AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life Living in Belize I've had it and I think I need to leave...

Sorry to burst the bubble but at $1250Us per month you won't be sitting listening to the surf and drinking a beer at the end of your day; you'll be too busy swatting mosquitoes and lamenting the loud music of your neighbours. The generally accepted amount to live in decent comfort on the island is $2000US per month and that was 5 or 10 years ago. Yes, you can live on $1250US per month. If you're REALLY lucky you can find a 1 bedroom or studio for $500US a month leaving you with $25US a day each to cover your electric, water, cable, Internet, BEER, transport and food.

You really need to think this through, we see people come down here all the time and they're gone and broken within the year. The number of broken marriages are laughable. Only those that can throw away their old lives and keep themselves out of the bottle (or whatever their poison) survive. Sure the snowbirds paint a pretty picture but they don't live here full time and can leave when they want (doesn't sound like that's in your budget).

Take it as you will, I arrived on the island 10 years ago with a duffle bag and a few grand and I do okay but that was 10 years ago; things have changed a lot since then.

The old saying goes, "if you want to make a small fortune in Belize bring a big one."

Moving to the island includes a lot of adapting and sacrifices if you don't have enough money to comfortably make a fresh start.

We have seen many folks come down to San Pedro with big dreams and excitement and then leave a year or 2 later disillusioned and broke.

Sometimes you may find that it is best to keep the island as a vacation spot that you love and enjoy - and maybe make a fresh start somewhere a little closer to home - a place that has similar rules, regs, and you don't need working permits etc.

Having said that, if you really want to come down and give it a try definitely don't burn your bridges at home. Come here with realistic expectations. It's gonna cost around $2,000 USD a month to live if you are mindful of your budget. Then you want to start a business that will make you some money. I don't think recycling is the place to make your fortune. There is a multi million dollar facility going in for solid waste management. Any job you may find here will pay a fraction what you would be paid up in Canada. And no benefits in most cases. So setting up your own business would be better but not necessarily easier or better paying.

Wishing you the best of luck in your endeavours. The walk of a 1,000 miles starts with the first step.

Been coming and going since 2008 when I stayed with my kids for a while and they attended school. My advice to anyone is make your money back home. You can make part time income on the island MAYBE but unless you want to live in a shack and not drink you need at least 2,000 US a month per person. Most people want AC, cable, internet and some nice things. Best to make your money via the internet. If you live on the main land you can live for much less. Maybe you are smarter than most and can think of something that can make a go on the island.
Everyone wants paradise we just have to find what our own paradise is. Good luck we are all looking....

Don't forget to add the $50 per month per person for your visa until you can apply for permanent residency.

Also, here's a link to a blog by a guy who came with very little money and managed to stay for several years.

http://belize4me.blogspot.com/

Just curious how much a heavy equipment owner/operator and a deaf Ed science/ math teacher would be needed?

Two questions:

1. Do you have the skills to build an internet business?

2. What country do you hold a passport from now?

Indiana