BELIZE COST OF LIVING

COST OF LIVING IN BELIZE IS 1/4 THAT OF THE USA AND 1/8 th that of the UNITED KINGDOM? ( Maybe! )

In the USA the government statistics say you cannot as a single or two person resident live on less that $31,000 usa a year. This is basic poverty level. For lowest middle class, the combined income of a home must be $56,000 USA. ( from USA TV SHOW on subject )

On the other hand, in the United Kingdom, the cost of living is roughly DOUBLE that of the USA.

The question came up the other day on what it costs to live here in Western Belize? The answer for us as a three person family with our own home, is $9000 USA per year combined. This gives us a standard of living at the low end of the middle class here in Belize.

Many Belize families, over 60% of the population, live on a combined income of $3600 usa per year. They also grow a lot of their own food. Most single persons, living at home can earn roughly the same amount and manage to get by without any frills. But a family unit earning a combined income of $3600 usa a year in Belize is hard pressed to make ends meet. They are just below borderline poverty levels.

There are many CATCH AND KILL temporary part time workers living of half that, about $850 usa per annum. Many of course have no employment of any kind. Those that can, grow their own food and or catch it, are ahead in this type of subsistance living.
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****Contributed update on USA statistical poverty levels

"According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, if you make $10,400. or less you are considered to be at the poverty level. Also, that is for 1 person living in one of the 48 contiguous state. If you have 4 in your family, then the poverty level is $21,200. Each state also has its own definition of poverty level.

According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income is about $51,425 and the median income per person is about $27,041. The median is often considered a more accurate measure for income rather than average (or mean), because the calculation of the average is affected more by those with especially high incomes.

So if we were to believe your numbers, the median household income in the U.S. falls below the poverty level, when it fact it more than doubles the poverty level for a family of 4.

After visiting 7 different cities in India in May 2010, I don't think that the majority of the population in Belize comes anywhere close to truly living in poverty."
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