Moving to Belize from United States

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from United States to Belize — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from United States to Belize. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Belmopan averages 88°F vs 66°F in Washington, making it significantly warmer.

Get free moving quotes to Belize

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from United States to Belize, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
4,647 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Belize · UN DESA

Who's moving to Belize?

Top countries of origin for Belize's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How United States and Belize stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rateUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

US
6.4
BZ
27.9
Road traffic deathsUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

US
14.2
BZ
17.5

United States performs better than Belize across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per personWorld Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

US
$13,473
BZ
$573
Doctors per 10,000 peopleUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

US
36.1
BZ
10.8

Belize generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deathsUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

US
14.0
BZ
21.0
CO₂ emissions per capitaWorld Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

US
13.6t
BZ
0.9t

United States generally does better on environment, though Belize leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 peopleUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

US
37.8
BZ
9.7
Water stress levelUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

US
28.2%
BZ
1.3%

United States generally does better on infrastructure, though Belize leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rateThe World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

US
3.6%
BZ
8.3%
GDP per capitaThe World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

US
$73,600
BZ
$12,800

United States performs better than Belize across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyThe World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

US
80.6 yrs
BZ
75.8 yrs
Infant mortalityThe World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

US
5.2
BZ
11.2

United States 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.

WashingtonRain: 41.5 in/yr (1055 mm)
66°/44°F

Avg. annual high / low

BelmopanRain: 79.5 in/yr (2020 mm)
88°/69°F

Avg. annual high / low

MonthsWashingtonBelmopan
Jan–Mar48°/28°F (9°/-2°C)85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
Apr–Jun75°/51°F (24°/11°C)91°/71°F (33°/21°C)
Jul–Sep85°/62°F (29°/17°C)89°/72°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec57°/35°F (14°/2°C)85°/68°F (29°/20°C)
View all months
MonthWashingtonBelmopan
Jan42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C)82°/64°F (28.0°/17.7°C)
Feb46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C)85°/64°F (29.2°/17.6°C)
Mar56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C)88°/65°F (31.2°/18.5°C)
Apr67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C)91°/68°F (32.8°/20.0°C)
May75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C)93°/71°F (34.1°/21.6°C)
Jun84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C)90°/73°F (32.3°/22.6°C)
Jul88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C)89°/72°F (31.7°/22.0°C)
Aug87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C)90°/71°F (32.0°/21.9°C)
Sep79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C)89°/72°F (31.8°/22.1°C)
Oct68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C)87°/70°F (30.8°/21.3°C)
Nov58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C)85°/68°F (29.2°/20.0°C)
Dec46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C)82°/66°F (28.0°/18.7°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, National Meteorological Service of Belize National Meteorological Service of Belize

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Belize

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Belize without a visa.
Belize passport

Belize passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Belize passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Belize?

With 9.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Belize can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in United States and Belize.

Is Belize safe for expats?

United States performs better than Belize across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belize is 27.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States.

How is healthcare in Belize compared to United States?

Belize generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 10.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Belize, compared to 36.1 in United States. Belize scores 68 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).

What's the weather like in Belize compared to United States?

The average high temperature in Belmopan is 88°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Belmopan receives around 79.5 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.

What language do they speak in Belize?

The official languages in Belize are Belizean Creole, English and Spanish. In United States, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

US BZ
Population337,341,954412,387
CurrencyUnited States Dollar ($)Belize Dollar (BZD)
LanguagesEnglishBelizean Creole, English, Spanish
Driving sideRightRight
Calling code+1+501
Time zones111
Emergency number911