Edit
Cahal-Pech-Village-Resort-Logo
en English
en Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portuguesees Spanish
Menu
  • Specials
  • Resort
    • Our Tour Company
    • Rates
    • Dining
    • Spa Services
    • Conference / Events Facilities
    • Belize Group Travel
    • Getting Here
    • FAQs
    • Pack For A Purpose
    • History
    • Pay With Paypal
  • Transfers
    • Getting Here
    • Shuttles and Private Transfers
    • Shared Ride Shuttle
    • Rent A Vehicle
  • Rooms
    • Standard Rooms
    • Standard Cabañas
    • Family Cabañas
    • Deluxe Cabañas
    • Suites
    • Junior Suites
    • Superior Junior Suites
    • Honeymoon Cabañas
  • Tours
    • ATM Cave Expedition
    • Mayan Ruins
    • Jungle Adventures
    • Cave Expeditions
    • Nature Tours
    • All Tours and Adventures
  • Packages
    • Gold Standard Belize Vacation Package
    • Cahal Pech Inland Expedition
    • Traditional Mayan Experiences package
    • Maya Ruins Vacation Package
    • Honeymoon Vacation Package
    • Wedding Vacation Package
    • Belize Jungle and Sea Adventure Package
    • Belize/Guatemala Vacation Package
    • San Ignacio and Private Island Belize Vacation
  • Belize
    • History and Culture
    • Maps and Weather
    • The Cayo District
    • Travel Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
Cahal-Pech-Village-Resort-Logo
BOOK NOW
en English
en Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portuguesees Spanish
  • 1-239-494-3281
  • info@cahalpech.com
  • San Ignacio Town, Cayo, Belize
  • Accommodations
    Loading...
    Standard Rooms
    Standard Cabañas
    Family Cabañas
    Deluxe Cabañas
    Suites
    Junior Suites
    Superior Junior Suites
    Honeymoon Cabañas
  • Tours
    Loading...
    Mayan Ruins
    Cave Expeditions
    Jungle Adventures
    Nature Tours
  • Packages
    Loading...
    Traditional Maya Experiences Package
    Cahal Pech Inland Expedition
    San Ignacio and Private Island Belize Vacation
    Honeymoon Vacation Package
    Mayan Ruins Vacation Package
    Wedding Vacation Package
    Belize Jungle and Sea Adventure Package
    Gold Standard Belize Vacation Package
    View More
  • Amenities
    Loading...
    Restaurant and Bar
    Spa Services
    Conference / Events Facilities
    Shuttles & Private Charters
    Belize Group Travel
    Belize Car Rentals
    Cahal Pech Adventure Tours
    Swimming Pools
  • Contact Us
BOOK NOW

Home » Belize Travel Blog » Why Belize Is A Great Place To Retire

Why Belize Is A Great Place To Retire

Home » Belize Travel Blog » Why Belize Is A Great Place To Retire

August 20, 2021
Share Button

By Suzan Haskins and Dan Prescher

Mayan ruins, spectacular waterfalls, lush rainforests, exotic wildlife, miles of unspoiled coastline, and the Western Hemisphere's longest barrier reef -- a paradise for diving, snorkeling and fishing. Belize is a Caribbean playground that is truly blessed by time, nature and culture.

See: Belize Vacation Packages

For many people, Belize is only the white sand beaches of the popular island of Ambergris Caye, with its world-class fishing, diving, and snorkeling. But Belize has so much more to offer.

2013-09-19-Part1BelizeCayeCaulkerBelizeGlynna.jpg
 

Caye Caulker, Belize: Photo by Glynna Prentice, InternationalLiving.com

Let's start with a little history and geography...

Belize was known as British Honduras until 1973, and the country gained full independence from Great Britain in 1981. It's bordered on the north by Mexico and on the west by Guatemala, and both neighbors have played large parts in Belizean history. For example, because mestizo refugees from Mexico's caste wars came to Belize in the 1800s, Spanish is almost as common as English in Belize's northernmost districts.

Thanks to its colonial roots with Great Britain, Belize is an English-speaking country, and that helps make it a perennial favorite with both tourists and expats, many of whom consider Belize to be one of the best overseas retirement destinations in the world.

In fact, Belize is a great place to retire if you're not comfortable learning a new language. Depending where and how in Belize you choose to live, your monthly budget may range from about $2,000 per month and up.

