Cost of Living in Belize Rises: New Report Indicates 2.2% Increase in Consumer Prices

Consumers paid more for goods and services in January 2025 than they did for the same month last year. That’s the latest coming from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB). The SIB’s Consumer Price Index, published today, says that Belizeans paid an average of 2.2 percent more for goods and services during the survey period. This increase was driven largely by increasing food prices, with fresh produce like fruits and vegetables seeing the most notable price rises. Acting Manager for the SIB’s Economic Statistics Department Jacqueline Sabal says that the transport sector also helped drive up consumer prices, despite the fluctuating prices in gasoline. 

Sabal says that Food and Transport take up so much of household budgets that any increases in these areas will drive up inflation. Despite the rise in the actual cost of food, she notes that the rate at which the prices go up has been slowing down.

With respect to food watermelon saw the highest price increase, going up 33 percent from a dollar and seven cents per pound to a dollar and forty two cents. Lime was also up by more than 20 percent from 44 cents a unit to 54 cents.