Belmopan: what to see and whether to move there

Is it worth moving to Belmopan in 2026

Belmopan is Belize's small capital in the centre of the country, built in the 1970s after a hurricane destroyed the former coastal capital. About 20,000 people live here, home to ministries and embassies, and the city itself is quiet and green. Belize attracts with an English-speaking environment, a currency pegged to the US dollar, a retirement programme exempting foreign income from tax and a simple route to permanent residence after a year in the country. Many foreigners live not in the capital but in nearby San Ignacio or on the coast.

What it costs to live in Belmopan

Prices come from two independent 2025-2026 price databases, and the Belize dollar is pegged to the US dollar at 2 to 1. On the coast and islands, especially Ambergris Caye, rents are several times higher than in the capital.

Where to live: the capital and popular places

• Belmopan - ministries, embassies and quiet residential areas, little entertainment.
• San Ignacio and Cayo District - 30 km from the capital, jungle, rivers, Maya ruins and a large foreign community.
• Ambergris Caye and San Pedro - an island by the barrier reef, the most expensive housing and a tourist lifestyle.
• Placencia - a quiet peninsula with beaches in the south.
• Corozal - the north near the Mexican border, affordable housing popular with retirees.

Entry and residence

Russian citizens enter Belize visa-free and may stay up to 90 days in any 180; longer stays or work require a visa. The most popular route for living is the Qualified Retired Persons programme: age 45 or over and foreign income of at least $2,000 a month transferred to a Belize account. Participants import personal belongings and a car duty-free and pay no Belize tax on foreign income, but cannot take local employment and must spend at least 30 consecutive days a year in the country. Another route is permanent residence after a year of legal residence, provided you left the country for no more than 14 days in total that year.

Taxes

Income tax in Belize is 25% on income above a tax-free threshold, and the general sales tax is 12.5%. Retirement programme participants are exempt from tax on foreign income. Companies pay tax on revenue at a rate depending on the type of activity. Local banks report foreigners' accounts to their country of tax residence, so home tax status must be checked separately.

Buying property

Foreigners can buy property in Belize. A foreigner pays 8% stamp duty on the value above BZD 20,000, about $10,000, and a Belizean citizen 5%. A deposit of about 10% is usually paid into the lawyer's trust account, and the lawyer checks title, survey, tax debts and permits. Annual land tax or urban property tax is small and depends on the area. A purchase gives neither residence nor citizenship.

Climate and everyday life

The climate is tropical: the dry season runs from February to May and the rainy season from June to November, when hurricanes are possible, which is why the capital was built away from the coast. The official language is English, and Spanish and Creole are widely spoken. People travel by car and bus, and by boat and small plane between the coast and the islands. Healthcare in Belize is limited, and many people go to Mexico or the US for complex treatment.

Getting there and getting around

The international airport is near Belize City, about an hour from the capital, with direct flights to the US. Buses run between towns, and boats and small planes of local airlines serve Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Many foreigners buy a car: roads between major towns are paved, but dirt roads occur in the jungle and the south.

Pitfalls

• Modest healthcare and the need for insurance.
• Hurricane season from June to November on the coast.
• The retirement programme does not allow local employment.
• For permanent residence you cannot be away for more than 14 days in the year.
• Rents on the islands are several times those in the capital.

Murblz specialists arrange the retirement programme, support property purchases and plan the route to permanent residence.