Northern Belize
Off the Radar: Northern Belize
Life in Northern Belize is as diverse as its amazing landscape. Over the years, locals and expats have built their homes and lives beside secluded tropical rivers, amid noble hardwood forests, upon bucolic traditional farms, within sleepy rural villages, and along breezy Caribbean seashores. They are attracted to a simple, friendly life in a place which is refreshingly off-the-radar.
Northern Belize is a region encompassing a landmass of only about 2,500 square miles, but it stretches from the Caribbean Sea to the forests of Central America. The population of under 50,000 people means you can enjoy plenty of solitude—a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the world. It is truly where the Caribbean and Central America meet. These combined backdrops are enhanced by ancient and contemporary influences.
From the rich Maya history, evident throughout the region, to the relatively recent contribution of the Mennonite community, Northern Belize has benefited from its diverse population. The new wave of North American expats is now making this discovery. The towns of Corozal and Orange Walk provide most of the municipal services, but for First World shopping trips and experiences, Chetumal, Mexico, is right across the border.
Cost Of Living In Northern Belize
Northern Belize is the best value destination in Belize and one of the most affordable options for retirement in the Caribbean. A couple can live well in the region for less than 2,936 Belize dollars (US$1,457) per month.
Northern Belize Budget
By Con Murphy
Prices listed in Belize dollars.
Eating out:
A beer: 4 to 5 Belize dollars
Glass of wine: 8 to 10 Belize dollars
Rum and coke (or other local cocktails): 4 to 5 Belize dollars
A coffee: 3 to 8 Belize dollars
A sandwich (or equivalent): 5 to 10 Belize dollars
Average cost of a meal out per person in your city:
- Lunch: 10 to 20 Belize dollars
- Dinner: 10 to 30 Belize dollars
Car/motorbike ownership:
- Car insurance: 400 Belize dollars
- Fuel: 12 Belize dollars per gallon (3.8L) gas
- Upkeep: 2,400 Belize dollars per year min; much more if you drive on unpaved roads
- Monthly payments: local finance is not cheap
- Parking: 0
House Ownership Budget (for a couple)
| Expense | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage | N/A | Not included here as too variable. |
| HOA Fees | BZ$1,200 to BZ$1,800 | Average: only serviced in expat developments. |
| Property Taxes | BZ$20 to BZ$500 | Rural: BZ$20; In town: BZ$500 |
| Transportation | BZ$300 | Taxis in town: BZ$7 to BZ$10; Bus to Belize City: BZ$8; Private Vehicle BZ$300 (recommended if you live outside Corozal or Orange Walk). |
| Gas | BZ$50 | Cooking: BZ$25; Hot water BZ$25 |
| Electricity | BZ$150 to BZ$500 | No air conditioning: BZ$150; Moderate air conditioning: BZ$240; Lots of air conditioning: BZ$500 |
| Water | BZ$30 to BZ$200 | Higher if you have a pool or water your lawns. |
| Cell Phone | BZ$30 | Basic plan: BZ$30; Unlimited talk and 8GB: BZ$50; pay-as-you-go also available. |
| Internet | BZ$85.50 | Bundle cable and 30 Mbps internet. |
| Cable TV | N/A | Bundled with internet. |
| Household Help | BZ$200 | Monthly wage working one day per week. Minimum wage: BZ$3.30 per hour (but consider paying BZ$5 to BZ$7 depending on the work). |
| Entertainment | BZ$840 | Eating out twice a week at a mid-range, local restaurant: BZ$320 (BZ$20 per person). Drinks twice a week at nearby watering hole (BZ$5 per drink for two people). Movie theatre trip twice a month: BZ$15 per person. |
| Groceries | BZ$440 | Basic items for a couple. |
| Gym Membership | N/A | No proper gyms available. |
| Medical Appointment | BZ$50 to BZ$100 | General practitioner: BZ$50; Specialist: BZ$70 to BZ$100 |
| TOTAL | BZ$3,395.50 to BZ$5,045.50 | Highly variable. |
Apartment or House Rental Budget
