San Pedro, Ambergris Caye: golf carts, the barrier reef and $2,400 a month
An English-speaking island town of about 15,500 people, where groceries cost more than on the mainland and the nearest hospital is still a boat ride away.
- 15,456
- Population (2022)
- $2,400/mo
- Monthly budget · single
- 80°F / 27°C
- Avg temperature
Budget around $2,400 a month in U.S. dollars if you're living alone in San Pedro, $3,300 as a couple and $4,800 for a family of four. Those are midpoints: one person's month usually lands somewhere between $2,000 and $2,800. A one-bedroom in town rents for about $1,100, or closer to $850 a little farther out, and an inexpensive meal runs around $12.
San Pedro is the main town on Ambergris Caye, with about 15,500 residents as of 2022. It fits Americans whose income comes from outside Belize, like retirees and remote workers, who want the barrier reef offshore, English as the official language and a large crowd of other expats already settled in.
It's a harder fit on a tight budget. Almost everything you buy is shipped in, and prices reflect that. If the numbers above feel high, compare them with [Caye Caulker](/cities/belize/caye-caulker) or the mainland before you decide.
Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 · 4 min read
At a glance
$2,400
Monthly budget · single person
$1,100/mo 1-bed rent, center
48/100
Safety index
$70
Internet / month
80°Fannual average
Jan 76° · Jun 84°
Climate
15,456
Population (2022)
Expatsi estimates, updated Oct 2026, based on rental listings, government statistics, and local reporting.
Cost of living
What it costs to live in San Pedro
Single person
$2,000–$2,800/mo
about 25% below Austin, TX
Couple
$2,700–$3,900/mo
about 30% below Austin, TX
Family of four
$3,700–$5,900/mo
about 40% below Austin, TX
Compared with Austin, TX (Expatsi estimate, 2026).
- $12 −40%
- Inexpensive meal
- $900–$1,300/mo −44%
- 1-bed rent, center
- $700–$1,000/mo −37%
- 1-bed rent, outside
- $70/mo +8%
- Internet
- $353/sq ft −46%
- Buy price, center
Expatsi estimates, updated Oct 2026, based on rental listings, government statistics, and local reporting.
Daily life
How San Pedro lives
- B- grade, 27th percentile among the cities we track
- Dining & caféstypical
- C grade, 6th percentile among the cities we track
- Arts & culturemodest
- C grade, 10th percentile among the cities we track
- Parks & outdoorsmodest
- C grade, 13th percentile among the cities we track
- Schools & educationmodest
- C+ grade, 20th percentile among the cities we track
- Healthcare accessmodest
- C- grade, 0th percentile among the cities we track
- Bike infrastructuremodest
- C- grade, 0th percentile among the cities we track
- Public transitmodest
Graded on OpenStreetMap amenity density relative to the 298 cities we track. Accessibility is the exception: it's graded against a fixed standard (terrain steepness and sidewalk surfaces), not a curve.
Climate
Weather through the year
Annual average 80°F (27°C) · 78 in of rain a year · Source: NMS Belize 1991-2020 normals (Philip S. W. Goldson Intl Airport, Belize City, ~55km SW)
On the ground
Scenes from San Pedro
Getting around
Transport in San Pedro
Daily life in San Pedro runs on golf carts, bikes and walking. Carts are the main motorized way to get around town, and the town has tried to keep their numbers in check, including a moratorium on golf cart imports back in 2016. For day-to-day errands, you won't need a car.
Leaving the island is where planning comes in. Two water taxi companies, Caribbean Sprinter and San Pedro Belize Express, run boats to Belize City, and the crossing takes about an hour and a half. They carry foot passengers only, so no cars, bikes or pets. Tropic Air also flies between Belize City's international airport and San Pedro's airstrip, which is the simpler option when you're arriving from the U.S. with checked bags.
If you'll head inland regularly, renting a car on the mainland for each trip is usually easier than keeping one there.
- 0.0/sq mi
- Transit stops
- 0.0/sq mi
- Bike infrastructure
- 0.3/sq mi
- Wheelchair-accessible places
Mapped features per square mile from OpenStreetMap.
Keep exploring
Places like San Pedro
Community & practical notes
What island life asks of you
The community: San Pedro is big enough for a real social life and small enough that you'll keep running into the same people. Its expat community is large and English-speaking, which makes the first months easier than in most of Belize. The trade-off is that the beachfront keeps getting more resort-like, so a quieter street a bit back from the water often suits full-time residents better.
