Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Belize and Mexico

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico: $1,274 a month against $1,558 in Belize, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Belize
Mexico
🇧🇿 Belize
$1,558
/mo nomad
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,274
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Belize and in Mexico

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,558 in Belize versus $1,274 in Mexico.

  • Belize $1,558
  • Mexico $1,274

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,204 in Belize versus $2,010 in Mexico.

  • Belize $2,204
  • Mexico $2,010

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,851 in Belize versus $2,746 in Mexico.

  • Belize $2,851
  • Mexico $2,746

Belize ($18–$1,884) and Mexico ($730–$2,625) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Living in Belize is roughly 22% more expensive than in Mexico on average.

Belize (14% above) and Mexico (6% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belize
Mexico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.16 BZD 18.32
$10.63 MX$199
-13.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.78 BZD 81.6
$43.29 MX$809
-5.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.16 BZD 20.32
$8.94 MX$167
13.65%
Cappuccino
$4.12 BZD 8.23
$3.61 MX$67.4
14.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 BZD 2.82
$1.48 MX$27.57
-4.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 BZD 2.95
$1.00 MX$18.68
47.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.58 BZD 5.16
$2.67 MX$49.80
-3.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 BZD 7.88
$4.37 MX$81.6
-9.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belize
Mexico
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.16 BZD 8.32
$1.59 MX$29.63
161.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.06 BZD 4.12
$2.67 MX$49.98
-22.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.84 BZD 7.69
$1.68 MX$31.42
128.57%
Eggs
$2.94 BZD 5.88
$2.52 MX$47.16
16.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.00 BZD 21.99
$8.79 MX$164
25.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.67 BZD 17.34
$7.97 MX$149
8.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.34 BZD 20.69
$11.50 MX$215
-10.09%
Apples (1kg)
$6.36 BZD 12.72
$2.76 MX$51.5
130.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 BZD 3.01
$1.52 MX$28.48
-1.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 BZD 5.10
$1.95 MX$36.52
30.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.83 BZD 9.66
$1.97 MX$36.75
145.18%
Potato (1kg)
$5.11 BZD 10.21
$1.96 MX$36.67
160.71%
Onion (1kg)
$3.56 BZD 7.13
$2.03 MX$37.90
75.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.77 BZD 5.55
$1.43 MX$26.78
93.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 BZD 2.92
$1.14 MX$21.29
28.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.37 BZD 8.75
$4.52 MX$84.5
-3.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.90 BZD 29.79
$10.87 MX$203
37.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 BZD 4.15
$1.77 MX$32.99
17.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 BZD 5.20
$3.19 MX$59.6
-18.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Belize
Mexico
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.93 BZD 7.87
$0.62 MX$11.59
533.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.60 BZD 45.21
$29.85 MX$558
-24.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 BZD 7.15
$2.66 MX$49.74
34.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.10 BZD 8.21
$2.72 MX$50.8
50.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.03 BZD 10.07
$10.63 MX$199
-52.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 BZD 4.37
$1.40 MX$26.12
56.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$10.5K BZD 21.1K
$24.0K MX$447.9K
-56.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K BZD 41.9K
$23.9K MX$446.9K
-12.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belize
Mexico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 BZD 309
$69.2 MX$1,293
123.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.81 BZD 97.6
$23.51 MX$439
107.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.0 BZD 126
$29.00 MX$542
117.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belize
Mexico
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.61 BZD 69.2
$34.74 MX$649
-0.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.24 BZD 12.47
$17.46 MX$326
-64.26%
Cinema Ticket
$8.76 BZD 17.52
$5.24 MX$98.0
67.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belize
Mexico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$63.7 BZD 127
$261 MX$4,869
-75.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$677 BZD 1,353
$5,999 MX$112.1K
-88.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belize
Mexico
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5 BZD 109
$55.8 MX$1,043
-2.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.22 BZD 86.5
$41.58 MX$777
3.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 BZD 205
$96.3 MX$1,800
6.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.92 BZD 87.8
$90.1 MX$1,683
-51.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belize
Mexico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$568 BZD 1,136
$713 MX$13.3K
-20.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$513 BZD 1,026
$477 MX$8,912
7.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,171 BZD 2,342
$1,358 MX$25.4K
-13.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 BZD 1,261
$906 MX$16.9K
-30.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,705 BZD 5,410
$2,597 MX$48.5K
4.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,635 BZD 3,271
$1,565 MX$29.2K
4.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belize
Mexico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,100 BZD 2,199
$773 MX$14.5K
42.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.5
11.43
0.61%

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

Last update for Belize: October 25, 2026

Last update for Mexico: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Belize
$513
Mexico
$477 7% $36
Groceries & Markets
Belize
$368
Mexico
$267 27.5% $101
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belize
$266
Mexico
$122 54.3% $145
Eating Out
Belize
$185
Mexico
$187 0.9% $1.7
Clothing & Footwear
Belize
$110
Mexico
$128 16.2% $18
Getting Around
Belize
$62
Mexico
$49 22.2% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Belize
$52
Mexico
$45 13.2% $6.9

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $662 in Belize, $624 in Mexico. Capital cities: $446 in Belmopan vs $1,113 in Mexico City.

National salary averages: $1,278 in Belize, $722 in Mexico. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 6% higher in Belize.

Dining out costs 13% more in Mexico.

Public transport is 41% more expensive in Mexico.

Salaries are 77% higher in Belize, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Belize.

Good to know
🇧🇿 Belize
🇲🇽 Mexico
🕒 Local time
19:38 7:38 PM
19:38 7:38 PM
Same time as Belize
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
411,106
124,777,324
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to BZD – Belize Dollar Converter

Belize Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 2 BZD (1 BZD = 0.5 USD). 1 EUR = 2.23 BZD (1 BZD = 0.448 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.69 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 20.83 MXN (100 MXN = 4.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Belize Mexico 1,120 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Belize
  • Mexico

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 vs Mexico: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Belize or Mexico?
At $1,558 per month in Belize and $1,274 in Mexico, there’s a 22% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do rents compare between Belize and Mexico?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $662 in Belize and $624 in Mexico. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How do I choose between living in Belize and in Mexico?
It depends on what you’re after: Mexico wins on affordability; Belize may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Belize vs other spots: cost of living compared

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