The Truth About Expat Life in Belize
By Laura Diffendal

Belize offers distinct and varied ways to live. You can choose a tranquil, laidback beach lifestyle in Placencia, a Jimmy Buffet-style, non-stop party life on the island of Ambergris Caye, or an off-the-grid life out in the wild west of Cayo.

Belize is the perfect place to savor a laidback lifestyle.

Typically, Belize attracts those who are looking to get away from the materialism of the U.S., free-spirited adventurers, or entrepreneurs. So if you are looking for a comfortable, fun, warm, welcoming, tropical place to live, with a ton of energy and opportunity, Belize might be right for you.

Tropical Living

Pros

Belize offers summer weather all year round, throughout the country. For me, and lots of other expats, the tropical, sunny, weather is perfect.

Belize is an outdoor-living type of place—there are so many options with over-the-water dining, shady hammocks on the beach, and plenty of places to cool off in the sea or in the rivers, that a refreshing break is always steps away. With the lifestyle often being centered around nature, you don't need to spend money to have a good time in Belize—the beaches never get old.

Breathtaking beaches are the order of the day in Belize.

Cons

I have not personally found the bugs to be a deal-breaker in Ambergris Caye or Placencia. Yes, there are bugs, but you learn quickly how to live with it and what to do to avoid the annoyances of tropical bugs. For example, in the summer months, when it rains, you are going to have the mosquito happy hour between about 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. You figure out what repellents work for you and where to go/what to do to avoid them. There are times where there are jellyfish in the sea, but it is temporary, and you can always find another place to swim if one area is getting the current.

Medical Care

Pros

Most expats enjoy not having to have health insurance and paying as they go for doctor visits, which can cost between $25 to $50. In some places doctors even make house calls.

Expats tend to find the dental care in Belize to be very satisfactory, and much cheaper than the U.S. For more extensive medical treatment, expats go across the border to Mexico, to Chetumal or Merida. However, there is a major hospital in Belize City. There are also 24/7 polyclinics in Ambergris Caye and Placencia.

Cons

Belize is a young country, so things like disability regulations, special needs diets, or emergency services are still not available everywhere. For those with serious medical conditions considering moving to Belize this could be a major concern, and should be taken into consideration.

Safety

Pros

In the tourist and expat areas of Placencia and Ambergris Caye, you will find most expats feel safe, and crime is similar to most tourism areas in the world.

Placencia, Belize.

Petty theft is an issue, and violent crime, while it happens occasionally, is statistically rare. There are no in-home security systems so most people take measures such as security bars or dogs to help them feel secure. It is smart to be vigilant about your safety and not take unnecessary risks.

Cons

Belize is not known for its sophisticated policing or legal system. There is a low rate of conviction in Belize, and it can be frustrating working with the police if you are used to the advanced criminal justice system in the U.S.

Cost of Living

Pros

Expats save money in Belize in a number of ways. You won't need a car in many places in Belize—and if you do, definitely only one. Most expats get a bike or a golf cart and you save a lot of money based on what you spend in the U.S.—although gas is expensive, you use much less than you would back home.

Property taxes are extremely low here, under $100 for most people who own a home. To be able to live on a coast with these ridiculously low taxes is a huge understated savings. Most expats do their shopping at the vast array of farmers' markets throughout the country, which is less expensive than produce in the U.S. Although imported foods are expensive, you learn to eat like a local, everything is fresh and made from scratch.

Belize is non-materialistic place and people do not spend money on items like they do in the U.S. You find you simply don't need the stuff you left in the U.S. There isn't much to buy here, it is one of the greatest lifestyle shifts that I have personally experienced. Fancy things look out of place. Socializing is done at thatch-roof bars on the water, on the beach, at happy hour, or at the vast array of community festivals, and fundraising events that are part of life here.

Cons

Real estate is more expensive in Belize compared to other Central American countries, or to the U.S. Midwest. However, compared to coastal areas in the U.S., the real estate can be a bargain.

The infrastructure here requires expats to learn to adapt somewhat, many expats learn to rely on a backup cistern, solar power, or a generator if the occasional water and power outages are a bother. About twice a month, there will be planned or unplanned outages, depending on what area you live in, and these can be anywhere from an hour to a working day. For most people these aren't deal breakers, but they occur more often than in the U.S.

Belize is not a manufacturing country, so there are import taxes that make most goods and imports expensive. Those that succeed in Belize find that adapting to what is here, and adopting a less "stuff-driven" life is actually a bonus.