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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,597 per month in Guanacaste vs $571 in Guelmim, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,439 per month in Guanacaste vs $934 in Guelmim, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Guanacaste vs $1,298 in Guelmim, rent included.

Guanacaste costs about 180% more than Guelmim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Guanacaste sits 17% above the global median, while Guelmim is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.99 ₡4,886

$5.43 MAD 51.5

102.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.83 ₡21.7K

$25.09 MAD 238

94.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.44 ₡5,084

$7.28 MAD 69.1

57.14%

Cappuccino

$4.47 ₡1,986

$2.08 MAD 19.72

114.90%

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

$2.60 ₡1,156

$0.89 MAD 8.41

192.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₡833

$0.35 MAD 3.32

437.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 ₡1,402

$5.30 MAD 50.3

-40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 ₡1,999

$4.55 MAD 43.13

-1.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 ₡905

$0.90 MAD 8.49

126.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 ₡1,356

$0.46 MAD 4.35

563.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.55 ₡1,135

$1.05 MAD 9.93

142.86%

Eggs

$3.61 ₡1,603

$1.66 MAD 15.75

117.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.41 ₡2,403

$8.43 MAD 79.9

-35.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.49 ₡1,994

$3.34 MAD 31.63

34.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.89 ₡4,840

$9.03 MAD 85.6

20.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₡1,209

$1.26 MAD 11.99

115.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ₡745

$1.20 MAD 11.41

40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 ₡2,028

$0.88 MAD 8.31

418.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ₡704

$0.65 MAD 6.18

143.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.82 ₡1,699

$0.61 MAD 5.79

526.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 ₡962

$0.60 MAD 5.71

260.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₡379

$0.59 MAD 5.63

44.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.18 ₡1,415

$0.56 MAD 5.29

467.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ₡2,009

$4.29 MAD 40.69

5.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.34 ₡9,042

$11.83 MAD 112

71.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₡1,250

$1.28 MAD 12.16

119.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 ₡1,152

$1.36 MAD 12.88

90.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ₡605

$0.75 MAD 7.11

81.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.97 MAD 180

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₡1,088

$0.64 MAD 6.10

282.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 ₡732

$0.61 MAD 5.79

170.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.89 ₡3,950

$6.15 MAD 58.4

44.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 ₡687

$1.41 MAD 13.35

9.93%

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

$22.3K ₡9.9M

$34.7K MAD 329.3K

-35.76%

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

$34.9K ₡15.5M

$30.0K MAD 284.7K

16.14%

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

$95.2 ₡42.3K

$24.09 MAD 228

295.31%

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

$37.20 ₡16.5K

$10.64 MAD 101

249.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.98 ₡14.7K

$21.14 MAD 201

56.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.6 ₡33.2K

$26.08 MAD 247

186.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.55 MAD 204

Cinema Ticket

$8.27 ₡3,675

$5.39 MAD 51.1

53.43%

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

$1,006 ₡447.2K

$69.9 MAD 663

1339.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.2K ₡7.6M

$1,925 MAD 18.3K

793.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 ₡30.0K

$18.66 MAD 177

261.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.71 ₡19.9K

$15.60 MAD 148

186.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.9 ₡39.9K

$59.5 MAD 564

51.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.1 ₡34.7K

$31.75 MAD 301

145.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$814 ₡361.9K

$193 MAD 1,826

322.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 ₡287.2K

$115 MAD 1,087

463.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,844 ₡819.5K

$331 MAD 3,138

457.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,269 ₡564.1K

$226 MAD 2,143

461.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,236 MAD 11.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$853 MAD 8,089

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$320 MAD 3,036

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

6.5

35.08%

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

Last update for Guanacaste: September 13, 2026

Last update for Guelmim: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $814 in Guanacaste versus $193 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 $49.00 in Guanacaste versus $25.00 in Guelmim. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $314 vs $159 – 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 180%, 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 $2,395 per month in Guanacaste and $856 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 $1,597 in Guanacaste and $571 in Guelmim. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,006 per month in Guanacaste and $69.9 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 $571, than in Guanacaste at $1,597. 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.