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.
What Northern Belize Life Is Like For Expats
By Con Murphy
When Karen Wilkinson’s husband passed away in 2003, she knew it was time for a life change. With 25 years in Michigan’s real estate game, she decided to take the leap when she saw the real estate boom coming to an end in 2006.
She’d dreamed of retirement in Europe, but factors like foreign exchange fluctuations, language barriers, and flight times from the States (where her five grown children live) made her reconsider…
Instead, Karen started looking at places like Belize, Ecuador, Panama, and Costa Rica…
With tropical weather, English as its first language, a fixed exchange rate, and an easy, two-and-a-half-hour flight to the States, Karen landed on Belize.
She’s been around the world, so the rough roads and questionable engineering practices of Belize didn’t faze her.
She packed her bags and flew to Belize, rented a car, and drove the breadth of the country to figure out where to settle…
When she arrived in Corozal, she knew she was home.
The value on offer was superior to that of San Pedro or Placencia. Plus, Corozal is just 30 minutes from Chetumal, a major Mexican city across the border… It’s hard to argue with that level of convenience.
The cherry on top for Karen was the placid waters of Corozal Bay.
Coming from Michigan, she spent many happy hours on the Great Lakes on her 36-foot cruiser. The shallow, protected draught of Corozal Bay made for ideal boating conditions.
She settled in Consejo Shores, a lovely development with a commanding view of the Bay of Corozal and the lights of Chetumal come nightfall…
In Focus: Belize: Do you have any regrets about making the move overseas?
Karen: “If you choose into jump to expat living, you have to be committed to it. Going to a Caribbean country means saying goodbye to many of the conveniences of home.
“Living abroad is not without its challenges, but it also offers amazing rewards. For me, it’s all about the people I’ve met.”
IFB: How do you find the local expat community?
Karen: “The expats in Corozal are really interesting and genuine. This district has the most U.S. expats of any in Belize, and I’m happy to have found a tight-knit, eclectic community of friends with the same moral compass as me.”
IFB: How do you spend your free time?
Karen: “I’m part of the Women’s Forum and the Corozal Sailing Club, teaching local kids water craft.
“I’m also a big advocate of the Corozal Animal Program. Our last drive, we neutered 225 strays, and it’s making a real difference to the local situation…
“Some of my friends are active in the Lions Club or Rotary; there are plenty of worthy causes anyone can get involved in.”
IFB: How do you find local health care?
Karen: “The local eye clinic is great. A friend from Canada recently got two cataract surgeries done, and it only cost them BZ$250.
“Local dental care is good and costs the same as it did in the 50s. And I’m reassured by the fact that Chetumal Hospital is only 30 minutes away for any serious medical issues.”
IFB: Do you have any security concerns?
Karen: “Security starts with basic common sense and awareness: Don’t flash large amounts of cash, your Rolex, or diamonds in public… the only people you’ll impress are the wrong ones.
“Lots of expats live in developments like Consejo Shores because of the extra sense of security that living next to friends brings.”
IFB: What are your favorite places to eat?
Karen: “For upscale dining and celebrations, it has to be Cielo, with its indoor and outdoor offering.
“Date night could be Corozo Blues, Tortuga, RD’s, or Patties… And breakfast or lunch could be June’s Kitchen or JoMels.”
“For groceries, Roshini has a broad selection of American and British groceries, and One Mall, a large Chinese general store, has got all sorts of everything,”
IFB: Do you spend much time in Chetumal?
Karen: “I go three or four times per year and make a full day of it, getting any items, medical attention, or conveniences that aren’t available locally.
“Once a month I put in an order for any American food or other goods I may need from across the border.
“If I need anything else from home, I order it on Amazon Prime and get it sent to a freight forwarders depot in the States, who pack and ship it, handling customs and delivering it to Corozal for me.”
IFB: Where is Belize going?
Karen: “Belize needs continued incentives for inward investment, taxation structures for local businesses, and a lessening of corruption if it’s going to come into its own.
“However, with the boom in development along the Mayan Rivera from Chetumal all the way north to Cancún and the new Corozal to Sarteneja road, I reckon it will see some high-class development in coming years…
“The path of progress is overdue to arrive in Corozal, what with the country’s practice of English law, negligible property tax, and absolute title available to foreigners.”
IFB: What are some annoyances of living here?
Karen: “The roads: many roads outside of towns and highways are unpaved and rough on vehicles.
“Also, government bureaucracy, depending on the situation and the office, can be frustrating.”
IFB: Are you still happy with your decision to move to Belize?
Karen: “I’m still loving my life in Belize, despite the occasional pet peeve. The tax benefits and all the other upsides are still worth it.
“To wake up in the morning, see the water, and hear the birds is peaceful. This is what’s missing on a big scale back home. It’s not peaceful in a lot of the places we expats hail from, whether it’s Detroit, Toronto, or Miami.”
IFB: Anything else you think we should know about life in Corozal?
Karen: “Don’t move to Belize or buy anything here without seeing it in person first. Don’t be the loud mouth or ‘the ugly expat.’
“Just come down to Belize with an open mind and see if it’s right for you.”
