Belize
A solid all-round choice. Ranked 36 of 40, strongest on affordability, softest on healthcare.
Key facts
Visa & residency
Qualified Retirement Program (QRP), administered by the Belize Tourism Board
Requires proof of retirement income of USD 2,000 per month (USD 24,000 per year) from a source outside Belize, in an approved foreign currency (US Dollar, Pound Sterling, Euro or Canadian Dollar).
Open to applicants aged 40 or older. Applicants must be the beneficial recipient of the qualifying income. Program facilitates permanent residence for retirees.
Healthcare
Medical care generally gets a poor grade but is improving. Public hospitals (e.g. Karl Heusner in Belize City) are inexpensive but resource-limited; most expats prefer private hospitals such as Belize Medical Associates. Many expats leave the country (to Mexico, Guatemala or the US) for complicated treatment.
No verified data yet
Cost of living
Cost of living roughly 31% lower than the US. International Living sample budgets: about USD 2,395/month for a single person and USD 3,030/month for a couple, lower with a more local lifestyle.
Per Numbeo, a one-bedroom apartment averages about USD 477/month in the city centre and USD 491/month outside it; popular coastal expat areas (Ambergris Caye, Placencia) run higher.
Safety & climate
US State Department advisory (reissued March 12, 2026) flags crime including sexual assault, home invasions, armed robberies and murder, much of it gang-related. Southside Belize City is rated Reconsider Travel. Local police often lack resources to respond effectively and most crimes remain unresolved.
Tropical climate with a cooler dry season (roughly February-April, 23-25C) and a hot, humid rainy season (June-October, daily averages around 28C). Rainfall increases sharply from north (~1,300 mm) to south (over 3,000 mm). June-November is hurricane season.
Community & language
Substantial expat community, most having moved from the USA, Canada, Britain and Europe. As a former British Commonwealth country with English as the primary language, the transition is easy for English-speaking retirees.
English is the official language; Belize is the only Central American country where English is official. Spanish and Belizean Creole are also widely spoken.
Taxes
Under the Qualified Retirement Program there is no Belize tax on foreign-sourced income, capital gains or inheritance. US citizens must still file with the IRS, where pensions and Social Security remain taxable.
There is no tax treaty between Belize and the US and no Social Security totalization agreement, so US retirees keep double-filing obligations.
Compare Belize with its closest rivals
The three countries whose RetireScore sits nearest.
