Unlock The World
Overseas Havens Reports
Conference Kits
Lahardan Books
Services
Our Customer Service team is here to assist with any questions or concerns CustomerService@LiveandInvestOverseas.com
Unlock The World
Overseas Havens Reports
Conference Kits
Lahardan Books
Services
Our Customer Service team is here to assist with any questions or concerns CustomerService@LiveandInvestOverseas.com
Placencia, Belize, is a scenic, 17-mile Caribbean peninsula known for white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and a diverse, welcoming expat community. Once a pirate hideout and Maya trade hub, it now offers relaxed luxury, tourism, investment opportunities, and affordable living. While healthcare is basic, infrastructure is improving, and the QRP program offers tax-free retirement for eligible expats.
When Spanish explorers came to the area hundreds of years ago, they saw pristine beaches lined with coconut palms. They named the peninsula Punta Placencia (“pleasant point” in English).
This description is equally suitable today.
Pirates holed up on the peninsula in 1629, using the shallow cuts through the barrier reef (the second largest in the world) to shelter from the Spanish and English navies’ reprisals for harrying their merchant ships.
In pre-Columbian times, there were more than 14 Maya settlements dotting the area around the peninsula, where the natives fished, traded, and produced salt for export across the Mayan world.
Today, Latino, Mestizo, Creole, Garifuna, Mennonite, East Indian, and Chinese people, plus gringos, spice up what was once a monocultural community.
This haven is somewhat of a secret in the Caribbean… Seventeen miles of the most beautiful, vacant, white sandy beaches… Dazzling turquoise blue water, teeming with fish…
Cooling trade winds gently caress the palm trees, and white beaches that offer perfect launching grounds for excursions to the myriad of cays that abound around this little peninsula of paradise…
Placencia is a 17-mile-long sand spit that is at most only a quarter-mile wide.
As a result, the one-time fishing village turned quiet tourist destination boasts high-quality developments, high-quality people, and little to no crime… just an abundance of deserted white beaches, turquoise waters, and relaxed luxury.
Reviewed By Kathleen Peddicord
Kathleen is the Live and Invest Overseas Founding Publisher. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience traveling, living, and buying property around the world.
Start Your New Overseas Life Today
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
Placencia is one of the easiest beach destinations to reach in Belize thanks to its combination of road, air, and water access.
Placencia has a small but active airstrip served by domestic carriers such as Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, with several daily flights from:
Flights typically run 30–40 minutes and offer a scenic view of Belize’s coastline.
You can reach Placencia by driving down the Southern Highway and then following the well-maintained Placencia Road onto the peninsula. The final stretch is paved and smooth, passing through Maya Beach and Seine Bight before reaching Placencia Village.
Water taxis and private boats operate along the coast, and many resorts maintain their own docks for transfers.
The cost of living in Placencia is higher than in some other places on the mainland of Belize. However, this does not mean that life is exorbitantly expensive here.
Rent for a single unit can be as low as US$500 per month.
While one can find household help for prices all the way down to minimum wage of US$1.75 per hour, it’s highly recommended that you don’t underpay those who have access to your home.
Most importantly, when you’re looking for fresh seafood, go to the Fishermen’s Cooperative at the end of the main street. There you can shop around and buy a variety of foods and other items for very reasonable prices.
| Expense | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage | – | Not included here as too variable. |
| HOA Fees | US$247 | Only applies within development. |
| Property Taxes | US$20 | |
| Transportation | US$198 | Bus, taxi, etc. |
| Gas | US$25 | Cooking and hot water. |
| Electricity | US$198 | Half of this if you don’t use A/C. |
| Water | US$25 | |
| Cell Phone | US$15 | Plans start at US$15 but budget US$37 if you want 27 GB data. |
| Internet | US$64 | |
| Cable TV | – | Bundled with internet. |
| Household Help | US$158 | Twice a week. |
| Entertainment | US$395 | Placencia is more expensive than anywhere else in Belize. |
| Groceries | US$300 | |
| Gym Membership | US$50 | |
| Medical Appointment | US$25 | |
| TOTAL | US$1,720 |
| Expense | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | US$1,235 | This would provide a good quality apartment. |
| Transportation | US$198 | Bus, taxi, etc. |
| Gas | US$25 | Cooking and heating. |
| Electricity | US$198 | Half of this if not using A/C. |
| Water | US$25 | |
| Cell Phone | US$15 | Plans start at US$15 but budget US$37 if you want 27 GB data. |
| Internet | US$64 | |
| Cable TV | – | Bundled with internet fee. |
| Household Help | US$158 | Twice a week. |
| Entertainment | US$395 | Placencia is more expensive than anywhere else in Belize. |
| Groceries | US$300 | |
| Gym Membership | US$50 | |
| Medical Appointment | US$25 | |
| TOTAL | US$2,688 |
| Expense | Monthly Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | US$494 | Most basic kind of rental. |
| Transportation | US$50 | Bus, taxi, etc. |
| Gas | US$13 | Cooking and heating. |
| Electricity | US$50 | |
| Water | US$15 | |
| Cell Phone | US$15 | Plans start at BZ$30 but budget BZ$75 if you want 27 GB data. |
| Internet | US$64 | |
| Cable TV | – | Bundled with internet. |
| Entertainment | US$200 | |
| Groceries | US$200 | |
| TOTAL | US$1,101 |
Click here for currency conversions at today’s exchange rates.
