Costs of moving from U.S. to Belize- Insight needed

Kimkpalmer wrote:

Has anyone actually drove from US to Belize? If so please share that adventure? To move shall we ship or drive this is the first of my questions.

Yep -- these guys:

https://www.expat.com/en/blog/central-a … ogspot.com

babsumi wrote:

CaribeGal - Thanks!

You're very welcome.  I read your blog about your journey down to Belize through Mexico and found it excellent!

Texblondi2 wrote:

OSo can you find all the basic spices, fruits and veggies in Belize?? Got to have good coffee too! Can you have Omaha Steaks shipped into Belize?? That would be the one thing I'd really miss, a perfect Filet Mignon.. lol

Most but not all re. fruits/veggies.  Instead of berries, you'll find papayas (almost year round), different varieties of bananas (the small ones are the most flavorful!), citrus (no lemons, just limes), mangoes (part of the year), plantains, and some other tropical fruits that you may never get in the US (occasionally -- dragonfruit, soursop, cherimoya, and others).  You can buy some imported fruits like apples, grapes, and strawberries at high prices, so we never buy them.  You can get frozen berries, but again, prices are very high, so we don't buy those either.  The spinach is a different type here, or substitute chaya.  Locally grown are zucchini, chayote, peppers (tho mostly just green, only rarely red and yellow, which baffles me), avocados (only a few months of the year), onions, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, green beans, and cucumbers.  You can buy other veggies imported, like broccoli, kale, etc.  Expensive, but I buy them because we eat a lot of veggies, and you burn out on the same ones all the time.  Plus some of the most nutritious ones are imported only (broccoli, kale).

Sometimes you go to the market for something and every single place is sold out.  If there's a tropical storm, or a holiday, the boats from the mainland to Ambergris Caye may not run, and the stands may all be out of something basic like bananas for a few days.  You have to be flexible!

Can't answer your question about steaks as we don't eat beef.

LoveBelize wrote:

When they get coffee into the shops buy a lot as it sells out quick and might take a month of two to get it in again.  They have been without Folgers for 2 months now.  Went to Chet to buy fresh ground coffee.  Hate that instant stuff.

Not sure where you are, LoveBelize.  There is always plenty of coffee in San Pedro!  I have never had to resort to instant nor Folgers.  I buy the Gallon Jug Estates Belizean coffee.  It's available in all supermarkets as well as from the Bowen & Bowen (aka Belikin) distributors.

LoveBelize wrote:

yuck to gallon jug.  We were in Corozal Town.

To each his/her own, but it sure beats Folger's IMO. 

Texblondi2 wrote:

A gallon jug?? Not sure I understand what that means.. Pre-made coffee?? Gross.. lol I grind beans fresh daily and I drink a LOT of coffee..

Gallon Jug is the brand name of a local Belizean coffee.

http://www.gallonjug.com/

I think it's great.  Organic and locally grown.  Available in whole beans and ground.

Texblondi2 wrote:

Ah ok, so that's probably not too bad.. I don't do Flogers myself.. When I go to Hawaii each year I bring back about 10-20 bags of whole beans in my suit case.. Kona is my favorite coffee and it's pretty cheap out there, $5 -$8 for 12oz of whole beans. I wonder if Belizean Customs searches your bags when you return? Might be another thing I have to have shipped in and suck up the duties.. I can live without a lot of things and adjust to most anything, but got to have my coffee daily and I'm gonna need my Omaha Steaks Filet Mignon every now and then!! lol

You should try the Gallon Jug when you're visiting here just to see -- perhaps you will like it.

We brought a bag of excellent coffee back from Mexico in December because it was half the price of Belizean coffee.  You are allowed to bring in a certain amount of goods purchased elsewhere duty-free (the limit is on the custom's form; I can't recall it now), but since we were under the limit I didn't have to declare the coffee separately, just a total dollar amount.  May have been $50 or 100 BZ per person.

When coming into the country, customs will search some people's bags.  We are usually not searched but have been searched once.  Even then, they just looked at the top couple layers.  We have never had to pay duty on anything we brought in in suitcases, only items that were shipped in.  Everything that comes in via postal service, boat, FedEx, etc. will have duty assessed.

