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: $1,878 in Caye Caulker versus $1,076 in Belize City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,698 in Caye Caulker versus $1,657 in Belize City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,518 in Caye Caulker versus $2,238 in Belize City.

Living in Caye Caulker is roughly 75% more expensive than in 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

$8.67 BZD 17.33

$6.34 BZD 12.67

36.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.84 BZD 65.7

$39.37 BZD 78.8

-16.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 BZD 15.11

$5.87 BZD 11.75

28.79%

Cappuccino

$3.94 BZD 7.89

$3.69 BZD 7.38

6.78%

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

$1.53 BZD 3.07

$1.35 BZD 2.70

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 BZD 3.54

$1.28 BZD 2.56

38.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 BZD 6.02

$2.22 BZD 4.43

35.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 BZD 8.86

$3.49 BZD 6.98

26.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.97 BZD 5.94

$3.19 BZD 6.38

-6.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 BZD 3.70

$1.27 BZD 2.54

45.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.45 BZD 8.89

$2.24 BZD 4.48

98.66%

Eggs

$4.19 BZD 8.38

$2.33 BZD 4.66

79.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 BZD 22.30

$7.17 BZD 14.35

55.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 BZD 15.63

$6.61 BZD 13.23

18.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.18 BZD 26.36

$5.58 BZD 11.17

136.20%

Apples (1kg)

$8.09 BZD 16.19

$3.73 BZD 7.46

116.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 BZD 2.26

$1.45 BZD 2.91

-22.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 BZD 2.68

$2.09 BZD 4.19

-35.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.87 BZD 5.75

$2.99 BZD 5.98

-4.01%

Potato (1kg)

$5.45 BZD 10.90

$2.99 BZD 5.98

82.27%

Onion (1kg)

$4.54 BZD 9.08

$2.38 BZD 4.77

90.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.21 BZD 6.42

$2.16 BZD 4.32

48.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 BZD 3.42

$0.86 BZD 1.71

98.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 BZD 8.92

$3.99 BZD 7.98

11.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.62 BZD 45.25

$10.09 BZD 20.18

124.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 BZD 4.56

$1.79 BZD 3.58

27.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 BZD 4.89

$3.26 BZD 6.51

-25.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.95 BZD 9.91

$1.97 BZD 3.94

151.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.86 BZD 45.72

$20.17 BZD 40.34

13.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 BZD 7.07

$4.09 BZD 8.18

-13.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.05 BZD 6.09

$3.89 BZD 7.79

-21.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.88 BZD 9.76

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.05 BZD 6.11

$1.87 BZD 3.75

63.10%

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

$10.7K BZD 21.4K

$10.5K BZD 21.0K

2.20%

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)

$197 BZD 394

$209 BZD 417

-5.59%

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

$35.15 BZD 70.3

$49.60 BZD 99.2

-29.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.9 BZD 150

$54.1 BZD 108

38.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.59 BZD 71.2

$28.19 BZD 56.4

26.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.13 BZD 28.27

$2.52 BZD 5.04

460.71%

Cinema Ticket

$11.91 BZD 23.83

$8.28 BZD 16.57

43.84%

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

$63.7 BZD 127

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$681 BZD 1,362

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.8 BZD 150

$37.29 BZD 74.6

100.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.6 BZD 119

$26.98 BZD 54.0

121.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$149 BZD 299

$82.0 BZD 164

82.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.51 BZD 99.0

$88.3 BZD 177

-43.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 BZD 1,973

$278 BZD 556

254.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$751 BZD 1,502

$180 BZD 360

317.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 BZD 1,517

$612 BZD 1,225

23.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,250 BZD 2,500

$353 BZD 705

254.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$197 BZD 394

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,026 BZD 4,052

$1,231 BZD 2,463

64.55%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Belize City: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Caye Caulker and $278 in Belize City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Caye Caulker pays 65% 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 $382 vs $253, 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.

Average pay runs 65% 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: $986 in Caye Caulker versus $278 in Belize City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Caye Caulker. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,878 per month in Caye Caulker versus $1,076 in Belize City – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,076 in Belize City versus $1,878 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.