Expat Community > Belize

Flowerchild
Joined 2015
Posts: 23

Bars on Windows? Trashy? Unsafe?

8 years ago

I searched your forum but did not find exact answers. So, risking sounding like a complete snob, I thought I would ask if local Belize indigenous were dirt poor? Trashy? Resentful of expats or target them for crimes? Is Belize a third world country?
We are researching retirement locations and recently visited Panama. Yes, it is beautiful and the natural surroundings are like paradise, but there's bars, razor wire, walled fortifications on every house, even the modest ones. The people throw their trash everywhere. The businesses look like a run down lean to's at a swap meet. The locals seem to resent outsiders and frequently take advantage of them. I felt like a target most of the time I was there.
We currently live in rural Arkansas, where everyone is friendly and there's very little crime. We moved here from CA because the cost of living is low and it was a safe place to raise our daughter. We are just sick of the cold and occasional snow and ice, and we miss the ocean.

SJB Global

SJB Global is a top-rated financial advisory firm specializing in expat financial advice worldwide, offering retirement planning & tax-efficient solutions with a regressive fee model.
Learn More

SJB Global

SJB Global is a top-rated financial advisory firm specializing in expat financial advice worldwide, offering retirement planning & tax-efficient solutions with a regressive fee model.
Learn More

Living in Belize Guide

Anyone thinking about moving to Belize should carefully consider the pros and cons of expat life in Belize. The article includes insight from expats about the cons (crime, limited healthcare, poor road conditions and more) and the pros (beautiful beaches, friendly people, low cost of living and more).

Belize Forum
Join our Belize forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Belize.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Belize.

Best Places to Live in Belize

If you're considering a move to Belize, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Belize in 2023.

Healthcare in Belize

Expats in Belize share tips and advice about healthcare and health insurance in Belize. While some expats advise those with serious health issues not to move to Belize, other expats choose Corozal for its proximity to doctors and clinics over the border in Chetumal, Mexico.

Cost of Living in Belize

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Belize.

Moving to Belize Guide

Expats that move to Belize learn to enjoy a breathtakingly beautiful setting without some of the essentials they may have taken to granted in their home countries.

Real Estate in Belize

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Belize.

Pros & Cons of Living in Belize

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Belize.

Retiring in Belize

Advice for people retiring in Belize.

10 Tips for Living in Belize

If you've recently arrived in Belize, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Belize.

Additional Information:

Visit our Belize Index for a Full List

SJB Global

SJB Global is a top-rated financial advisory firm specializing in expat financial advice worldwide, offering retirement planning & tax-efficient solutions with a regressive fee model.
Learn More

SJB Global

SJB Global is a top-rated financial advisory firm specializing in expat financial advice worldwide, offering retirement planning & tax-efficient solutions with a regressive fee model.
Learn More

Contribute
Help others in Belize by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Belize.

Login

Or, Send Login Link

Expat Community > Belize

Bars on Windows? Trashy? Unsafe?

Login