😐A single person spends $2,215 per month in Canada vs $824 in Guatemala, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,237 per month in Canada vs $1,316 in Guatemala, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,258 per month in Canada vs $1,807 in Guatemala, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Canada is about 169% higher than in Guatemala on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Canada sits 62% above the global median, while Guatemala is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.71CA$24.66
$8.02Q 61.1
120.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1CA$98.9
$49.31Q 376
44.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90CA$15.18
$7.72Q 58.9
41.19%
Cappuccino
$3.82CA$5.32
$3.52Q 26.84
8.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12CA$2.95
$1.43Q 10.91
48.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75CA$2.44
$1.07Q 8.13
63.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.77CA$8.04
$3.30Q 25.15
74.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72CA$7.96
$5.29Q 40.35
8.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27CA$3.16
$2.12Q 16.20
7.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.60CA$3.62
$3.22Q 24.52
-19.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.57CA$4.97
$2.07Q 15.78
72.46%
Eggs
$3.64CA$5.06
$2.51Q 19.12
45.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.03CA$15.36
$6.10Q 46.50
80.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.02CA$16.74
$9.99Q 76.1
20.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.70CA$21.87
$12.20Q 93.0
28.69%
Apples(1kg)
$4.18CA$5.82
$3.94Q 30.03
6.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40CA$1.95
$1.97Q 15.01
-28.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.80CA$5.29
$4.32Q 32.91
-12.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.98CA$5.55
$1.65Q 12.56
141.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.65CA$3.69
$1.90Q 14.48
39.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.54CA$3.53
$2.24Q 17.06
13.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64CA$3.68
$0.82Q 6.22
221.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79CA$2.49
$1.21Q 9.21
47.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.23CA$19.82
$3.83Q 29.19
271.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.22CA$18.41
$8.40Q 64.0
57.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98CA$4.15
$2.25Q 17.18
32.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20CA$4.46
$3.25Q 24.74
-1.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.47CA$3.44
$2.01Q 15.31
22.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.5CA$102
$14.08Q 107
422.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26CA$4.54
$5.15Q 39.22
-36.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54CA$2.14
$1.67Q 12.73
-7.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.66CA$38.51
$10.30Q 78.5
168.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20CA$1.66
$1.26Q 9.61
-4.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0KCA$38.9K
$21.5KQ 163.7K
30.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4KCA$27.0K
$24.4KQ 186.3K
-20.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151CA$211
$69.4Q 529
118.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.37CA$60.4
$33.74Q 257
28.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.8CA$83.2
$52.4Q 399
14.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.88CA$56.9
$41.74Q 318
-2.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.81CA$27.59
$15.56Q 119
27.31%
Cinema Ticket
$11.39CA$15.86
$6.64Q 50.6
71.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$783CA$1,090
$357Q 2,720
119.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6KCA$20.4K
$7,374Q 56.2K
98.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1CA$76.8
$43.94Q 335
25.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.66CA$55.2
$49.83Q 380
-20.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.3CA$124
$100Q 764
-10.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103CA$144
$107Q 819
-3.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,299CA$1,808
$816Q 6,220
59.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,157CA$1,611
$508Q 3,876
127.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,025CA$2,820
$1,615Q 12.3K
25.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,779CA$2,477
$912Q 6,953
95.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,679CA$6,515
$2,255Q 17.2K
107.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,883CA$5,407
$1,147Q 8,746
238.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,043CA$4,237
$649Q 4,950
368.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.86
11.62
-58.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Canada: September 14, 2026
Last update for Guatemala: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,221 in Canada vs $176 in Guatemala. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,493 in Ottawa and $836 in Guatemala City.
💰Average salary: $2,963 in Canada vs $737 in Guatemala. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 594% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 41% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 5900% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are 302% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.
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
Canada vs Guatemala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Guatemala?
Guatemala is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 240% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Guatemala, contributing to the overall 240% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Canada or in Guatemala?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Guatemala, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada 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.