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: $1,865 in Caye Caulker versus $1,224 in Belize City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,727 in Caye Caulker versus $1,767 in Belize City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,589 in Caye Caulker versus $2,311 in Belize City.

Living in Caye Caulker is roughly 52% more expensive than in Belize City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Caye Caulker is 36% above, Belize City is 11% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.74 BZD 17.48

$6.12 BZD 12.25

42.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.46 BZD 64.9

$50.3 BZD 101

-35.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 BZD 15.35

$9.68 BZD 19.36

-20.66%

Cappuccino

$4.11 BZD 8.22

$3.48 BZD 6.96

18.10%

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

$1.47 BZD 2.94

$1.73 BZD 3.46

-15.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 BZD 3.47

$1.47 BZD 2.93

18.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 BZD 6.03

$2.50 BZD 5.01

20.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 BZD 9.20

$2.92 BZD 5.84

57.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.92 BZD 5.84

$2.61 BZD 5.21

11.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 BZD 3.71

$2.40 BZD 4.81

-22.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.45 BZD 8.90

$3.33 BZD 6.65

33.63%

Eggs

$4.27 BZD 8.53

$3.39 BZD 6.78

25.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.89 BZD 21.78

$6.41 BZD 12.82

69.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.95 BZD 15.90

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 BZD 26.59

$7.53 BZD 15.06

76.49%

Apples (1kg)

$8.14 BZD 16.29

$3.23 BZD 6.47

152.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 BZD 2.14

$1.54 BZD 3.08

-30.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 BZD 2.79

$2.51 BZD 5.01

-44.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.93 BZD 5.86

$4.11 BZD 8.21

-28.71%

Potato (1kg)

$5.47 BZD 10.93

$3.83 BZD 7.67

42.82%

Onion (1kg)

$4.32 BZD 8.63

$2.54 BZD 5.07

70.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.23 BZD 6.46

$2.25 BZD 4.50

43.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 BZD 3.48

$1.11 BZD 2.21

56.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.61 BZD 9.23

$5.10 BZD 10.20

-9.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.36 BZD 44.73

$10.10 BZD 20.20

121.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 BZD 4.34

$2.55 BZD 5.11

-14.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 BZD 4.90

$3.31 BZD 6.61

-25.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.91 BZD 9.82

$2.80 BZD 5.59

75.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.06 BZD 44.13

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 BZD 6.84

$4.42 BZD 8.84

-22.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 BZD 6.07

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 BZD 9.77

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.03 BZD 6.06

$2.40 BZD 4.80

26.25%

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

$10.5K BZD 20.9K

$10.7K BZD 21.4K

-1.89%

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

$21.2K BZD 42.4K

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

$202 BZD 404

$376 BZD 752

-46.34%

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

$34.90 BZD 69.8

$49.51 BZD 99.0

-29.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.8 BZD 148

$45.91 BZD 91.8

60.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.02 BZD 70.0

$24.72 BZD 49.44

41.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.25 BZD 28.50

$2.51 BZD 5.01

467.73%

Cinema Ticket

$11.84 BZD 23.69

$5.09 BZD 10.17

132.61%

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

$65.1 BZD 130

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$672 BZD 1,343

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.4 BZD 149

$36.46 BZD 72.9

104.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.0 BZD 122

$24.85 BZD 49.70

145.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$149 BZD 298

$57.2 BZD 114

160.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.1 BZD 100

$37.51 BZD 75.0

33.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 BZD 2,027

$341 BZD 683

197.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 BZD 1,497

$190 BZD 380

294.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$753 BZD 1,507

$565 BZD 1,131

33.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 BZD 2,467

$328 BZD 656

276.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$200 BZD 400

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,009 BZD 4,018

$836 BZD 1,672

140.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

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

Last update for Caye Caulker: August 29, 2026

Last update for Belize City: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Caye Caulker and $341 in Belize City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caye Caulker pays 140% 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: $32.00 in Caye Caulker vs $50.0 in Belize City. Groceries flip the comparison at $382 vs $293, 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 52% 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.

Average pay runs 140% higher in Caye Caulker, 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: $1,014 in Caye Caulker versus $341 in Belize City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,865 per month in Caye Caulker versus $1,224 in Belize City – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Caye Caulker. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,224 in Belize City versus $1,865 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 52% less than in Caye Caulker. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.