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    Super Cheap

    • Chitré, Panama
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    Cheap

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    Affordable

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    Top Destinations:

    Whether you’re looking for fun and sun, a peaceful retirement, or the chance to earn some extra income, you’ve got a real world of opportunity open to you… In short, we’ve done our best to narrow down your best options, but only you can decide the right country for you.

    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • Panama
    • Belize
    • Colombia
    • Cyprus
    • Mexico
    • France
    • Montenegro
    • Browse All Countries

    Best For:

    • The Best Places To Retire
    • Health Care Abroad
    • Cost Of Living
    • Investing in Real Estate
    • Establishing Residency
    • Gun Laws In The World
    • English-Speaking Countries
    • Safest Places For Retirement
    • Best Places In Latin America
  • Budgets

    How Much Will It Cost You To Live Overseas?

    The only honest answer is, we have no idea. And neither does anyone else. The only one who can answer that question is you. Here’s the most important thing to understand about budgeting your new life overseas…

    Super Cheap

    • Chitré, Panama
    • Santa Marta, Colombia
    • Phuket, Thailand
    • Dumaguete, The Philippines

    Cheap

    • Medellin, Colombia
    • Boquete, Panama
    • Kyrenia, Cyprus
    • Hua Hin, Thailand
    • The Algarve, Portugal

    Affordable

    • Valencia, Spain
    • Cascais, Portugal
    • Las Terrenas, The DR
    • Pisa, Italy
    • La Rochelle, France
    • Mazatlán, Mexico

    Luxury

    • Ambergris Caye, Belize
    • Kotor, Montenegro
    • The Panama City Beaches
    • Paris, France
  • Resources

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    Follow Us:

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    • Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

    Explore Our Latest Posts

    • Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

    Go To The Overseas Property Alert Site

    • How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams
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    Live and Invest In Spain Conference

    Offshore Wealth Summit

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    VALENCIA, SPAIN

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    PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

    Oct. 15-17, 2025

    VIRTUAL

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Home Countries Belize

What I’ve Learned From Living 6 Years In Corozal Town, Belize

Living Overseas, I’ve Cut My Need For Prescription Meds In Half

by John Wiankowski
Apr 07, 2021
in Belize, Lifestyle, Retirement/Living
0 0
San Pedro Beach, Belize

Areed145, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Over the six years I’ve been living in Corozal Town, Belize, I’ve watched as this sleepy coastal village has evolved into a much more vibrant, comfortable, and convenient place to be.

For me, Corozal Town is at the sweet spot on the lifestyle continuum—not so undeveloped as to be exhaustingly frustrating day to day but not so developed as to lose its escape-the-troubles-of-our-age appeal.

Fresh Goods At The Farmers Market

Fresh produce in BelizeMondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are extra busy. The central market is restocked on Mondays and Wednesdays, meaning these are the days to shop for the freshest produce. A separate farmer’s market is held on Mondays and Fridays on the north end of town, another chance to shop for fresh local produce as well as homemade cheese.

There is a different feel in the air on these market days. A little like Christmas. Food carts offering local, Caribbean, and Mexican specialties are set up all over town, and the smell of barbecue chicken fills the air.

Most everything you’re buying at these markets has just been picked, and it’s all so reasonably priced.

Oranges are six or eight for 1 Belize dollar. That’s 50 U.S. cents. They’re not grown to be pretty like they are in the States, but they make great, sweet juice.

In-season grapefruit are four for 1 Belize dollar. Bananas are eight for a 1 Belize dollar. Stands that cater more to expats offer strawberries, mushrooms, blueberries, and even Brussels sprouts. Most of this produce is brought in from Mexico, but it’s still super fresh.

If I ever left Corozal, it’s these markets and their fresh fruits and vegetables that I would miss most.

Stores And Restaurants

Many more food items imported from the States are available in the grocery stores now than six years ago when I moved here, and recently a new complex, similar to a big-box store, opened up. It includes a large grocery store stocking lots of imported items, including imported wine and liquor, plus a restaurant, a car wash, and a gas station, all in one.

