😐A single person spends $2,316 per month in Canada vs $787 in Guatemala, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,376 per month in Canada vs $1,247 in Guatemala, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,436 per month in Canada vs $1,707 in Guatemala, rent included.
😐Canada costs about 194% more than Guatemala on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Canada sits 73% above the global median, while Guatemala is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
📏Canada has a wider regional cost range ($1,310–$3,100) than Guatemala ($112–$1,267), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Canada.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.44CA$25.53
$5.95Q 45.37
209.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5CA$103
$50.9Q 388
46.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.88CA$15.07
$6.47Q 49.29
68.16%
Cappuccino
$3.90CA$5.39
$3.52Q 26.83
10.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16CA$2.99
$1.31Q 10.01
64.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73CA$2.40
$1.00Q 7.63
73.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.74CA$7.94
$3.27Q 24.95
75.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.05CA$8.37
$5.25Q 40.02
15.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20CA$3.05
$2.03Q 15.44
8.37%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75CA$3.81
$2.68Q 20.43
2.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.66CA$5.07
$1.83Q 13.92
100.00%
Eggs
$3.63CA$5.03
$2.26Q 17.22
60.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.72CA$16.22
$7.39Q 56.3
58.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.28CA$17.01
$8.12Q 61.9
51.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.88CA$20.60
$9.60Q 73.2
55.00%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14CA$5.73
$3.56Q 27.12
16.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45CA$2.01
$1.62Q 12.33
-10.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.79CA$5.25
$3.27Q 24.89
15.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.09CA$5.66
$1.52Q 11.57
169.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.73CA$3.78
$1.50Q 11.40
82.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.77CA$3.83
$1.85Q 14.09
49.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.62CA$3.62
$0.79Q 6.00
231.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87CA$2.59
$1.11Q 8.43
68.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.79CA$20.48
$3.86Q 29.40
283.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.08CA$18.11
$8.30Q 63.2
57.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.03CA$4.19
$1.88Q 14.32
61.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41CA$4.72
$2.88Q 21.92
18.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.52CA$3.49
$1.02Q 7.77
147.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9CA$108
$12.81Q 97.6
507.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49CA$4.83
$3.54Q 26.99
-1.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48CA$2.04
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.25CA$39.12
$10.15Q 77.4
178.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15CA$1.59
$1.07Q 8.15
7.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KCA$35.2K
$18.1KQ 137.8K
40.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6KCA$28.6K
$22.4KQ 170.8K
-7.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155CA$214
$58.7Q 447
163.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.76CA$63.4
$28.61Q 218
59.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.2CA$86.1
$52.4Q 400
18.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.67CA$60.5
$44.54Q 339
-1.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14CA$25.11
$26.03Q 198
-30.31%
Cinema Ticket
$11.38CA$15.76
$6.33Q 48.26
79.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$798CA$1,104
$262Q 1,995
204.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KCA$16.8K
$7,973Q 60.8K
51.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8CA$78.7
$51.8Q 395
9.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.19CA$58.4
$51.1Q 390
-17.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.9CA$122
$97.3Q 741
-9.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106CA$147
$103Q 788
2.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,359CA$1,882
$665Q 5,071
104.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,204CA$1,667
$436Q 3,321
176.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136CA$2,957
$1,318Q 10.0K
62.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,860CA$2,575
$695Q 5,293
167.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,642CA$6,427
$2,252Q 17.2K
106.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,852CA$5,333
$1,126Q 8,582
242.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,029CA$4,194
$582Q 4,438
420.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.33
8.71
-27.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Canada: May 31, 2026
Last update for Guatemala: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,281 in Canada vs $218 in Guatemala. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,500 in Ottawa and $716 in Guatemala City.
💰Average salary: $2,972 in Canada vs $698 in Guatemala. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 488% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 100% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 6400% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are 326% higher in Canada, giving Canada stronger purchasing power.
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 220% 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 220% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Canada or 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 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.