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 $1,116 per month in Belmopan vs $1,622 in San Pedro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,610 per month in Belmopan vs $2,116 in San Pedro, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,105 per month in Belmopan vs $2,610 in San Pedro, rent included.

Belmopan is about 31% cheaper than San Pedro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Belmopan sits 17% below the global median, while San Pedro is 21% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.68 BZD 9.37

$9.25 BZD 18.51

-49.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.86 BZD 33.73

$29.39 BZD 58.8

-42.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.53 BZD 15.06

Cappuccino

$4.54 BZD 9.07

$2.92 BZD 5.83

55.48%

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

$0.78 BZD 1.55

$1.34 BZD 2.68

-41.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 BZD 1.04

$1.52 BZD 3.03

-65.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 BZD 2.90

$3.05 BZD 6.10

-52.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 BZD 4.56

$3.97 BZD 7.94

-42.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.08 BZD 4.15

$4.12 BZD 8.25

-49.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 BZD 3.18

$1.32 BZD 2.64

20.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 BZD 3.31

$4.22 BZD 8.44

-60.66%

Eggs

$1.89 BZD 3.79

$2.18 BZD 4.36

-13.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 BZD 17.25

$9.98 BZD 19.96

-13.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.56 BZD 13.13

$6.32 BZD 12.64

3.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 BZD 24.52

$8.28 BZD 16.57

48.07%

Apples (1kg)

$8.40 BZD 16.81

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 BZD 2.25

$1.07 BZD 2.15

5.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 BZD 4.35

$1.12 BZD 2.24

93.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 BZD 11.31

$5.59 BZD 11.18

1.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 BZD 5.53

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 BZD 6.08

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.53 BZD 7.06

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 BZD 2.89

$1.23 BZD 2.46

17.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 BZD 35.56

$24.01 BZD 48.02

-25.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 BZD 4.44

$2.48 BZD 4.96

-10.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 BZD 4.40

$3.29 BZD 6.59

-33.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.97 BZD 7.95

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 BZD 6.15

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.94 BZD 5.87

$4.95 BZD 9.90

-40.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.79 BZD 3.57

$1.65 BZD 3.30

8.48%

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

$152 BZD 303

$174 BZD 347

-12.76%

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

$50.8 BZD 102

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.47 BZD 73.0

$102 BZD 204

-64.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.07 BZD 88.2

$29.41 BZD 58.8

49.85%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 BZD 18.39

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.52 BZD 79.1

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.11 BZD 44.23

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.1 BZD 100

$98.2 BZD 196

-49.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.9 BZD 126

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 BZD 906

$1,008 BZD 2,017

-55.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$317 BZD 635

$746 BZD 1,492

-57.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,056 BZD 2,112

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$537 BZD 1,075

$897 BZD 1,795

-40.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,648 BZD 5,296

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,622 BZD 3,244

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

Last update for Belmopan: June 1, 2026

Last update for San Pedro: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Belmopan versus $1,008 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 $29.00 in San Pedro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $358 – 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: $1,116 in Belmopan, $1,622 in San Pedro – roughly 45% apart. San Pedro costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,674 per month in Belmopan and $2,432 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 $29.00 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 $1,116 in Belmopan and $1,622 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 $1,116, than in San Pedro at $1,622. 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.