Many stores and restaurants have upgraded over the six years I’ve been here. Some have painted, some have rebuilt, and many new stores have opened. Restaurants have upgraded their menus, but prices remain very affordable.

More street venders are popping up. One of my favorites is a lady who makes chicken and pork tacos. They’re not hard shell but rolled corn tortillas with stuffing. She charges 1 Belize dollar for three pork or four chicken. Again, that’s 50 U.S. cents.

I used to be leery of street food, but not anymore. If the locals are eating it, then I’m satisfied it’s OK.

John’s Insight

I want to give a special plus to the wonderful lady who owns June’s Kitchen located about a block off the main street on College Road—my top recommendation for breakfast or lunch.

The Northern Highway through Corozal Town has been expanded and repaved. Now it’s two cars wide on each side of the median, and a roundabout has been added at each end of town. Several other streets have been resurfaced. This may not seem like big news, but, for those of us living here, it was.

Real Estate And Rent

Real estate in Placencia, Belize.
iStock/Lucy Brown – loca4motion

Many new homes are being built, a few in town but many more outside the town proper. Homes that had been put on hold are now being finished. Our little economy seems to be expanding.

Real estate here trades in U.S. dollars. Right now, a beautiful 3,000-square-foot fully furnished home is on the market for US$169,000.

Rents, on the other hand, are in Belize dollars. A friend was renting while his home was being built. He rented two homes, next to each other, so he could live in one and use the other for storage. His rent for both houses was 450 Belize dollars a month. That’s US$225.

Another friend is house-sitting for a family that has returned to the States. He and his wife have been living in a house situated right on Corozal Bay rent-free for a year. He pays for utilities and makes minor repairs to keep the property up.

These kinds of deals are around. You won’t find them on the internet, though. You find them by being here, making friends, and asking questions.

Before moving to Corozal, my family and I lived in the Colorado Mountains. We appreciated the beauty of the setting but got busy with life, and it wasn’t long before we took the grandness of our situation for granted.

I don’t want to make that mistake again. Every time I pass Corozal Bay on the way into town, I remind myself to be thankful that I am able to live in such a lovely place. I enjoy watching the local kids swim and splash in the bay. Every time we pass, we notice something else to appreciate. We keep a camera in the car so we can take lots of photos of our beautiful bay.

There’s More To Belize Than Escaping The Winter

I chose to make this move for the usual reasons—to reduce my cost of living and to leave winter behind for good.

Now, six years later, I can tell you that the benefits go far beyond those things. I’ve been accepted completely into the local community here and have made many new friends.

Bottom line, my overall quality of life has improved greatly. I’d say that now, six years into my new life in Corozal Town, I’m completely de-stressed. Three cars waiting to make a turn in town is a traffic jam.

Living in Corozal, I’ve cut my prescription meds in half. I’m healthier and happier than I ever remember being in my life.

John Wiankowski
Belize Insider

Tags: 'Belize''Corozal'Belize expatsexpatlive in BelizeMove to Belize
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John Wiankowski

John Wiankowski

Born in Germany, John was raised in Michigan, but moved to Belize from Colorado. His mostly mechanical background has seen him in various roles, from machinist and small engine shop owner to a manager and instructor. His air traffic control career was cut short and he retired as a mail carrier. Inventing, writing, and his food blog keep him busy in his golden years. He tells us, “This mind and body have seen and been to many places and done many things, and I’m not done yet!”

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To Live Overseas?

Super Cheap

  • Chitré, Panama
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  • Dumaguete, The Philippines

Cheap

  • Medellin, Colombia
  • Boquete, Panama
  • Kyrenia, Cyprus
  • Hua Hin, Thailand
  • The Algarve, Portugal

Affordable

  • Valencia, Spain
  • Cascais, Portugal
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