.86 BZD 7.73

$4.58 BZD 9.15

-15.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 BZD 22.18

$22.92 BZD 45.84

-51.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 BZD 3.62

$2.19 BZD 4.39

-17.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 BZD 6.60

$2.43 BZD 4.86

35.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 BZD 4.06

$4.90 BZD 9.81

-58.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.73 BZD 39.46

$22.50 BZD 45.01

-12.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.94 BZD 7.88

$3.43 BZD 6.86

14.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.08 BZD 8.16

$3.19 BZD 6.39

27.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 BZD 9.83

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.88 BZD 3.76

$2.95 BZD 5.90

-36.27%

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

$10.4K BZD 20.7K

$10.3K BZD 20.7K

0.14%

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)

$206 BZD 412

$200 BZD 401

2.88%

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

$50.2 BZD 100

$35.50 BZD 71.0

41.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.2 BZD 110

$74.0 BZD 148

-25.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.20 BZD 56.4

$34.30 BZD 68.6

-17.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.45 BZD 4.90

$14.24 BZD 28.49

-82.79%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 BZD 16.40

$11.63 BZD 23.27

-29.49%

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

$65.5 BZD 131

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$677 BZD 1,355

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.00 BZD 74.0

$74.9 BZD 150

-50.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.92 BZD 53.8

$59.0 BZD 118

-54.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 BZD 162

$152 BZD 303

-46.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 BZD 177

$49.27 BZD 98.6

79.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 BZD 553

$1,008 BZD 2,017

-72.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 BZD 365

$759 BZD 1,519

-75.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 BZD 1,239

$772 BZD 1,545

-19.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 BZD 691

$1,262 BZD 2,524

-72.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$202 BZD 405

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,204 BZD 2,409

$1,977 BZD 3,954

-39.08%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Caye Caulker: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Belize City and $1,008 in Caye Caulker. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caye Caulker pays 64% 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 $257 vs $383, 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, Caye Caulker earns 64% less. 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: $277 in Belize City versus $1,008 in Caye Caulker. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Caye Caulker. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,085 per month in Belize City versus $1,894 in Caye Caulker – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,085 in Belize City versus $1,894 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.