Healthcare: Public care on the island centers on the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II, with private clinics for some routine needs. A general hospital for San Pedro and Caye Caulker has been under construction since 2024; in late 2024 it was projected to take patients by January 2027, and we couldn't find a firmer date as of October 2026. Until it opens, serious cases go to Belize City by boat or plane. The U.S. State Department says ambulances in Belize are usually unavailable or significantly delayed and that serious injuries normally require evacuation to another country, so get health coverage that includes medical evacuation. Our Belize healthcare guide explains the system, and our Belize City guide covers the mainland hospitals.
Working remotely: Home internet costs about $70 a month. Run a speed test inside the unit you're considering before you sign, and keep a phone hotspot for calls that can't drop.
LGBTQ expats: Belize has no legal restrictions on consensual same-sex relations. The State Department also warns that many people in Belize are hostile to LGBTQ people. Being discreet with strangers is the safer default, even in a tourist town.
Black Americans: Census figures from the Statistical Institute of Belize put Creole Belizeans, a community with African roots, at about 25% of the population, and Garifuna, an Afro-Indigenous people, at about 4%.
Limited mobility: The State Department says accessibility in Belize isn't up to U.S. standards. Golf carts make short trips in town manageable, but stepping onto water taxis and small planes takes some agility. Spend a week testing your daily routes before you commit to a lease.
Retiring here: San Pedro works best for retirees who are active, comfortable with heat and willing to fly or boat to the mainland for specialist care. Belize's Qualified Retired Persons program is open from age 40, our retirement visa guide compares it with other countries, and our Belize moving guide covers the rest of the country. Average highs run from about 82F in January to about 89F in May, October is the wettest month, and hurricane season lasts from June through November.
Housing
Renting and buying
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $900–$1,300/mo
- 1-bed rent (outside center)
- $700–$1,000/mo
- Buy price (center)
- $353/sq ft
- Buy price (outside center)
- $242/sq ft
Expatsi estimates, based on rental listings, government statistics, and local reporting.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in San Pedro, Belize?
San Pedro is warm all year, with an average temperature around 80F. Average highs range from about 82F in January to about 89F in May. March is the driest month and October the wettest, and hurricane season runs from June through November.
How much is rent in San Pedro, Belize?
A one-bedroom apartment in central San Pedro usually rents for $900 to $1,300 a month in U.S. dollars. Away from the center, expect roughly $700 to $1,000. Signing a long-term lease once you're on the island lets you see the place and test the internet first.
Is San Pedro, Belize safe for Americans?
San Pedro isn't crime-free, and it's worth the same habits you'd use in any tourist town. Our safety index puts it at 48 out of 100. The U.S. State Department notes that tourists in Belize are sometimes targeted, especially at resorts, and singles out the Southside of Belize City as the area to reconsider. Lock up your golf cart and home, and skip dark stretches alone late at night.
How much does it cost to live in San Pedro, Belize?
Plan on roughly $2,000 to $2,800 a month in U.S. dollars for one person in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. A couple typically spends between $2,700 and $3,900, and a family of four between $3,700 and $5,900. San Pedro costs more than most of mainland Belize because nearly everything on the island is shipped in.
Is there a hospital in San Pedro, Belize?
Not yet. San Pedro has a public polyclinic and private clinics, while a general hospital serving San Pedro and Caye Caulker is under construction. Until it opens, serious care means a boat or plane to Belize City, and the U.S. State Department says serious injuries in Belize normally require evacuation to another country. Health coverage that includes medical evacuation is essential.
How do you get from Belize City to San Pedro?
You can take a water taxi or a short flight. Two companies, Caribbean Sprinter and San Pedro Belize Express, run water taxis between Belize City and San Pedro, and the trip takes about an hour and a half. Tropic Air flies from Belize City's international airport to San Pedro, which is the easier option if you're landing from the U.S. with luggage.
Can you retire in San Pedro, Belize?
Yes. San Pedro has a large English-speaking expat community, and Belize's Qualified Retired Persons program is open to people from age 40 who can show qualifying income from outside Belize. The main trade-offs are island prices, heat and limited hospital care on Ambergris Caye. Retirees with serious health conditions should plan around regular trips to Belize City or abroad.
Do you need a car in San Pedro, Belize?
No. People in San Pedro get around mostly by golf cart, bike and on foot, and golf carts are the main motorized transport on the island. A car is only useful on the mainland, and renting one there for each trip is usually easier than owning one.
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