Curious how Placencia compares with the rest of the country?
Our national cost breakdown shows where Belize is cheaper—and where you should budget more.
Placencia is one of the most activity-rich destinations in Belize, offering both water-based and land-based experiences.
Placencia has a growing international community with retirees, part-time expats, investors, and digital nomads. The peninsula’s friendly culture, warm climate, and oceanfront lifestyle make it an appealing retirement destination.
There is a small but active expat population, with social groups, volunteer opportunities, charitable events, and festivals held throughout the year. Many new developments and local businesses are owned or operated by expats, creating a welcoming environment for newcomers.
Investment opportunities exist in small tourism businesses, rentals, boutique development, and services that support the tourism economy.
In short, Placencia offers retirees a relaxed, community-driven, beachfront lifestyle with plenty of ways to get involved.
If you’re considering Placencia for retirement, our Belize retirement hub covers everything from visas to budgeting to housing strategies.
Placencia offers basic but reliable medical care through the Placencia Health Center, which provides:
Private clinics in the area offer extended hours and additional services.
For specialized or emergency care, residents typically travel to Belize City, where hospitals and specialists are available. The health center in Placencia can stabilize patients for transfer when needed.
Planning a long-term move means understanding Belize’s healthcare system—its strengths, limitations, and best options for retirees.
Placencia is generally considered one of the gentler, more relaxed areas of coastal Belize. The peninsula’s geography—narrow, walkable, and community-oriented—naturally contributes to a sense of safety.
Placencia Village, Seine Bight, and Maya Beach all have active local communities, and the presence of expats, tourism workers, and long-term residents creates a lived-in, friendly environment.
Most issues are the small annoyances typical of tourist areas rather than serious crime. As always, standard precautions apply.
The climate of Belize is characterized by two seasons: rainy and dry. In Belize, most of the year’s rainfall occurs June to November.
Average annual rainfall across Belize ranges from 60 inches on Ambergris and in the north to 160 inches in the most southern parts of Belize.
The dry season is from November to May, with April being the driest month.
Temperatures in Placencia remain steady throughout the year. For example, average temperatures range from 75°F (24°C) to 80°F (27°C).
Belize’s climate varies by region. If you’re comparing Placencia to other parts of the country, our weather and environment section will help you choose the right fit.
Reviewed By Kathleen Peddicord
Kathleen is the Live and Invest Overseas Founding Publisher. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience traveling, living, and buying property around the world.
Start Your New Overseas Life Today
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
Placencia, Belize, is safe, laid-back, and easy to navigate. The locals and the expat community are extraordinarily harmonious in managing development in a responsible way.
Placencia, Belize, is small, so walking is a common way for people to get around. Some locals may also be seen riding bikes.
Technically, yes, the tap water is safe to drink in Placencia, Belize. However, we highly recommend you keep large water jugs at home and purchase bottled water at restaurants or when out and about.
Placencia, Belize, enjoys a relatively low crime rate. But, just like anywhere else in the world, there are pickpockets and petty thefts from time to time. And, if you follow standard safety practices, you should be fine.
Greetings from the Belize River Valley, where the green of nature is louder than a parrot’s laugh and the papaya-colored...
Belize is best known for its La Isla Bonita. That’s Ambergris Caye, the white sand-fringed Caribbean island Madonna fell in...
There are many benefits to holding a second passport and second citizenship. It gives you the opportunity to live, work,...
English-speaking and less than a three-hour flight from the southern United States, Belize is a well-loved retirement haven and second-home...
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
As seen in
JOIN US JANUARY 8
FOR A FREE LIVE EVENT
The 12 Best Places to Retire in 2026
Our annual Global Retirement Index — revealed live
the event starts in:
