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Belize Cost Of Living

Kathleen Peddicord by Kathleen Peddicord
Jan 19, 2014
in Retirement/Living
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boats arriving at shore of white sand coastline in Belize
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The Secret To Getting The Best Deals Even If You’re A Gringo

“Whether it’s to escape the cold, to get out of the rat race, or to find a new direction in life, you’ll find activities and adventures to last a lifetime in the Cayo District of Belize,” writes Correspondent from that country Phil Hahn.

“Some people come for a vacation, some for a second home, and others for a new life; Cayo welcomes them all.

“Belize is a schizophrenic little country, both Caribbean and Central American. Generally considered one of the best values in the Caribbean, it is, at the same time, relatively expensive by Central American standards. At least it can appear that way at first.

“However, like anywhere, the cost of living is highly dependent upon your lifestyle. The more time you spend here, the less expensive it can be. All too many expats fall into the trap of living overseas as if they are on vacation–living in a lavish resort-type setting and buying imported wine, food, and other products. After the first few months in their new home, they have blown their budgets and never get settled in.

“The key to maintaining a low cost of living is to get to know the local vendors, farmers, and suppliers. I have Belizean friends who enjoy higher standards of living than many ‘First World’ residents I know. They purchase locally grown foods, for example, which are far superior to the more expensive processed foods imported from abroad.

“They also enjoy more quality time with their family and friends because they can afford maids, cooks, and gardeners. They build their houses using readily available local materials and talent. If they need something that isn’t on hand, they go to the Mennonites in Spanish Lookout, who can fabricate just about anything for far less than the cost of importing it.

“The bottom line is that, in Cayo, you can enjoy a very fulfilling life for US$1,000 per month, if you buy locally and use the local resources.

“And you’ll find plenty of things to do that cost little or nothing. One of my family’s favorite pursuits is a visit to the Belize Zoo, which was established by an expat to rescue and rehabilitate indigenous animals. Now it has educational programs for children, research facilities, and conservation programs. The daily admission if you buy tickets at the gate the normal daily fees are US$15.00 for adults and US$5.00 for children (non-Belizean). Fees for Belizean adults and children are BZ$5.00 BZ and BZ$1.00 respectively; however, if you book the trip through a resort, the cost is typically about US$50 per person.

“To avoid getting ripped off like this (that is, paying gringo prices), start by focusing on getting to know the people you’ll be living among, your new neighbors. In my experience, Belize is an entire country that feels like a small town. Pretty soon, your neighbors go from being acquaintances to becoming friends, and, before you know it, they’re like family. At that point, they’ll help to make sure you know how to get around, how to find what you’re looking for, and where to go for the best deals.”

Kathleen Peddicord

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Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen Peddicord has covered the live, retire, and do business overseas beat for more than 30 years and is considered the world's foremost authority on these subjects. She has traveled to more than 75 countries, invested in real estate in 21, established businesses in 7, renovated historic properties in 6, and educated her children in 4.

Kathleen has moved children, staff, enterprises, household goods, and pets across three continents, from the East Coast of the United States to Waterford, Ireland... then to Paris, France... next to Panama City, where she has based her Live and Invest Overseas business. Most recently, Kathleen and her husband Lief Simon are dividing their time between Panama and Paris.

Kathleen was a partner with Agora Publishing’s International Living group for 23 years. In that capacity, she opened her first office overseas, in Waterford, Ireland, where she managed a staff of up to 30 employees for more than 10 years. Kathleen also opened, staffed, and operated International Living publishing and real estate marketing offices in Panama City, Panama; Granada, Nicaragua; Roatan, Honduras; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Quito, Ecuador; and Paris, France.

Kathleen moved on from her role with Agora in 2007 and launched her Live and Invest Overseas group in 2008. In the years since, she has built Live and Invest Overseas into a successful, recognized, and respected multi-million-dollar business that employs a staff of 35 in Panama City and dozens of writers and other resources around the world.

Kathleen has been quoted by The New York Times, Money magazine, MSNBC, Yahoo Finance, the AARP, and beyond. She has appeared often on radio and television (including Bloomberg and CNBC) and speaks regularly on topics to do with living, retiring, investing, and doing business around the world.

In addition to her own daily e-letter, the Overseas Opportunity Letter, with a circulation of more than 300,000 readers, Kathleen writes regularly for U.S. News & World Report and Forbes.

Her newest book, "How to Retire Overseas: Everything You Need to Know to Live Well (for Less) Abroad," published by Penguin Random House, is the culmination of decades of personal experience living and investing around the world.

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