Belize On A Budget: Planning Your Food Expenses

Belize is a moderately priced destination to visit, with prices for food, accommodation, and transportation being fairly reasonable. However, it is considered expensive compared to other Central American countries, and even more so when compared to neighbouring Mexico and Guatemala.

The average daily cost per person is around $105, with $28 being spent on food, $15 on transportation, and $93 on hotels. The average cost of a meal at a restaurant is around $15-28, but street food is available for much cheaper.

Street food: $1-2 for pupusas, breakfast tacos, grilled meat, and fry jacks

Belize is a moderately priced destination to visit, with food prices being fairly reasonable. For example, a simple but filling meal of rice, beans and some kind of protein from a street stall will cost you around $5-7, whereas a seafood BBQ will set you back $15-20.

If you're looking for the cheapest food options, street food is the way to go. For just $1-2, you can get your hands on some delicious pupusas, breakfast tacos, grilled meat, and fry jacks.

Pupusas are a type of Salvadoran street food that has become popular in Belize. They consist of two pancakes made of masa dough, one of which is topped with a filling—this could be pork, cheese, beans, chicken, or local seafood. The second pancake is then used to seal the filling inside, creating a pocket that is then fried.

Breakfast tacos are another cheap and cheerful option. These usually consist of a corn tortilla filled with your choice of filling, typically chicken or pork, along with onions, cabbage, and other toppings.

Grilled meat is a popular and affordable option in Belize. Barbecue has a long history in Latin America, and Belizean street barbecue typically involves slow-grilled meats, flour tortillas, and a variety of sauces and spices.

Finally, fry jacks are a type of deep-fried breakfast cake that can be served plain or stuffed with various fillings. They are typically served with a side of refried beans or cheese and can be topped with cheese, beans, or jam.

So, if you're looking for a budget-friendly bite to eat in Belize, be sure to check out the street food options—you won't be disappointed!

Restaurant meals: $15-28 per person

Belize is a moderately priced destination to visit. The average daily cost per person is around $105, which is about the same as most other countries. However, within Central America, Belize is very expensive compared to other countries in the region.

The average cost of a meal at a restaurant is around $15.00 to $28.00 per person. However, prices can vary depending on the restaurant and the type of food you order. Typically, cheaper restaurants can be found in backpacker locations such as Caye Caulker and San Ignacio.

• $10 for jerk chicken
• $15 for a burger
• $20 for a shrimp curry
• $25 for a rack of ribs and sides

It's worth noting that some restaurants may not include prices on the menu, which often means you'll be charged the market price, which may be higher than expected.

If you're looking to save money on food, street food is a great option in Belize. Here are some popular street food options and their prices:

• Pupusas (thick corn tortillas stuffed with cheese, beans, and meat): $1 to $2
• Breakfast tacos (flour tortillas filled with scrambled eggs, refried beans, cheese, and meat): $1 to $2
• Grilled meat (chicken, pork, or beef): Varies
• Fry Jacks (fried dough served with refried beans, eggs, bacon, jam, or honey): $1 to $2

Transportation: $0.50-2 for buses, $20 for water taxis, and $20 for shuttle buses

Belize is a small country, so you won't have to travel far to see a lot of the country. Public transportation is inexpensive, and it is recommended to take the local buses over hiring a scooter or car for safety reasons and to save money.

• Bus from Cancun to Belize City: $66
• Bus from Belize City to San Ignacio: $10
• Return bus trip from San Ignacio to Xunantunich: $3
• Return ferry ticket from Belize City to Caye Caulker: $45
• Water taxi one-way ticket: between $21 and $31
• Taxi fares in Belize City and Ambergris Caye's main city, San Pedro: between BZ$10 and BZ$15 (approximately $5 to $7.50)
• Golf cart rental in Caye Caulker: daily or weekly fees
• Rental car: prices vary depending on vehicle type and rental company

A realistic daily budget for Belize is 80 euros per person, and for a one-week trip, the budget is approximately €560 per person. This does not include flights and is based on average expenses.

Diving: $35 for Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley dives

Belize is an expensive destination for food, with prices comparable to those in the US. A daily food budget for one person ranges from $29 to $57, with a simple meal of rice and beans costing around $5-7 from a street stall, and a seafood BBQ costing around $15-20. In a sit-down restaurant, expect to pay around $10 for breakfast, $10 for jerk chicken, $15 for a burger, $20 for a shrimp curry, and $25 for a rack of ribs with sides.

Diving is a popular activity in Belize, with Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley being top spots. A dive at these locations costs around $35.

Hol Chan, Mayan for "little channel", is home to a diverse range of marine life, including over 160 species of fish, nearly 40 species of corals, 5 sponges, 8 algae, 2 seagrasses, 3 marine mammals, and 3 species of sea turtle. It is located just 4 miles south of San Pedro Town and is a 15-minute boat ride away.

Shark Ray Alley, just 3 minutes from Hol Chan, is where you can swim with Nurse Sharks and Southern Stingrays. This spot offers the excitement of swimming with large numbers of sharks and rays, as well as schools of fish. This tour is perfect for inexperienced divers as it offers all the beauty of the Caribbean in shallow waters, with white sands and up to 100 feet of visibility.

The cost of diving at Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley is a great value considering the abundance of marine life you will encounter. With robust coral formations and a unique variety of species, it is no wonder that Hol Chan is considered one of the most popular snorkel sites in Belize.

In addition to the cost of the dive itself, there is also a park fee of $10 USD per person due upon check-in, as well as a 12.5% general sales tax. Dive gear rentals are available for an additional fee.

Whether you are an experienced diver or a novice, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley offer a memorable underwater experience in Belize that is well worth the cost.

Accommodation: $20-40 for budget-friendly options

Belize is a moderately priced destination, but it is one of the most expensive countries in Central America. The small population of Belize (approximately 390,000 people) means that, aside from a few local products, everything is imported, which can make travel there more expensive.

However, there are budget-friendly options for accommodation in Belize. Here are some recommendations for budget-friendly accommodation in Belize, ranging from $20 to $40:

• Caye Caulker — Colinda Cabanas is a highly-rated seaside cabin option.
• Placencia — Harry's Cozy Cabanas is a recommended seaside cabin option.
• San Ignacio — Bella's Backpackers is a good budget hostel option.
• San Pedro — Caribbean Villas Hotel is a good budget-friendly option, although it is not in the town centre.
• Cristo Rey — Pelican Reef Villas Resort is one of the highest-rated cheap hotels in Belize.
• Ambergris Caye — Mystic River Resort is another highly-rated option, located five miles from San Ignacio.

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