Is Belize Safe? – An Expat, Tourist and Investor Perspective

The need to feel safe and secure influences every big life decision we make, whether that’s choosing where to invest, relocate or establish a second base.

Without that fundamental sense of security, even the most promising opportunities can feel unstable – ambitions stall, experiences sour and risk tolerance shifts.

Yet determining how safe a country truly is can be surprisingly difficult.

Official reports often gloss over deeper issues. Media headlines often sensationalise isolated events. Firsthand accounts offer personal colour, but rarely provide a full, objective picture. Each source gives a fragment of the truth but rarely the whole story.

Complicating matters further, safety isn’t a universal metric. Its meaning shifts depending on who’s asking.

For investors, safety is about legal predictability, secure property rights, macroeconomic resilience, and freedom from expropriation or arbitrary enforcement.

For families, it’s about low crime, trustworthy infrastructure, and a community that feels liveable and supportive.

Even for short-term visitors, the concept of safety extends beyond avoiding petty theft. It’s about whether a place allows freedom of movement, respect for cultural differences, and a general ease of day-to-day living.

Add in the paradoxes – a country might feel physically safe yet be financially unstable or score high on governance but fall short on personal freedoms.

In Singapore, for instance, order and stability are delivered through rigid controls. In Costa Rica, the relaxed pace masks growing concern about theft and bureaucracy. New Zealand offers extraordinary personal safety but sits atop an active seismic zone.

These examples make one thing clear: safety isn’t a single metric; it’s a complex equation.

That’s why evaluating Belize requires more than surface impressions or raw data points. It demands a layered, contextual approach.

Nomad Capitalist’s in-depth report on Belize offers just that. Drawing on official crime statistics, macroeconomic indicators, and qualitative insights from those with real-world experience, it builds a clearer picture of safety in Belize today.

Belize Crime and Safety Data

We can first look at the numbers as an objective starting point.

Two of the most helpful resources are Numbeo, which gathers data on crime in specific cities, and the Global Peace Index (GPI), which measures a nation’s overall peacefulness.

We’ll start with Numbeo’s city-level data, which records Belize City as having a ‘very high’ Crime Index.

The score is influenced by reports of frequent street crime, like theft and robbery, as well as more serious gang-related violence.

Regionally, this high score isn’t unique. Neighbouring countries like Honduras and Guatemala also report high crime levels in their major cities. 

However, countries like Panama and Costa Rica generally score better, with moderate crime levels.

For a wider perspective, Belize City’s crime index is considerably higher than that of major Western hubs like London and New York, which both fall into the moderate category. 

This means that the personal safety precautions seen as normal in London or New York may not be adequate in Belize City. A greater degree of caution and situational awareness is required.

In the most recent GPI, Belize sits in the middle tier of nations globally. It ranks as more peaceful than larger regional players like Mexico but falls short of Costa Rica, which is consistently the area’s top performer.

Consequently, what revelations does this data provide? 

It paints a picture of contrast. 

On a national level, Belize appears moderately stable. On a city-crime level, it appears high-risk.

This implies that it is futile to generalise the safety of the nation. 

Location is everything.

Is Belize Safe for Tourists?

​​The data shows that the risk in Belize is highly localised. So, for a tourist, the answer to the safety question depends entirely on where you go.

The vast majority of tourist destinations are separate from the high-crime zones discussed earlier. Popular spots like Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Placencia and the San Ignacio area are generally considered safe for visitors.

These locations have a strong tourism focus and a visible police presence. They don’t share the same safety profile as parts of Belize City, where greater caution is required.

However, safety in tourist areas doesn’t mean the absence of crime. The primary risks for visitors are usually opportunistic crimes like petty theft, scams and leaving belongings unattended on the beach or in golf carts.

Is Belize Safe for Residents and Investors?

​​The safety calculation changes for those planning to invest or live in Belize. The focus shifts from short-term risks to long-term stability and quality of life.

For investors, the primary concern is often asset security.

Belize’s legal framework provides a strong foundation in this area. It is based on English Common Law, which is familiar and reassuring to most international investors.

Importantly, foreigners have the same property rights as Belizean citizens. You can own land and property outright, with a clear title, something not offered by all countries in the region.

However, this legal security exists alongside the need for practical, day-to-day diligence.

Localised crime issues do affect residents. While violent crime is often concentrated away from expat areas, concerns about home break-ins and property crime are real.

Many long-term residents choose to live in established communities and invest in home security systems as a standard precaution.

Beyond physical security, infrastructure is another key factor for anyone living in Belize.

As a developing nation, utility services can be inconsistent. Power outages occur and high-speed internet is not yet universally available, which can be a challenge for remote work or running a business.

Healthcare represents another critical trade-off.

The system provides access to basic and emergency care, with good private clinics available in more populated areas.

For serious conditions or specialised surgery, however, the standard practice for expatriates is to travel to Mexico or the United States.

How Safe is Belize for Families?

​​For families visiting Belize or considering a move, the idea of safety will include community, daily environment and educational opportunities.

