Cost of Living Comparison Between Belize City and San Pedro Cost of Living Comparison Between Belize City and San Pedro

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,217 in Belize City versus $1,599 in San Pedro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,782 in Belize City versus $2,690 in San Pedro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,346 in Belize City versus $3,781 in San Pedro.

Living in Belize City costs roughly 24% less than in San Pedro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Belize City is 11% below, San Pedro is 17% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 BZD 12.94

$9.62 BZD 19.24

-32.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.1 BZD 100

$30.01 BZD 60.0

66.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 BZD 19.10

Cappuccino

$3.60 BZD 7.19

$3.06 BZD 6.12

17.65%

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

$1.74 BZD 3.47

$1.39 BZD 2.79

25.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 BZD 2.90

$1.52 BZD 3.04

-4.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 BZD 5.20

$2.92 BZD 5.84

-10.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 BZD 6.15

$3.91 BZD 7.82

-21.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.68 BZD 5.37

$5.01 BZD 10.03

-46.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 BZD 4.83

$2.45 BZD 4.90

-1.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 BZD 6.46

$5.59 BZD 11.18

-42.22%

Eggs

$3.45 BZD 6.90

$1.86 BZD 3.73

85.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.62 BZD 13.25

$11.72 BZD 23.44

-43.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.94 BZD 15.89

$13.27 BZD 26.54

-40.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 BZD 15.44

$10.57 BZD 21.14

-26.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 BZD 6.49

$14.16 BZD 28.32

-77.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 BZD 3.04

$1.12 BZD 2.25

35.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 BZD 5.05

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 BZD 7.93

$7.70 BZD 15.41

-48.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.83 BZD 7.66

$6.43 BZD 12.85

-40.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 BZD 5.02

$3.63 BZD 7.25

-30.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 BZD 4.57

$1.29 BZD 2.57

77.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 BZD 2.32

$1.90 BZD 3.81

-38.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.04 BZD 10.08

Wine (Bottle)

$9.86 BZD 19.72

$24.06 BZD 48.12

-59.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 BZD 5.17

$3.82 BZD 7.64

-32.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 BZD 6.71

$4.01 BZD 8.03

-16.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 BZD 5.43

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 BZD 8.85

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.10 BZD 10.21

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.41 BZD 4.81

$1.59 BZD 3.19

51.57%

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

$10.7K BZD 21.4K

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

$366 BZD 733

$175 BZD 351

108.79%

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

$49.01 BZD 98.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.30 BZD 92.6

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.66 BZD 49.33

$29.65 BZD 59.3

-16.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.43 BZD 4.86

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 BZD 9.77

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

$65.0 BZD 130

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$674 BZD 1,348

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.89 BZD 73.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 BZD 49.91

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.2 BZD 110

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.01 BZD 74.0

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$348 BZD 696

$1,018 BZD 2,037

-65.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 BZD 386

$753 BZD 1,507

-74.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 BZD 1,120

$2,759 BZD 5,519

-79.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 BZD 658

$2,038 BZD 4,076

-83.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$202 BZD 404

$2,645 BZD 5,290

-92.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,604 BZD 3,209

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$847 BZD 1,695

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: September 15, 2026

Last update for San Pedro: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $348 in Belize City and $1,018 in San Pedro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $50.0 in Belize City vs $30.00 in San Pedro. Groceries flip the comparison at $295 vs $483, 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 San Pedro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Belize City wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in San Pedro. 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 $1,826 in Belize City and $2,399 in San Pedro 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: $348 in Belize City versus $1,018 in San Pedro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,217 per month in Belize City versus $1,599 in San Pedro – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in San Pedro. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,217 in Belize City versus $1,599 in San Pedro, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Belize City but tight or insufficient in San Pedro. 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 San Pedro 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 31% less than in San Pedro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.