Cost of Living Comparison Between Caye Caulker and Belize City Cost of Living Comparison Between Caye Caulker and Belize City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,894 in Caye Caulker versus $1,085 in Belize City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,733 in Caye Caulker versus $1,646 in Belize City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,572 in Caye Caulker versus $2,206 in Belize City.

Living in Caye Caulker is roughly 75% more expensive than Belize City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Caye Caulker is 41% above, Belize City is 19% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.64 BZD 17.27

$6.19 BZD 12.39

39.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.35 BZD 66.7

$39.07 BZD 78.2

-14.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BZD 14.54

$5.83 BZD 11.66

24.70%

Cappuccino

$3.97 BZD 7.95

$3.58 BZD 7.15

10.89%

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

$1.52 BZD 3.04

$1.35 BZD 2.71

12.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 BZD 3.54

$1.29 BZD 2.59

37.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 BZD 6.02

$2.23 BZD 4.46

34.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 BZD 9.14

$3.60 BZD 7.20

26.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.08 BZD 6.17

$3.18 BZD 6.37

-3.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 BZD 3.69

$1.24 BZD 2.49

49.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.50 BZD 9.01

$2.18 BZD 4.36

106.42%

Eggs

$4.22 BZD 8.45

$2.42 BZD 4.85

74.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.23 BZD 22.47

$7.11 BZD 14.21

57.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 BZD 15.08

$6.65 BZD 13.30

13.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.97 BZD 25.94

$5.59 BZD 11.19

132.02%

Apples (1kg)

$8.40 BZD 16.81

$3.92 BZD 7.83

114.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 BZD 2.15

$1.46 BZD 2.93

-26.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.41 BZD 2.82

$2.11 BZD 4.21

-33.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 BZD 5.92

$3.02 BZD 6.04

-1.99%

Potato (1kg)

$5.41 BZD 10.83

$2.87 BZD 5.74

88.50%

Onion (1kg)

$4.35 BZD 8.70

$2.37 BZD 4.74

83.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 BZD 6.19

$2.26 BZD 4.51

36.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 BZD 3.42

$0.94 BZD 1.89

81.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 BZD 9.15

$3.86 BZD 7.73

18.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.92 BZD 45.84

$11.09 BZD 22.18

106.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 BZD 4.39

$1.81 BZD 3.62

20.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 BZD 4.86

$3.30 BZD 6.60

-26.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.90 BZD 9.81

$2.03 BZD 4.06

141.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.50 BZD 45.01

$19.73 BZD 39.46

14.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 BZD 6.86

$3.94 BZD 7.88

-12.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.19 BZD 6.39

$4.08 BZD 8.16

-21.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 BZD 9.83

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.95 BZD 5.90

$1.88 BZD 3.76

56.91%

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

$10.3K BZD 20.7K

$10.4K BZD 20.7K

-0.14%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.4K BZD 42.9K

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

$200 BZD 401

$206 BZD 412

-2.79%

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

$35.50 BZD 71.0

$50.2 BZD 100

-29.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.0 BZD 148

$55.2 BZD 110

34.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.30 BZD 68.6

$28.20 BZD 56.4

21.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.24 BZD 28.49

$2.45 BZD 4.90

481.22%

Cinema Ticket

$11.63 BZD 23.27

$8.20 BZD 16.40

41.83%

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

$65.5 BZD 131

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$677 BZD 1,355

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 BZD 150

$37.00 BZD 74.0

102.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 BZD 118

$26.92 BZD 53.8

119.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$152 BZD 303

$81.2 BZD 162

86.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.27 BZD 98.6

$88.5 BZD 177

-44.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 BZD 2,017

$277 BZD 553

264.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$759 BZD 1,519

$183 BZD 365

315.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$772 BZD 1,545

$619 BZD 1,239

24.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,262 BZD 2,524

$346 BZD 691

265.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$202 BZD 405

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,977 BZD 3,954

$1,204 BZD 2,409

64.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.83

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

Last update for Caye Caulker: June 2, 2026

Last update for Belize City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,008 in Caye Caulker and $277 in Belize City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caye Caulker pays 64% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Caye Caulker vs $39.00 in Belize City. Groceries flip the comparison at $383 vs $257, 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

Caye Caulker vs Belize City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Belize City wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Caye Caulker. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Belize City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Caye Caulker pays 64% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,008 in Caye Caulker versus $277 in Belize City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Caye Caulker. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,894 per month in Caye Caulker versus $1,085 in Belize City – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,085 in Belize City versus $1,894 in Caye Caulker, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Belize City but tight or insufficient in Caye Caulker. 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, Caye Caulker and Belize City 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 75% less than in Caye Caulker. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.