Cost of Living Comparison Between Antigua Guatemala and Zacapa Cost of Living Comparison Between Antigua Guatemala and Zacapa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Antigua Guatemala versus $112 in Zacapa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,116 in Antigua Guatemala versus $176 in Zacapa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,961 in Antigua Guatemala versus $241 in Zacapa.

Living in Antigua Guatemala is roughly 1037% more expensive than Zacapa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Antigua Guatemala 5% lower, Zacapa 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.13 Q 39.06

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.8 Q 402

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.19 Q 47.10

Cappuccino

$3.26 Q 24.82

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 Q 8.87

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 Q 7.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 Q 28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 Q 34.56

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 Q 14.84

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 Q 24.01

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 Q 12.58

Eggs

$2.48 Q 18.91

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 Q 57.2

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.63 Q 65.7

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.29 Q 78.4

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 Q 27.15

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 Q 11.65

Oranges (1kg)

$3.17 Q 24.15

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 Q 12.61

Potato (1kg)

$1.72 Q 13.10

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 Q 12.92

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 Q 5.56

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 Q 9.34

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 Q 27.17

Wine (Bottle)

$8.11 Q 61.7

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 Q 12.16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 Q 18.95

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 Q 15.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.57 Q 34.83

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.71 Q 120

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 Q 8.47

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.2K Q 146.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K Q 167.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$48.52 Q 369

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.44 Q 201

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.79 Q 372

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.44 Q 316

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.23 Q 215

Cinema Ticket

$7.25 Q 55.2

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$242 Q 1,841

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,916 Q 45.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.82 Q 357

$51.3 Q 391

-8.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.9 Q 402

$39.07 Q 298

35.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 Q 752

$78.4 Q 597

25.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.0 Q 655

$77.1 Q 587

11.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 Q 6,804

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 Q 4,138

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,033 Q 15.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,278 Q 9,735

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,067 Q 23.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,217 Q 9,266

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$547 Q 4,162

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Antigua Guatemala: June 8, 2026

Last update for Zacapa: June 7, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Antigua Guatemala vs Zacapa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Antigua Guatemala and Zacapa differ by about 1037% in total monthly costs ($1,271 vs $112 including rent). Zacapa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,907 in Antigua Guatemala and $168 in Zacapa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $112 in Zacapa versus $1,271 in Antigua Guatemala, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zacapa but tight or insufficient in Antigua Guatemala. The gap between the two cities makes Zacapa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Antigua Guatemala and Zacapa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Zacapa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1037% less than in Antigua Guatemala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.