Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiquimula and Zacapa Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiquimula and Zacapa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $815 per month in Chiquimula vs $112 in Zacapa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,339 per month in Chiquimula vs $181 in Zacapa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,862 per month in Chiquimula vs $250 in Zacapa, rent included.

Chiquimula costs about 625% more than Zacapa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiquimula and Zacapa are more affordable than the global median – Chiquimula 39% lower, Zacapa 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.56 Q 65.4

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.2 Q 406

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.11 Q 69.6

Cappuccino

$4.07 Q 31.12

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 Q 15.34

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 Q 9.50

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.84 Q 29.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.98 Q 45.70

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 Q 14.77

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 Q 27.54

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 Q 11.98

Eggs

$2.55 Q 19.49

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.47 Q 57.0

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.27 Q 70.8

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.25 Q 78.3

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 Q 33.72

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 Q 16.28

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 Q 40.41

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 Q 12.19

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 Q 14.92

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 Q 13.53

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 Q 9.73

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 Q 10.62

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.92 Q 29.96

Wine (Bottle)

$8.84 Q 67.5

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 Q 22.72

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 Q 28.36

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 Q 35.05

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 Q 4.94

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 Q 8.15

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.3K Q 154.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K Q 169.8K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$48.35 Q 369

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$40.06 Q 306

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.8 Q 510

Cinema Ticket

$8.61 Q 65.8

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$529 Q 4,045

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K Q 97.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.33 Q 354

$51.6 Q 394

-10.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.7 Q 410

$39.09 Q 299

37.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 Q 765

$79.7 Q 609

25.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.2 Q 659

$77.0 Q 589

11.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

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

Last update for Chiquimula: April 28, 2026

Last update for Zacapa: April 26, 2026

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

Chiquimula vs Zacapa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiquimula is pricier by about 625%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,223 per month in Chiquimula and $169 in Zacapa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $815 in Chiquimula and $112 in Zacapa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Zacapa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Zacapa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiquimula makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.