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 $1,076 per month in Belmopan vs $1,599 in San Pedro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,535 per month in Belmopan vs $2,690 in San Pedro, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,995 per month in Belmopan vs $3,781 in San Pedro, rent included.

Belmopan is about 33% cheaper than San Pedro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 BZD 15.17

$9.62 BZD 19.24

-21.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.63 BZD 35.27

$30.01 BZD 60.0

-41.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 BZD 15.18

Cappuccino

$5.42 BZD 10.84

$3.06 BZD 6.12

77.12%

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

$0.60 BZD 1.19

$1.39 BZD 2.79

-56.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 BZD 1.04

$1.52 BZD 3.04

-65.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 BZD 3.01

$2.92 BZD 5.84

-48.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 BZD 4.57

$3.91 BZD 7.82

-41.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 BZD 4.89

$5.01 BZD 10.03

-51.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 BZD 3.21

$2.45 BZD 4.90

-34.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 BZD 3.30

$5.59 BZD 11.18

-70.48%

Eggs

$1.97 BZD 3.94

$1.86 BZD 3.73

5.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.89 BZD 17.78

$11.72 BZD 23.44

-24.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 BZD 12.95

$13.27 BZD 26.54

-51.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.02 BZD 24.03

$10.57 BZD 21.14

13.72%

Apples (1kg)

$14.16 BZD 28.32

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 BZD 2.18

$1.12 BZD 2.25

-2.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 BZD 4.48

Tomato (1kg)

$5.42 BZD 10.85

$7.70 BZD 15.41

-29.61%

Potato (1kg)

$6.43 BZD 12.85

Onion (1kg)

$3.63 BZD 7.25

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 BZD 2.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 BZD 3.81

Wine (Bottle)

$17.22 BZD 34.45

$24.06 BZD 48.12

-28.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 BZD 4.65

$3.82 BZD 7.64

-39.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 BZD 4.58

$4.01 BZD 8.03

-42.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.92 BZD 7.85

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 BZD 6.45

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.91 BZD 7.83

$5.10 BZD 10.21

-23.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.77 BZD 3.54

$1.59 BZD 3.19

11.32%

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

$152 BZD 303

$175 BZD 351

-13.62%

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

$49.60 BZD 99.2

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.20 BZD 76.4

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.54 BZD 89.1

$29.65 BZD 59.3

50.22%

Cinema Ticket

$9.10 BZD 18.21

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 BZD 881

$1,018 BZD 2,037

-56.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 BZD 651

$753 BZD 1,507

-56.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,759 BZD 5,519

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 BZD 1,085

$2,038 BZD 4,076

-73.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,645 BZD 5,290

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,604 BZD 3,209

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

Last update for Belmopan: September 12, 2026

Last update for San Pedro: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $440 in Belmopan versus $1,018 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 $18.00 in Belmopan versus $30.00 in San Pedro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $483 – 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: $1,076 in Belmopan, $1,599 in San Pedro – roughly 49% apart. San Pedro costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,614 per month in Belmopan and $2,399 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 $18.00 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 $1,076 in Belmopan and $1,599 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 $1,076, than in San Pedro at $1,599. 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.