Living in Belize City, Belize

Belize City is a smaller coastal city in Belize District, Belize (under 250,000 people in the city proper). It has a warm climate, averaging 27°C over the year with about 1,710 mm of rain. We estimate a couple needs about €2,594 a month to live centrally. For foreigners, long-term residency in Belize is comparatively open, with a self-funded route from about $2,000 a month in income.

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Est. cost: €2,594; a month for a couple
Climate: 27°C; 1,710 mm rain a year
Size: Smaller; under 250,000 people
Safety: 52/100; country-level
Residency: Comparatively open; for most foreigners

Limited data for Belize. Figures for safety, healthcare, cost of living and political stability in Belize are country-level estimates from World Bank indicators, each named with its year. We have no tax, English, social openness or internet speed figures for Belize, so the quiz scores those factors conservatively and this page leaves them out.

What stands out about Belize City

Warmer than 85% of the cities we track
On or near the sea

Climate

Belize City averages 27°C across the year with about 1,710 mm of rain, which makes it warm and very wet. It is warmer than 85% of the 1225 cities we track, and it sits on the coast.

Source: Temperature from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive, daily means for 2019 to 2023; rainfall from TerraClimate (University of Idaho) 1991 to 2020 normals. Annual averages; monthly breakdowns are not in our dataset yet.

Safety and stability

Belize scores 52 out of 100 on safety, safer than 20% of the cities we compare. Its estimated democracy score is 6.4 out of 10.

Source: Country-level estimate, the same for every city in Belize: country-level homicide rate per 100,000 people (VC.IHR.PSRC.P5, 2022) and Worldwide Governance Indicators Political Stability and Absence of Violence estimate (GOV_WGI_PV.EST, 2025), calibrated to the 0 to 100 scale of our reference tables (higher is safer). Stability: Worldwide Governance Indicators Voice and Accountability estimate (GOV_WGI_VA.EST, 2025), calibrated to the EIU Democracy Index scale. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Healthcare

Belize scores 57 out of 100 for healthcare, stronger than 24% of the cities we compare.

Source: Country-level estimate, the same for every city in Belize: life expectancy at birth (SP.DYN.LE00.IN, 2024) and current health spending per person in US dollars (SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CD, 2023), calibrated to the 0 to 100 scale of our reference tables. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Residency and visas

Comparatively open. Residency is realistic mainly via the Qualified Retirement Program for those 40+ with steady foreign income, or via standard permanent residency after roughly a year of legal residence with proof of financial stability.

The cheapest self-funded routes we track for Belize:

Income: about $2,000 a month (Belize Qualified Retirement Program (QRP), USD 2,000/mo (USD 24,000/yr) foreign retirement income; age 40+; as of June 2026)

For short visits, 105 of 198 passports can enter visa-free and 93 need a visa in advance.

Source: OurNextCity residency dataset, hand-reviewed approximations researched against published immigration rules, figures as of June 2026. Not legal advice: check the official source before you apply. Short-stay entry from the passport-index dataset (ilyankou, MIT).

Cost of living

We estimate a couple needs about €2,594 a month to live centrally in Belize City, 5% below the €2,729 median across the 900 cities we compare. That makes it more affordable than 66% of them.

Source: OurNextCity model from the price level of GDP relative to the United States, from GDP per person in US dollars and at purchasing power parity (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD, 2025), calibrated to our country-level cost index (New York = 100) and scaled up for larger cities. An estimate for comparing cities, not a budget. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Questions couples ask about Belize City

Is Belize City a good place to live for couples?

It depends on what the two of you weigh most. It is weaker on safety and healthcare. Our figures for Belize are partial: no tax, English, social openness or internet speed data, and country-level World Bank estimates for the rest. Expect a warm, very wet climate (27°C average). OurNextCity has each partner answer 12 questions privately, then ranks Belize City and 914 other cities for both of you at once.

How much does it cost a couple to live in Belize City?

We estimate about €2,594 a month for a couple living centrally, 5% below the €2,729 median across the cities we compare. It is a model estimate from the World Bank price level of GDP for Belize, calibrated to our country-level cost index adjusted for city size, so use it to compare cities rather than to set a budget.

Can foreigners live in Belize long term?

Our assessment: comparatively open. Residency is realistic mainly via the Qualified Retirement Program for those 40+ with steady foreign income, or via standard permanent residency after roughly a year of legal residence with proof of financial stability. The cheapest self-funded routes we track: income, about $2,000 a month (as of 2026-06).

What is the weather like in Belize City?

Belize City averages 27°C across the year with about 1,710 mm of rain, which makes it warm and very wet. It is warmer than 85% of the cities we track.