What is the average cost of living in Belize? Part II
How much do consumer goods cost in Belize?
The answer to
this question will give you an indication on how expensive it will
be for you to live or retire in Belize. On average consumer
products in Belize cost less than in many western countries? This is
because the average cost of living in Belize is much less than in
the United States and Canada. However Belize is one of the most
expensive countries in Central or South America. This is many due to
its proximity to Mexico and due to the recent increase in Belizean
investment. Although it may be more expensive than other countries
such as Guatemala or Nicaragua, Belize can still be an attractive
place to live.
The ultimate
measure of consumer products are generally staple food items. In
Belize the abundance of fresh fruits allow for low prices on staple
items such as fruits and vegetables. If you purchase produce in
Belize in season it will be considerably cheaper than purchasing
fruit in the United States. Street side vendors or farmers markets
are usually the best place to find cost effective produce. Prices
vary but often times you can purchase an entire assortment of
fruits, including Bananas, Apples, etc. for less than $5 US in
total. If you can only live on processed foods or imported food
products you will be forced to pay much higher premiums for your
food goods. Imported goods require additional shipping and storage
which essentially increases the price. Often times these items cost
much more in Belize than in other countries. This is due to the
economic size of Belize. Belize is a small
country and economic purchasing scales of economy are not often met
by Belizean purchasers. Consumer costs on staple foods can be easily
managed in Belize on a very modest budget. For the sensible shopper
a weekly food budget can be as low as $30 US dollars making
sustaining a simple lifestyle in Belize very affordable.
Another great
indicator of consumer costs of living in Belize is the price of
alcoholic beverages. Like many Central American countries the cost
of alcohol is very cheap in Belize. This factor is doubled if you
want to drink locally produced spirits. Local spirits will be very
cheap and often times, a few drink can cost less than a couple of
dollars. Again if you fancy only the premium imported spirits, wines
or lagers you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. With that being
said, lower taxes on alcohol in Belize in comparison to Canada and
the United States makes all beverages in Belize somewhat reasonable
on a global scale.
Other costs
in Belize can be a major factor in determining the average cost of
living in Belize. Consider electricity. Due to economic scales and
hydro electric efficiencies, electricity in Belize can often be
quite expensive. The average electricity cost in Belize can often be
upwards of $120 US dollars. Other costs such as telephone or
internet also can be quite expensive due to the technological
infrastructures relative inefficiencies in Belize. For example
internet costs can cost upwards of $70 US per month in comparison to
as low as $10 US per month in the United States. Despite these
higher bill costs, Belize can still be an attractive place to live
in, work or retire. Please consider that inflation is always a
factor in a growing economy such as Belize.
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