Moving to Belize from Costa Rica
What to Expect
Considering a move from Costa Rica to Belize? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Costa Rica to Belize. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Belmopan averages 88°F vs 77°F in San Jose, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Belize compared to Costa Rica.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Costa Rica performs better than Belize across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Belize generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Costa Rica generally does better on environment, though Belize leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Costa Rica generally does better on infrastructure, though Belize leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Costa Rica generally does better on employment & economy, though Belize leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Costa Rica generally does better on family life, though Belize leads in education spending.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | San Jose | Belmopan |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) | 91°/71°F (33°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) | 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) | 85°/68°F (29°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | San Jose | Belmopan |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) | 82°/64°F (28.0°/17.7°C) |
| Feb | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) | 85°/64°F (29.2°/17.6°C) |
| Mar | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) | 88°/65°F (31.2°/18.5°C) |
| Apr | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) | 91°/68°F (32.8°/20.0°C) |
| May | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) | 93°/71°F (34.1°/21.6°C) |
| Jun | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) | 90°/73°F (32.3°/22.6°C) |
| Jul | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) | 89°/72°F (31.7°/22.0°C) |
| Aug | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) | 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.9°C) |
| Sep | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) | 89°/72°F (31.8°/22.1°C) |
| Oct | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) | 87°/70°F (30.8°/21.3°C) |
| Nov | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) | 85°/68°F (29.2°/20.0°C) |
| Dec | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) | 82°/66°F (28.0°/18.7°C) |
Data:
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional,
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Costa Rica and Belize. To live, work, or study long-term in Belize, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Belize's immigration authority.
Costa Rica passport holder visiting Belize
Visa Free
Belize passport holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Belize?
Connectivity is usually fine (Belize: 9.7 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Belize offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Belize safe for expats?
Costa Rica performs better than Belize across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belize is 27.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.
How is healthcare in Belize compared to Costa Rica?
Belize generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 10.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Belize, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Belize scores 68 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).
What's the weather like in Belize compared to Costa Rica?
The average high temperature in Belmopan is 88°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Belmopan receives around 79.5 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.
What language do they speak in Belize?
The official languages in Belize are Belizean Creole, English and Spanish. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.
