Cost of Living Comparison Between Belmopan and San Pedro Cost of Living Comparison Between Belmopan and San Pedro

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,138 per month in Belmopan vs $1,609 in San Pedro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,612 per month in Belmopan vs $2,115 in San Pedro, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,086 per month in Belmopan vs $2,622 in San Pedro, rent included.

Belmopan is about 29% cheaper than San Pedro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Belmopan sits 15% below the global median, while San Pedro is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.86 BZD 9.72

$9.52 BZD 19.04

-48.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.79 BZD 33.58

$30.07 BZD 60.2

-44.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.26 BZD 14.52

Cappuccino

$4.42 BZD 8.83

$2.97 BZD 5.94

48.82%

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

$0.78 BZD 1.55

$1.40 BZD 2.80

-44.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 BZD 0.95

$1.56 BZD 3.12

-69.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 BZD 2.92

$2.96 BZD 5.93

-50.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 BZD 4.41

$4.10 BZD 8.20

-46.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 BZD 4.02

$4.02 BZD 8.03

-50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 BZD 3.20

$1.38 BZD 2.76

15.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 BZD 3.33

$4.18 BZD 8.36

-60.29%

Eggs

$1.89 BZD 3.77

$2.21 BZD 4.42

-14.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.03 BZD 18.06

$9.97 BZD 19.95

-9.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 BZD 13.46

$6.18 BZD 12.36

8.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.03 BZD 24.07

$8.45 BZD 16.91

42.37%

Apples (1kg)

$8.52 BZD 17.03

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 BZD 2.16

$1.05 BZD 2.09

2.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 BZD 4.45

$1.06 BZD 2.12

109.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.39 BZD 10.77

$5.36 BZD 10.72

0.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 BZD 5.43

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 BZD 5.91

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.51 BZD 7.01

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 BZD 3.02

$1.29 BZD 2.57

17.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.24 BZD 34.49

$23.59 BZD 47.19

-26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 BZD 4.60

$2.38 BZD 4.77

-3.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 BZD 4.56

$3.31 BZD 6.61

-31.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.03 BZD 8.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 BZD 6.03

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.94 BZD 5.87

$4.91 BZD 9.82

-40.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 BZD 3.52

$1.56 BZD 3.13

12.82%

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

$148 BZD 296

$174 BZD 348

-14.81%

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

$50.6 BZD 101

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.36 BZD 72.7

$98.1 BZD 196

-62.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.80 BZD 89.6

$30.16 BZD 60.3

48.54%

Cinema Ticket

$8.99 BZD 17.99

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.37 BZD 78.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.21 BZD 44.43

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.17 BZD 98.4

$98.7 BZD 197

-50.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 BZD 125

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 BZD 893

$996 BZD 1,993

-55.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 BZD 640

$762 BZD 1,524

-58.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,050 BZD 2,101

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$545 BZD 1,090

$905 BZD 1,811

-39.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,647 BZD 5,294

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,629 BZD 3,258

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

Last update for Belmopan: July 13, 2026

Last update for San Pedro: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Belmopan versus $996 in San Pedro. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Belmopan versus $30.00 in San Pedro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $355 – making Belmopan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Belmopan vs San Pedro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,138 in Belmopan, $1,609 in San Pedro – roughly 41% apart. San Pedro costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,707 per month in Belmopan and $2,413 in San Pedro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Belmopan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Belmopan and $30.00 in San Pedro. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,138 in Belmopan and $1,609 in San Pedro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Belmopan, where all-in costs run around $1,138, than in San Pedro at $1,609. In Belmopan it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Pedro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Belmopan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Belmopan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Pedro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.