Is it cheaper to retire in Belize or Costa Rica?

Belize is cheaper than Costa Rica on totals: Belize moderate is $1,900 per person per month versus Costa Rica’s $2,075, a gap of about $175 a month or 8 percent. Belize wins on cost across most categories (housing, groceries, transport) and on language (English is the official language, which removes the Spanish-learning hurdle most Costa Rica movers face). Costa Rica wins on healthcare quality (Caja public system plus strong private hospitals in San Jose), infrastructure (better roads, more reliable electricity grid, broader supermarket coverage), inventory of established expat communities, and breadth of retirement-visa options. Belize’s Qualified Retired Persons programme requires $2,000 a month in qualifying income, slightly stricter than Costa Rica’s Pensionado at $1,000. The choice often comes down to whether the cost saving justifies the infrastructure and healthcare trade-off. For the full breakdown, see our Costa Rica cost of living page.