Cost of Living Comparison Between Guanacaste and Guelmim Cost of Living Comparison Between Guanacaste and Guelmim

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,434 per month in Guanacaste vs $617 in Guelmim, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,141 per month in Guanacaste vs $997 in Guelmim, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,849 per month in Guanacaste vs $1,378 in Guelmim, rent included.

Guanacaste costs about 133% more than Guelmim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Guanacaste sits 7% above the global median, while Guelmim is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.77 ₡4,464

$2.76 MAD 25.38

253.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.08 ₡20.1K

$25.29 MAD 233

74.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 ₡4,525

$6.72 MAD 61.9

47.32%

Cappuccino

$3.79 ₡1,731

$1.75 MAD 16.12

116.57%

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

$2.01 ₡918

$0.66 MAD 6.10

204.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₡761

$0.26 MAD 2.36

542.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 ₡1,321

$3.73 MAD 34.32

-22.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.14 ₡1,892

$3.72 MAD 34.26

11.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₡833

$0.91 MAD 8.42

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 ₡1,267

$0.37 MAD 3.40

648.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ₡996

$0.92 MAD 8.45

136.96%

Eggs

$3.02 ₡1,380

$1.79 MAD 16.53

68.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.07 ₡2,315

$7.15 MAD 65.8

-29.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.07 ₡1,860

$3.32 MAD 30.53

22.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 ₡4,617

$10.12 MAD 93.2

-0.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 ₡1,123

$1.40 MAD 12.89

75.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₡671

$1.24 MAD 11.44

18.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.94 ₡1,799

$0.82 MAD 7.52

380.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 ₡650

$0.59 MAD 5.47

140.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 ₡1,553

$0.65 MAD 5.98

423.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 ₡882

$0.63 MAD 5.83

206.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ₡347

$0.68 MAD 6.27

11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,328

$0.64 MAD 5.90

354.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.89 ₡1,778

$4.09 MAD 37.65

-4.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.38 ₡10.2K

$7.12 MAD 65.6

214.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 ₡1,146

$1.30 MAD 11.97

93.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 ₡1,119

$1.57 MAD 14.44

56.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₡463

$0.74 MAD 6.84

36.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.62 MAD 153

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₡818

$0.69 MAD 6.32

159.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 ₡837

$0.63 MAD 5.76

190.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.05 ₡3,676

$6.68 MAD 61.5

20.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡666

$1.57 MAD 14.46

-7.01%

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

$37.6K ₡17.2M

$27.3K MAD 251.6K

37.64%

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

$32.3K ₡14.8M

$21.0K MAD 193.3K

53.74%

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

$92.7 ₡42.4K

$28.49 MAD 262

225.41%

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

$25.74 ₡11.8K

$10.86 MAD 100

137.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.44 ₡13.5K

$22.01 MAD 203

33.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 ₡26.4K

$24.45 MAD 225

136.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.98 ₡11.0K

$23.38 MAD 215

2.57%

Cinema Ticket

$9.76 ₡4,459

$6.67 MAD 61.4

46.33%

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

$567 ₡259.1K

$77.0 MAD 709

636.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₡5.8M

$1,929 MAD 17.8K

555.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 ₡27.0K

$19.31 MAD 178

206.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.12 ₡17.9K

$16.56 MAD 152

136.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 ₡36.0K

$49.32 MAD 454

59.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.2 ₡31.6K

$33.53 MAD 309

106.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 ₡346.5K

$289 MAD 2,665

162.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₡270.0K

$195 MAD 1,799

202.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,532 ₡699.9K

$588 MAD 5,414

160.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$976 ₡446.1K

$383 MAD 3,529

154.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,589 MAD 14.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$943 MAD 8,683

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$331 MAD 3,046

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

5.5

84.91%

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

Last update for Guanacaste: June 1, 2026

Last update for Guelmim: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $758 in Guanacaste versus $289 in Guelmim. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Guanacaste versus $25.00 in Guelmim. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $150 – making Guelmim the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Guanacaste vs Guelmim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guanacaste is pricier by about 133%, 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 $2,151 per month in Guanacaste and $925 in Guelmim. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Guelmim, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,434 in Guanacaste and $617 in Guelmim. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $567 per month in Guanacaste and $77.0 in Guelmim. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guelmim, where all-in costs run around $617, than in Guanacaste at $1,434. In Guelmim it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guanacaste it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Guelmim – 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 Guelmim. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guanacaste makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.