Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Guatemala Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Guatemala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,181 per month in Australia vs $789 in Guatemala, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,218 per month in Australia vs $1,251 in Guatemala, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,254 per month in Australia vs $1,713 in Guatemala, rent included.

The cost of living in Australia is about 176% higher than in Guatemala on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 64% above the global median, while Guatemala is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Cost ranges are similar: Australia spans $1,595$2,799, Guatemala $112$1,285. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.97 A$22.66
$5.80 Q 44.26
175.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.0 A$112
$49.95 Q 381
58.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 A$13.74
$6.57 Q 50.1
47.34%
Cappuccino
$3.58 A$5.08
$3.38 Q 25.81
5.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 A$3.64
$1.35 Q 10.33
89.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 A$3.15
$1.00 Q 7.64
122.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.34 A$8.99
$3.23 Q 24.63
96.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.95 A$9.86
$5.26 Q 40.08
32.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 A$2.22
$1.94 Q 14.78
-19.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 A$3.59
$2.69 Q 20.53
-5.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.00 A$2.83
$1.84 Q 14.04
8.70%
Eggs
$4.26 A$6.05
$2.34 Q 17.84
82.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.75 A$12.42
$7.67 Q 58.5
14.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.23 A$11.68
$8.10 Q 61.7
1.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.15 A$20.08
$9.72 Q 74.1
45.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 A$4.63
$3.55 Q 27.10
-8.17%
Banana (1kg)
$2.81 A$3.99
$1.69 Q 12.85
66.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.00 A$4.26
$3.29 Q 25.06
-8.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.31 A$6.12
$1.45 Q 11.03
197.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 A$3.62
$1.50 Q 11.46
70.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 A$3.07
$1.78 Q 13.56
21.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 A$3.15
$0.78 Q 5.96
184.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 A$2.17
$1.11 Q 8.45
37.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.28 A$44.38
$3.74 Q 28.48
736.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.09 A$20.00
$8.15 Q 62.1
72.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.44 A$6.30
$1.92 Q 14.63
131.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90 A$6.96
$2.76 Q 21.02
77.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.95 A$4.19
$1.06 Q 8.05
178.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.9 A$136
$13.24 Q 101
624.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 A$4.95
$3.67 Q 27.99
-4.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 A$2.61
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.26 A$52.9
$10.27 Q 78.3
262.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 A$1.66
$1.12 Q 8.55
4.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K A$40.8K
$17.9K Q 136.6K
60.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K A$31.9K
$23.2K Q 176.7K
-3.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 A$246
$59.0 Q 450
193.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.62 A$37.77
$28.77 Q 219
-7.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 A$75.3
$51.9 Q 395
2.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.82 A$66.4
$44.99 Q 343
4.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.38 A$23.25
$25.45 Q 194
-35.64%
Cinema Ticket
$13.56 A$19.24
$6.64 Q 50.6
104.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,571 A$2,229
$265 Q 2,021
492.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K A$17.9K
$8,240 Q 62.8K
52.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.1 A$102
$51.2 Q 390
40.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6 A$73.2
$51.5 Q 393
0.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 A$144
$98.2 Q 749
2.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 A$153
$102 Q 778
5.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,398 A$1,984
$683 Q 5,204
104.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 A$1,541
$435 Q 3,317
149.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,272 A$3,223
$1,312 Q 10.0K
73.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,751 A$2,485
$711 Q 5,420
146.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,955 A$11.3K
$2,287 Q 17.4K
247.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,978 A$8,483
$1,120 Q 8,537
433.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,053 A$5,751
$583 Q 4,448
594.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
8.71
-27.10%

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

Last update for Australia: July 28, 2026

Last update for Guatemala: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,230 in Australia vs $220 in Guatemala. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,557 in Canberra and $741 in Guatemala City.

Average salary: $3,808 in Australia vs $703 in Guatemala. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 459% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 126% more in Australia.

Public transport is 6600% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 442% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

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
Australia vs Guatemala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Guatemala?
Guatemala is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 215% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Guatemala, contributing to the overall 215% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in Guatemala?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Guatemala, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Guatemala?
Guatemala is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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