Cost of Living Comparison Between San Pedro and Belize City Cost of Living Comparison Between San Pedro and Belize City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,609 in San Pedro versus $1,076 in Belize City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,115 in San Pedro versus $1,657 in Belize City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,622 in San Pedro versus $2,238 in Belize City.

Living in San Pedro is roughly 50% more expensive than in Belize City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: San Pedro is 20% above, Belize City is 19% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.52 BZD 19.04

$6.34 BZD 12.67

50.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.07 BZD 60.2

$39.37 BZD 78.8

-23.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 BZD 11.75

Cappuccino

$2.97 BZD 5.94

$3.69 BZD 7.38

-19.51%

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

$1.40 BZD 2.80

$1.35 BZD 2.70

3.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 BZD 3.12

$1.28 BZD 2.56

21.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 BZD 5.93

$2.22 BZD 4.43

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 BZD 8.20

$3.49 BZD 6.98

17.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.02 BZD 8.03

$3.19 BZD 6.38

26.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 BZD 2.76

$1.27 BZD 2.54

8.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.18 BZD 8.36

$2.24 BZD 4.48

86.61%

Eggs

$2.21 BZD 4.42

$2.33 BZD 4.66

-5.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.97 BZD 19.95

$7.17 BZD 14.35

39.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 BZD 12.36

$6.61 BZD 13.23

-6.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 BZD 16.91

$5.58 BZD 11.17

51.43%

Apples (1kg)

$8.52 BZD 17.03

$3.73 BZD 7.46

128.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 BZD 2.09

$1.45 BZD 2.91

-27.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 BZD 2.12

$2.09 BZD 4.19

-49.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.36 BZD 10.72

$2.99 BZD 5.98

79.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 BZD 5.43

$2.99 BZD 5.98

-9.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 BZD 5.91

$2.38 BZD 4.77

23.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.51 BZD 7.01

$2.16 BZD 4.32

62.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 BZD 2.57

$0.86 BZD 1.71

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.99 BZD 7.98

Wine (Bottle)

$23.59 BZD 47.19

$10.09 BZD 20.18

133.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 BZD 4.77

$1.79 BZD 3.58

32.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 BZD 6.61

$3.26 BZD 6.51

1.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 BZD 3.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.17 BZD 40.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.09 BZD 8.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.91 BZD 9.82

$3.89 BZD 7.79

26.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 BZD 3.13

$1.87 BZD 3.75

-16.58%

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

$10.5K BZD 21.0K

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

$174 BZD 348

$209 BZD 417

-16.69%

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

$49.60 BZD 99.2

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$98.1 BZD 196

$54.1 BZD 108

81.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.16 BZD 60.3

$28.19 BZD 56.4

6.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.52 BZD 5.04

Cinema Ticket

$8.28 BZD 16.57

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)

$37.29 BZD 74.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.98 BZD 54.0

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 BZD 197

$82.0 BZD 164

20.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.3 BZD 177

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$996 BZD 1,993

$278 BZD 556

258.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$762 BZD 1,524

$180 BZD 360

323.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,050 BZD 2,101

$612 BZD 1,225

71.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$905 BZD 1,811

$353 BZD 705

156.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,647 BZD 5,294

$197 BZD 394

1244.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,629 BZD 3,258

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,231 BZD 2,463

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 San Pedro: July 13, 2026

Last update for Belize City: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $996 in San Pedro and $278 in Belize City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $30.00 in San Pedro vs $39.00 in Belize City. Groceries flip the comparison at $355 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

San Pedro vs Belize City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Belize City wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in San Pedro. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Belize City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,413 in San Pedro and $1,613 in Belize City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $996 in San Pedro versus $278 in Belize City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,609 per month in San Pedro versus $1,076 in Belize City – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in San Pedro. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,076 in Belize City versus $1,609 in San Pedro, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Belize City but tight or insufficient in San Pedro. 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, San Pedro 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 50% less than in San Pedro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.