Nosmokin wrote:

Our questions about Belize is 1, Can we have dual citizenship? 2, Can we own property? 3, Can we have firearms? 4, If we can have dual citizenship how long does the process last? 5, Can we bring our two dogs?

Thank you, Larry and Cheryl King

1. Yes, but you can't even apply for Belize citizenship until you have been a permanent resident for five years, I believe.
2. Yes, that's very easy.  Many real estate agents in Belize.  Most sales are all cash or owner financed, not many are mortgaged, though it can be done.
3. Yes, but I have heard that the process is a bit difficult.  Not a gun person myself so can't give you specifics.  Many fewer guns in Belize than in the US per capita.
4. See #1.
5. Yes, that's not a difficult process and has been discussed in this forum before.  Try a search.

Good luck!

billem wrote:

be aware thet everyone i know in belize that has built has spent twice as much as they expected and it has taken twice as long as they were told.I too have spent much more on my projects there than I originaly planned to. I just started to do my own work with a hired man to help me. I am a carpenter in the states so its easy for me but I understand that not everyone can do this.be careful and good luck.......billem

That is a good point, Billem.  If I were to buy a house in Belize, I would buy an existing home for that very reason, not build new. We did build a new condo, but it was in a resort that was already up and running and established.  Still, there were a few costs we didn't expect even so.

Texblondi2 wrote:

WOW.. This blog is raising a whole lot of concerns for me.. Is the issue with being robbed extremely high everywhere in Belize? I'm also a single female and considering Ambergris Caye for my retirement. Am I going to have to be worried that I might be robbed every day and night?? That is the very least of my concerns where I live now and have never felt a need for a gun for protection..

There are theft and burglaries in Ambergris Caye.  Most people who have private homes have caretakers and at least one dog.  I am sure there are those with guns as well, but since permits are hard to obtain, caretakers/dogs are a more common option.  Security systems are also available and a very smart idea.  We never worried and did not even have burglar bars on our windows as most homes you will see do, but living in a condo complex with 24/7 security guards is different from a private home.  I personally knew several people in private homes who were robbed, and two have since left the island. I don't believe either had a caretaker, security system, or large dog.  You do have to take care when you leave your home unoccupied.

Things do seem to be improving since a new police constable has come to San Pedro along with additional police force, but property is something that tends to get swept under the rug by those who make their livelihood based on tourism and/or people moving to the island.

CaribeGal wrote:

Texblondi2 wrote:

WOW.. This blog is raising a whole lot of concerns for me.. Is the issue with being robbed extremely high everywhere in Belize? I'm also a single female and considering Ambergris Caye for my retirement. Am I going to have to be worried that I might be robbed every day and night?? That is the very least of my concerns where I live now and have never felt a need for a gun for protection..

There are theft and burglaries in Ambergris Caye.  Most people who have private homes have caretakers and at least one dog.  I am sure there are those with guns as well, but since permits are hard to obtain, caretakers/dogs are a more common option.  Security systems are also available and a very smart idea.  We never worried and did not even have burglar bars on our windows as most homes you will see do, but living in a condo complex with 24/7 security guards is different from a private home.  I personally knew several people in private homes who were robbed, and two have since left the island. I don't believe either had a caretaker, security system, or large dog.  You do have to take care when you leave your home unoccupied.

Things do seem to be improving since a new police constable has come to San Pedro along with additional police force, but property is something that tends to get swept under the rug by those who make their livelihood based on tourism and/or people moving to the island.

Thanks CaribeGal.. I have heard that you should have a Caretaker if you aren't going to be on your property all the time. Since I'm not planning to build down there until I am very close to retirement, I am hopeful that some things will improve over the next several years..

Carolyn1 wrote:

It is not cheap to live in Belize unless you want to live like a Belizian.  It cost a lot to live a "US lifestyle" there

Carolyn,

Without being TOO specific, can you give us an idea of what it cost you to live in Belize.

Thanks, as usual!

Diane and Larry