Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Belize City and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Belize City: $1,218 a month against $2,003 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Belize City
🇧🇿 Belize
$1,218
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,003
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Belize City and in Montreal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Belize City and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Belize City versus $2,003 in Montreal.

  • Belize City $1,218
  • Montreal $2,003

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,805 in Belize City versus $3,048 in Montreal.

  • Belize City $1,805
  • Montreal $3,048

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,391 in Belize City versus $4,092 in Montreal.

  • Belize City $2,391
  • Montreal $4,092

Living in Belize City costs roughly 39% less than in Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Belize City is 9% below, Montreal is 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belize City
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.34 BZD 12.67
$19.31 CA$27.52
-67.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.01 BZD 98.0
$75.5 CA$108
-35.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.56 BZD 19.12
$10.63 CA$15.15
-10.07%
Cappuccino
$3.52 BZD 7.04
$3.93 CA$5.60
-10.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 BZD 3.33
$1.92 CA$2.73
-13.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 BZD 2.80
$1.48 CA$2.11
-5.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 BZD 5.05
$6.30 CA$8.98
-59.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 BZD 5.92
$7.19 CA$10.24
-58.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belize City
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.71 BZD 7.43
$2.22 CA$3.17
67.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 BZD 4.98
$3.06 CA$4.36
-18.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.39 BZD 6.79
$2.94 CA$4.19
15.31%
Eggs
$3.54 BZD 7.08
$3.53 CA$5.03
0.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.61 BZD 13.23
$13.19 CA$18.79
-49.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.69 BZD 19.38
$11.24 CA$16.02
-13.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 BZD 18.04
$13.81 CA$19.69
-34.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 BZD 5.58
$3.40 CA$4.85
-17.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 BZD 3.66
$1.44 CA$2.06
27.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 BZD 5.57
$3.26 CA$4.65
-14.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.95 BZD 5.90
$2.88 CA$4.10
2.43%
Potato (1kg)
$4.14 BZD 8.28
$1.86 CA$2.65
122.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 BZD 5.65
$1.82 CA$2.60
54.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.32 BZD 4.64
$2.43 CA$3.46
-4.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 BZD 3.05
$1.52 CA$2.17
0.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.56 BZD 9.11
$11.45 CA$16.32
-60.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.72 BZD 19.44
$10.36 CA$14.76
-6.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 BZD 4.81
$2.22 CA$3.16
8.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 BZD 4.25
$2.82 CA$4.02
-24.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Belize City
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.04 BZD 8.07
$2.58 CA$3.67
56.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$76.9 CA$110
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.06 BZD 10.12
$3.25 CA$4.64
55.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.48 CA$2.11
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$33.04 CA$47.09
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.50 BZD 4.99
$1.36 CA$1.94
83.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$10.5K BZD 21.0K
$27.4K CA$39.1K
-61.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$20.0K CA$28.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belize City
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$367 BZD 734
$76.1 CA$109
381.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.86 BZD 99.7
$34.68 CA$49.43
43.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.07 BZD 54.2
$42.69 CA$60.9
-36.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belize City
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.19 BZD 50.4
$28.94 CA$41.26
-12.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.42 BZD 4.83
$20.33 CA$28.97
-88.10%
Cinema Ticket
$4.88 BZD 9.76
$11.21 CA$15.98
-56.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belize City
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$65.3 BZD 131
$505 CA$720
-87.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$666 BZD 1,332
$16.0K CA$22.8K
-95.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belize City
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.73 BZD 65.5
$58.5 CA$83.4
-44.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.42 BZD 48.84
$38.00 CA$54.2
-35.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$36.85 BZD 73.7
$92.7 CA$132
-60.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.54 BZD 75.1
$106 CA$151
-64.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belize City
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$349 BZD 697
$1,240 CA$1,768
-71.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$191 BZD 382
$986 CA$1,405
-80.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$575 BZD 1,150
$2,102 CA$2,996
-72.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 BZD 653
$1,615 CA$2,302
-79.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$5,043 CA$7,188
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,830 CA$5,459
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belize City
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$845 BZD 1,691
$2,920 CA$4,163
-71.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.5
4.46
157.85%

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

Last update for Belize City: October 3, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belize City
$444
Montreal
$154 65.4% $290
Groceries & Markets
Belize City
$317
Montreal
$344 8.3% $26
Accommodation & Living
Belize City
$191
Montreal
$986 417% $795
Eating Out
Belize City
$152
Montreal
$293 92.2% $140
Clothing & Footwear
Belize City
$59
Montreal
$133 124% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Belize City
$35
Montreal
$51 47% $16
Getting Around
Belize City
$21 *
Montreal
$98 361% $77

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Belize City and $1,240 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 245% 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: $49.00 in Belize City vs $75.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 vs $344 per month, with Belize City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇿 Belize City
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
06:23 6:23 AM
08:23 8:23 AM
2 h ahead of Belize City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
63,999
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to BZD – Belize Dollar Converter

Belize Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2 BZD (1 BZD = 0.5 USD). 1 EUR = 2.24 BZD (1 BZD = 0.446 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Belize City Montreal 3,400 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Belize City
  • Montreal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Belize City or Montreal?
Belize City wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Montreal. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Belize City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Belize City or in Montreal?
On paper, salaries run 245% lower in Montreal. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Belize City compared to Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $349 in Belize City versus $1,240 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Belize City or in Montreal?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Montreal. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Belize City compared to Montreal?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Belize City versus $2,003 in Montreal – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Belize City or in Montreal?
At $1,218 in Belize City versus $2,003 in Montreal, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Belize City but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Belize City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Belize City or Montreal?
Both work as nomad bases, but Belize City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,218 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Belize City hard to pass up.
How safe is Belize City compared to Montreal?
Safety-wise, Belize City and Montreal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Belize City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Belize City vs other spots: cost of living compared

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