(By the way, the going rate for household help in Belize is $2 to $3 an hour. It's very affordable to hire someone to clean your house, work in your garden, cook for you, or do household maintenance work.) So if you're thinking of starting a business in Belize that requires employees, you needn't worry about expensive labor costs.

As for health care, most expats choose to go to nearby Chetumal or Mérida in Mexico for major health issues, but we've heard increasingly good reports from expats in Belize about local health care.

See: Belize Tours and Activities

Belize offers a national public health care system that legal residents can take advantage of. This provides you access to services and care offered by public hospitals. You'll find these public hospitals in every district. There are good-sized private hospitals in Belize City, and you can purchase private health insurance to be treated there. The cost of your policy will depend on whether you also opt for international and/or U.S. coverage.

Belize isn't huge... only 8,800 square miles, but it's blessed with 149 miles of Caribbean coastline, all of it protected by the second largest barrier reef system in the world... the source of the country's fame as a fishing, diving and snorkeling paradise.

There are only a little more than 300,000 people in Belize, and that gives the entire country a distinctly small town feel. Even Belize City, the largest population center in the country, has just a little over 70,000 people. And 40 percent of Belize's population is 15 years of age or younger, so there's a youthful energy everywhere you go.

There are other factors that contribute to Belize's popularity. It's close to the US and Canada--just a two-and-a-half hour flight from Miami. The Belize dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar two to one, so currencies conversion issues are easy and never vary. And the U.S. dollar is freely accepted anywhere in the country.

It's easy to buy real estate in Belize. There are no restrictions on non-citizens owning property and no capital gains taxes, although you will pay a transfer tax, also known as a stamp tax, usually about 5 percent of the property's value. Annual property taxes are also very low, usually anywhere from $50 to $300 or so, depending on the value of your property.

It's easy to open a bank account in Belize -- there are several to choose from... and most pay interest rates of up to 6 percent on U.S. dollar deposits.

Another reason for Belize's popularity is its politically stability... politics, in fact, is a national pastime here. Remember, the country is only 30 years old and the population is small. It's easy to run into your political representatives on the street and share your opinions with them. And in Belize, everyone has a good-natured opinion about politics!

Belize's court system is based on British common law, familiar to most of us. And unlike the rest of Latin America, measurements here are in inches, feet, miles, and acres -- so no metric conversions are necessary. Put all these things together, and it's no wonder that Belize gets so much attention from people looking for someplace with great weather, lots of activities, and a lower cost of living than they had back home.

Previous Is Belize Expensive? Next The best way to get to Belize from Cancun
Belize,Belize Tours,Belize Travel,Belize Vacations
“Travel Tips”,belize,Best Places To Retire,Best Places To Retire Overseas,Expats,Fifty News,International Destinations,Photo Galleries,Retire,Retire Overseas,Retire To Belize,Retirement

Related Posts

Fall in Belize
Adventures

Experience Fall in San Ignacio Town: Attractions, Activities & Trip Ideas

Fall is an excellent time of the year to visit Belize. With fewer crowds, good deals, and unique seasonal festivities, there is a lot to

Read More »
June 27, 2022 No Comments
Belize Travel

13 Reasons That Will Urge You To Vacation in Belize

Vacation in Belize in 2022 Here’s Why Belize Deserves To Be On Top Of Your Travel Bucket List One of the world’s top travel destinations,

Read More »
June 25, 2022 No Comments
Belize Travel

Where is Belize Located?

Where is Belize -- Location and Geography When you’re surrounded by larger countries, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. But for Belize, the

Read More »
June 25, 2022 No Comments
Adventures

How To See The Best Of “San Ignacio Belize” This Summer

While many people come to Belize to visit the Caribbean coast, the beautiful Cayo District actually offers some of Belize's most amazing and unique experiences.

Read More »
June 16, 2022 No Comments

Stay Connected

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Facebook Twitter Instagram Tripadvisor
  • History & Culture
  • Maps & Weather
  • What to Bring
  • Travel Blog
Menu
  • History & Culture
  • Maps & Weather
  • What to Bring
  • Travel Blog
  • Things to Do
  • San Ignacio Town
  • Tours & Adventures
Menu
  • Things to Do
  • San Ignacio Town
  • Tours & Adventures

Recommended on:

pack-for-a-purpose
Cahal Pech Village Resort, Cahal Pech Hill, P.O. Box #1, San Ignacio Town, Cayo, Belize

1-239-494-3281 | +501-824-3740| info@cahalpech.com

©2022. Cahal Pech All Rights Reserved.

Home