Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Guatemala Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and Guatemala

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$17.71 CA$24.66
$8.02 Q 61.1
120.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1 CA$98.9
$49.31 Q 376
44.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 CA$15.18
$7.72 Q 58.9
41.19%
Cappuccino
$3.82 CA$5.32
$3.52 Q 26.84
8.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$2.95
$1.43 Q 10.91
48.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.44
$1.07 Q 8.13
63.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.77 CA$8.04
$3.30 Q 25.15
74.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72 CA$7.96
$5.29 Q 40.35
8.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 CA$3.16
$2.12 Q 16.20
7.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.60 CA$3.62
$3.22 Q 24.52
-19.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.57 CA$4.97
$2.07 Q 15.78
72.46%
Eggs
$3.64 CA$5.06
$2.51 Q 19.12
45.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.03 CA$15.36
$6.10 Q 46.50
80.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.02 CA$16.74
$9.99 Q 76.1
20.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.70 CA$21.87
$12.20 Q 93.0
28.69%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 CA$5.82
$3.94 Q 30.03
6.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 CA$1.95
$1.97 Q 15.01
-28.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.80 CA$5.29
$4.32 Q 32.91
-12.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.98 CA$5.55
$1.65 Q 12.56
141.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 CA$3.69
$1.90 Q 14.48
39.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.54 CA$3.53
$2.24 Q 17.06
13.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.64 CA$3.68
$0.82 Q 6.22
221.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 CA$2.49
$1.21 Q 9.21
47.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.23 CA$19.82
$3.83 Q 29.19
271.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.22 CA$18.41
$8.40 Q 64.0
57.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 CA$4.15
$2.25 Q 17.18
32.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 CA$4.46
$3.25 Q 24.74
-1.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.47 CA$3.44
$2.01 Q 15.31
22.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.5 CA$102
$14.08 Q 107
422.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 CA$4.54
$5.15 Q 39.22
-36.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 CA$2.14
$1.67 Q 12.73
-7.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.66 CA$38.51
$10.30 Q 78.5
168.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 CA$1.66
$1.26 Q 9.61
-4.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K CA$38.9K
$21.5K Q 163.7K
30.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K CA$27.0K
$24.4K Q 186.3K
-20.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 CA$211
$69.4 Q 529
118.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.37 CA$60.4
$33.74 Q 257
28.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.8 CA$83.2
$52.4 Q 399
14.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.88 CA$56.9
$41.74 Q 318
-2.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.81 CA$27.59
$15.56 Q 119
27.31%
Cinema Ticket
$11.39 CA$15.86
$6.64 Q 50.6
71.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$783 CA$1,090
$357 Q 2,720
119.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K CA$20.4K
$7,374 Q 56.2K
98.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 CA$76.8
$43.94 Q 335
25.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.66 CA$55.2
$49.83 Q 380
-20.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 CA$124
$100 Q 764
-10.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 CA$144
$107 Q 819
-3.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,299 CA$1,808
$816 Q 6,220
59.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,157 CA$1,611
$508 Q 3,876
127.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,025 CA$2,820
$1,615 Q 12.3K
25.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,779 CA$2,477
$912 Q 6,953
95.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,679 CA$6,515
$2,255 Q 17.2K
107.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,883 CA$5,407
$1,147 Q 8,746
238.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Guatemala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,043 CA$4,237
$649 Q 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.

Canada vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries