😐A single person spends $2,184 per month in Australia vs $793 in Guatemala, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,221 per month in Australia vs $1,262 in Guatemala, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,257 per month in Australia vs $1,730 in Guatemala, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Australia is about 175% 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 $1,608–$2,789, Guatemala $112–$1,269. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.24A$23.14
$5.83Q 44.42
178.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5A$113
$51.2Q 390
55.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.88A$14.08
$6.66Q 50.7
48.35%
Cappuccino
$3.57A$5.09
$3.53Q 26.88
1.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59A$3.70
$1.31Q 9.99
97.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14A$3.05
$1.03Q 7.85
107.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.44A$9.18
$3.27Q 24.92
96.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.99A$9.96
$5.11Q 38.92
36.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52A$2.16
$2.01Q 15.31
-24.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.48A$3.53
$2.63Q 20.07
-5.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10A$2.99
$1.77Q 13.49
18.64%
Eggs
$4.25A$6.06
$2.30Q 17.53
84.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.04A$12.89
$7.56Q 57.6
19.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.64A$12.31
$7.82Q 59.6
10.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.06A$20.04
$9.47Q 72.1
48.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29A$4.69
$3.74Q 28.47
-12.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.80A$4.00
$1.62Q 12.33
72.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84A$4.05
$3.22Q 24.53
-11.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.42A$6.30
$1.51Q 11.47
192.72%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48A$3.53
$1.50Q 11.43
65.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16A$3.08
$1.87Q 14.25
15.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.27A$3.24
$0.76Q 5.79
198.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50A$2.14
$1.11Q 8.43
35.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.89A$44.04
$3.86Q 29.39
700.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.98A$19.93
$8.08Q 61.6
73.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.42A$6.31
$1.90Q 14.44
132.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85A$6.91
$2.88Q 21.93
68.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91A$4.15
$1.07Q 8.14
171.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$96.7A$138
$13.03Q 99.3
641.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.68A$5.25
$3.53Q 26.91
4.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75A$2.50
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.19A$54.4
$10.02Q 76.4
281.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15A$1.64
$1.07Q 8.12
7.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2KA$41.6K
$18.5KQ 141.1K
57.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KA$31.9K
$22.8KQ 173.6K
-1.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$178A$254
$59.2Q 451
200.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.86A$38.29
$28.65Q 218
-6.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.7A$75.1
$52.3Q 399
0.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.75A$66.6
$43.43Q 331
7.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.54A$23.57
$25.67Q 196
-35.57%
Cinema Ticket
$13.61A$19.40
$6.40Q 48.73
112.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,612A$2,298
$261Q 1,989
517.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.5KA$17.8K
$8,212Q 62.6K
52.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.5A$101
$50.1Q 381
40.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2A$73.0
$50.9Q 387
0.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103A$147
$100.0Q 762
3.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109A$156
$102Q 780
6.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,394A$1,988
$679Q 5,173
105.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,080A$1,540
$430Q 3,275
151.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,268A$3,233
$1,334Q 10.2K
70.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,739A$2,479
$709Q 5,401
145.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,445A$10.6K
$2,298Q 17.5K
224.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,628A$8,023
$1,140Q 8,684
393.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Guatemala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,996A$5,696
$600Q 4,572
565.90%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Guatemala: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,232 in Australia vs $221 in Guatemala. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,583 in Canberra and $729 in Guatemala City.
💰Average salary: $3,853 in Australia vs $688 in Guatemala. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 457% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 126% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 6600% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 460% 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 218% 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 218% 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.