Many expatriate families settle in specific, welcoming communities. Places like Placencia, Ambergris Caye and the Cayo District are popular for their slower pace of life and strong neighbourhood bonds.

The primary benefit for children is often an unparalleled connection to nature. An upbringing spent exploring beaches, jungles and the barrier reef is a unique life experience.

While public schools are available, their quality can be inconsistent.

Consequently, most expat families choose private or international schools. These typically offer a higher standard of education and a more familiar curriculum.

Healthcare follows a similar pattern. Basic medical facilities, pediatric care and emergency services are accessible, particularly through private clinics.

For any kind of specialised pediatric medical treatment, however, families must be prepared to travel to Mexico or their home country for advanced care.

The decision to raise a family in Belize is, therefore, a conscious trade-off. It offers a childhood rich in outdoor adventure, in exchange for proactively traversing the education and healthcare systems of a developing nation.

Practical Travel Tips for a Safe Experience in Belize

​​Smart preparation will help you have a safe experience in Belize.

For transport, stick to licensed taxis with green licence plates and always agree on the fare beforehand. 

Be aware that road conditions and local driving standards can be hazardous, particularly at night.

Aside from that, exercise increased caution in Belize City. It’s known for serious crime, and limiting your time there, especially after dark, is a wise precaution.

For all tours and excursions, from caving to scuba diving, your safety and security depend entirely on your guide, so only use established companies with licensed professionals. The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) maintains a list of all operators, and verifying your guide’s credentials is a simple, effective check.

The primary risk in tourist areas is opportunistic theft. Never leave valuables unattended on beaches, in hotel rooms or in golf carts, which are frequent targets.

While enjoying the nightlife in towns like San Pedro is part of the experience, stick to well-lit, populated areas and avoid walking alone in remote areas, quiet streets or beaches late at night.

​​​​Belize Residence and Citizenship

For residency and citizenship in Belize, the best route for expatriates is the Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) Program.

To qualify, applicants must be at least 45 years old and prove a stable monthly income of at least US$2,000 from an outside source.

The program’s main benefit is that all foreign-earned income is exempt from Belizean taxes.

For those seeking a more permanent status, the next step is an application for permanent residency, which can be submitted after living in Belize for one full year with the local immigration office.

The final step on the path is full citizenship. After holding permanent residency for five years, you become eligible to apply.

This clear, tiered process makes Belize a remarkably accessible option for those looking to build a long-term future in the country.

Why People Choose Belize

The decision to choose Belize crystallises around a handful of powerful, practical advantages.

As English is the official language, it removes a fundamental barrier, making daily life and business more easily accessible.

Just as importantly, the legal system and local laws are based on English Common Law, providing investors with a familiar and stable framework for property ownership.

Its residency programs are notably straightforward, with the QRP program offering a clear path and significant tax benefits.

The lifestyle itself is a source of motivation, offering a blend of the Caribbean Sea and tropical jungle within a laid-back culture.

Finally, its proximity to North America makes travel for visits or business relatively easy.

​​However, these advantages are balanced by its status as a developing nation.

Infrastructure can be inconsistent. Services like electricity, internet and advanced healthcare do not have the same reliability as in more developed countries. The laid-back culture can also translate to a slower-moving bureaucracy.

For those who are put off by this, a country like Panama offers a more developed, urban environment with superior healthcare and infrastructure in its capital. However, this comes with a Spanish-speaking culture and a faster, more corporate-focused environment.

Is Belize Safe?: FAQs

Go Where You’re Treated Best

Safety in Belize is more than a local concern – it’s part of a much bigger picture.

For internationally minded entrepreneurs and investors, personal security sits alongside asset protection, tax efficiency and legal certainty as a core pillar of strategic decision-making.

As far as the core Nomad Capitalist principle of going where you’re treated best is concerned, Belize offers an interesting mix: a relaxed lifestyle, favourable trust laws and a tax-friendly regime. But whether that’s the right balance depends entirely on your specific goals.

The broader truth is that no single country offers everything. That’s why effective global planning is rarely about choosing just one jurisdiction: it’s about combining several to maximise benefits and mitigate risk.

You might live in one place for lifestyle, structure your assets in another for protection, and operate your business through a third for tax or compliance reasons.

Belize is one excellent option, but many others exist, each offering a different balance.

Oman, for example, has a highly safe, tax-free environment in the Middle East with new long-term visas for investors seeking stability and a high quality of life.

The Bahamas leans on its proximity to the US and tax-neutral status to appeal to high-net-worth individuals seeking a premier Caribbean base for their assets and lifestyle.

Singapore stands out as a top-tier global hub for business and wealth, offering unparalleled safety and efficiency at a correspondingly high cost of living.

Navigating these trade-offs and building a cohesive, multi-jurisdictional strategy is a complex undertaking, requiring professional guidance to ensure your plan aligns with your specific goals.

At Nomad Capitalist, we help entrepreneurs and investors create and execute holistic offshore plans so they can go where they are treated best. If you’re ready to take the next step, expert guidance is a conversation away.