| Expense | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | BZ$800 to BZ$1,200 | Very comfortable western-style apartment or house. |
| Transportation | BZ$300 | Taxis in town: BZ$7 to BZ$10; Bus to Belize City: BZ$8; Private Vehicle BZ$300 (recommended if you live outside Corozal or Orange Walk). |
| Gas | BZ$50 | Cooking: BZ$25; Hot water BZ$25 |
| Electricity | BZ$150 to BZ$500 | No air conditioning: BZ$150; Moderate air conditioning: BZ$240; Lots of air conditioning: BZ$500 |
| Water | BZ$30 to BZ$200 | Higher if you have a pool or water your lawns. |
| Cell Phone | BZ$30 | Basic plan: BZ$30; Unlimited talk and 8GB: BZ$50; pay-as-you-go also available. |
| Internet | BZ$85.50 | Bundle cable and 30 Mbps internet. |
| Cable TV | N/A | Bundled with internet fee. |
| Household Help | BZ$200 | Monthly wage working one day per week. Minimum wage: BZ$3.30 per hour (but consider paying BZ$5 to BZ$7 depending on the work). |
| Entertainment | BZ$840 | Eating out twice a week at a mid-range, local restaurant: BZ$320 (BZ$20 per person). Drinks twice a week at nearby watering hole (BZ$5 per drink for two people). Movie theatre trip twice a month: BZ$15 per person. |
| Groceries | BZ$440 | Basic items for a couple. |
| Gym Membership | N/A | No proper gyms available. |
| Medical Appointment | BZ$50 to BZ$100 | General practitioner: BZ$50; Specialist: BZ$70 to BZ$100 |
| TOTAL | BZ$2,975.50 to BZ$3,945.50 |
Penny-Pincher’s Budget (for a couple, bare minimum costs for all)
| Expense | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | BZ$500 | |
| Transportation | BZ$80 | Cheapest forms of public transport; a few taxis and buses included. |
| Gas | BZ$40 | Cooking: BZ$25; Heating: BZ$15. |
| Electricity | BZ$80 | |
| Water | BZ$30 | |
| Cell Phone | BZ$30 | |
| Internet | BZ$40 | |
| Cable TV | N/A | Bundled with internet. |
| Entertainment | BZ$340 | |
| Groceries | BZ$340 | |
| TOTAL | BZ$1,480 |
Click here for currency conversions at today’s exchange rates.
Infrastructure In Northern Belize
One of the best indications of progress is paved roads. While the British left a strong legal, educational, and governmental foundation, they did not leave a great deal of physical infrastructure. Over the last few years, much more emphasis has been placed on some of these vital features.
The Northern Highway that connects Belize City and the rest of the country with Corozal and Mexico to the north is a fine example of that. Once a tortuous pothole ride through cane fields and small towns, it has been upgraded to a modern road. Before, you had to drive through the middle of Orange Walk Town and its tiny streets behind tractors and cane trucks, but now they have built a nice, efficient bypass that shaved a lot of time off the drive.
Not everything is about pavement. Dirt roads are still the norm in Northern Belize, but even those have been getting continual, albeit slow, upgrades. You can tell when it is election time in Belize because the roads in towns that are vital to the incumbent’s chances of reelection will be graded and smoothed to show how much that official is doing for his people.
Traveling into the hinterlands can still be an adventure and the cause of flat tires, poor suspension, and possibly even a crooked back, but with good planning, you will have a supply of water, a good spare tire, a full tank of gas, and a cellphone. Having the correct attitude going in helps.
Climate In Northern Belize
Northern Belize is a very attractive destination to people who are looking for a consistently warm climate. The climate is subtropical. Temperatures range from 60 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The area boasts the most hospitable climate in the country. The region enjoys trade winds coming off the ocean and has two seasons. The rainy season is between June and December and the dry season covers December to May.