Cost of Living in Ambergris Caye, Belize - International living Style

The cost of living on the island of Ambergris Caye is higher than you will pay in most other regions of Belize, except for the mainland beach villages of Placencia and Hopkins. But you can still live for quite a bit less than many of parts of the U.S. Our Belize Correspondent, Ann Kuffner, moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to Ambergris Caye in 2008. She and her husband note that their cost of living is a third of what it was when they lived in the U.S.
A couple can live on $2,000 a month, including rent, on the island if they live a simple lifestyle. As with everywhere else, their cost of living will also depend upon their lifestyle choices. Some expats who own a home on the island spend less than $1,500 per month. Other expats, who rent a two-bedroom condo on the beach, eat out at high-end restaurants, entertain regularly, and keep their AC on most of the time, can easily spend $3,000 per month.

Here are a few examples of basic costs on Ambergris Caye:

Rent: $750 to $1,500 per month (the lower figure is typical of off-beach properties while the higher number represents a two-bedroom condo in a beach development).
Food: $100 to $200 per week.
Electricity: $60 to $250 per month, depending on AC usage.
Internet: $50 per month. With a Smart MiFi token, it’s possible to buy GB on a pay as you go plan.