Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala City and Auburn, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Guatemala City: $1,347 a month against $2,623 in Auburn, WA, rent and utilities included – about $15,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Guatemala City, Guatemala
Auburn, WA, United States
Guatemala City
🇬🇹 Guatemala
$1,347
/mo nomad
Auburn, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,623
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Guatemala City and in Auburn, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Guatemala City and in Auburn, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,347 per month in Guatemala City vs $2,623 in Auburn, WA, rent included.

  • Guatemala City $1,347
  • Auburn, WA $2,623

A couple spends around $2,028 per month in Guatemala City vs $4,089 in Auburn, WA, rent included.

  • Guatemala City $2,028
  • Auburn, WA $4,089

A family of three spends $2,710 per month in Guatemala City vs $5,556 in Auburn, WA, rent included.

  • Guatemala City $2,710
  • Auburn, WA $5,556

Guatemala City is about 49% cheaper than Auburn, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala City
Auburn, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.76 Q 59.3
$19.88 $19.88
-60.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.88 Q 381
$94.1 $94.1
-47.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.72 Q 59.0
$11.69 $11.69
-33.96%
Cappuccino
$3.31 Q 25.28
$4.44 $4.44
-25.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 Q 8.98
$1.94 $1.94
-39.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 Q 7.75
$1.97 $1.97
-48.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 Q 24.29
$4.86 $4.86
-34.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 Q 36.00
$6.84 $6.84
-31.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala City
Auburn, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.08 Q 15.88
$0.97 $0.97
114.43%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 Q 23.78
$2.45 $2.45
26.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.12 Q 16.19
$3.89 $3.89
-45.50%
Eggs
$2.44 Q 18.68
$2.92 $2.92
-16.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.19 Q 47.28
$9.03 $9.03
-31.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.64 Q 73.7
$13.60 $13.60
-29.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.48 Q 103
$18.12 $18.12
-25.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 Q 30.43
$4.89 $4.89
-18.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 Q 12.58
$1.77 $1.77
-6.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Q 21.66
$3.80 $3.80
-25.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 Q 12.48
$4.05 $4.05
-59.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 Q 11.70
$3.08 $3.08
-50.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 Q 16.63
$3.25 $3.25
-32.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 Q 5.26
$1.77 $1.77
-61.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 Q 8.94
$2.13 $2.13
-45.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.01 Q 30.62
$11.05 $11.05
-63.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.08 Q 61.7
$15.21 $15.21
-46.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 Q 13.71
$1.61 $1.61
11.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 Q 20.46
$2.90 $2.90
-7.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala City
Auburn, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 Q 7.69
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.11 Q 84.9
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.17 Q 39.48
$3.45 $3.45
49.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.81 $1.81
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.66 Q 81.5
$49.08 $49.08
-78.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 Q 10.47
$1.24 $1.24
10.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K Q 207.4K
$25.8K $25.8K
5.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K Q 190.7K
$24.6K $24.6K
1.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala City
Auburn, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.1 Q 559
$216 $216
-66.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.48 Q 225
$39.80 $39.80
-25.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.73 Q 349
$80.0 $80.0
-42.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala City
Auburn, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.04 Q 291
$34.86 $34.86
9.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.79 Q 97.8
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.57 Q 50.2
$14.97 $14.97
-56.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala City
Auburn, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$338 Q 2,582
$1,076 $1,076
-68.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K Q 120.8K
$12.1K $12.1K
31.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala City
Auburn, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.96 Q 382
$57.3 $57.3
-12.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.37 Q 362
$47.65 $47.65
-0.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 Q 908
$78.5 $78.5
51.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 Q 845
$79.7 $79.7
38.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala City
Auburn, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$835 Q 6,383
$1,516 $1,516
-44.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$538 Q 4,114
$1,416 $1,416
-61.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,568 Q 12.0K
$2,296 $2,296
-31.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$823 Q 6,292
$2,819 $2,819
-70.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,041 Q 15.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,099 Q 8,398
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala City
Auburn, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$846 Q 6,463
$6,748 $6,748
-87.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.62
6.59
76.33%

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

Last update for Guatemala City: November 3, 2026

Last update for Auburn, WA: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Guatemala City
$538
Auburn, WA
$1.4K 163% $878
Groceries & Markets
Guatemala City
$283
Auburn, WA
$374 32.2% $91
Eating Out
Guatemala City
$159
Auburn, WA
$301 89.3% $142
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala City
$148
Auburn, WA
$336 127% $188
Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala City
$147
Auburn, WA
$118 19.5% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala City
$51
Auburn, WA
$65 26.7% $14
Getting Around
Guatemala City
$20 *
Auburn, WA
$13 * 38.4% $7.8

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $835 in Guatemala City versus $1,516 in Auburn, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Auburn, WA are about 8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50 in Guatemala City versus $94 in Auburn, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $374 – making Guatemala City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇹 Guatemala City
🇺🇸 Auburn, WA
🕒 Local time
17:04 5:04 PM
15:04 3:04 PM
2 h behind Guatemala City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,450,212 Capital
76,143
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GTQ – Guatemalan Quetzal Converter

Guatemalan Quetzal exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 7.64 GTQ (1 GTQ = 0.131 USD). 1 EUR = 8.54 GTQ (1 GTQ = 0.117 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.895 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Guatemala City Auburn, WA 4,660 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Guatemala City
  • Auburn, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Guatemala City vs Auburn, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guatemala City or Auburn, WA?
Auburn, WA costs about 95% more than Guatemala City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Guatemala City and in Auburn, WA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,021 per month in Guatemala City and $3,934 in Auburn, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Guatemala City or Auburn, WA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guatemala City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $835 there versus $1,516 in Auburn, WA.
How much does it cost to live in Guatemala City compared to Auburn, WA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,347 in Guatemala City and $2,623 in Auburn, WA. That makes Guatemala City about 49% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Guatemala City and in Auburn, WA?
Kindergarten costs $338 per month in Guatemala City and $1,076 in Auburn, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Guatemala City or in Auburn, WA?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,347 in Guatemala City and $2,623 in Auburn, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Guatemala City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Guatemala City or to Auburn, WA?
If budget matters most, go with Guatemala City. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Auburn, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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