Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala City and Chiquimula Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala City and Chiquimula

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,361 per month in Guatemala City vs $823 in Chiquimula, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,031 per month in Guatemala City vs $1,348 in Chiquimula, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,702 per month in Guatemala City vs $1,872 in Chiquimula, rent included.

Guatemala City costs about 65% more than Chiquimula, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Guatemala City and Chiquimula are more affordable than the global median – Guatemala City 1% lower, Chiquimula 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.87 Q 52.3

$9.02 Q 68.7

-23.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.44 Q 377

$53.0 Q 404

-6.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 Q 60.2

$9.16 Q 69.8

-13.76%

Cappuccino

$3.37 Q 25.66

$3.93 Q 29.96

-14.25%

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

$1.16 Q 8.84

$2.19 Q 16.69

-47.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 Q 6.46

$1.45 Q 11.05

-41.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 Q 24.37

$3.76 Q 28.67

-14.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 Q 36.86

$6.07 Q 46.27

-20.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 Q 15.74

$2.01 Q 15.29

2.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.93 Q 22.33

$3.61 Q 27.48

-18.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 Q 15.87

$2.01 Q 15.28

3.48%

Eggs

$2.58 Q 19.66

$2.33 Q 17.79

10.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.38 Q 48.63

$5.56 Q 42.36

14.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.59 Q 73.1

$14.12 Q 108

-32.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 Q 103

$10.26 Q 78.2

31.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 Q 30.56

$4.97 Q 37.88

-19.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 Q 12.70

$2.25 Q 17.15

-25.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.81 Q 21.44

$5.12 Q 39.03

-45.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 Q 12.42

$1.63 Q 12.43

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 Q 11.51

$1.94 Q 14.78

-22.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 Q 15.85

$1.80 Q 13.72

15.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 Q 5.22

$1.34 Q 10.22

-49.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 Q 8.73

$1.36 Q 10.37

-15.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.01 Q 30.55

$3.96 Q 30.15

1.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.03 Q 61.2

$8.09 Q 61.7

-0.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 Q 13.17

$2.95 Q 22.49

-41.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 Q 19.97

$3.61 Q 27.54

-27.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 Q 9.88

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.15 Q 108

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 Q 38.97

$4.59 Q 34.96

11.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.67 Q 81.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 Q 9.31

$1.20 Q 9.12

1.67%

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

$27.6K Q 210.2K

$23.3K Q 177.8K

18.20%

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

$25.0K Q 190.2K

$22.0K Q 167.9K

13.28%

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

$76.1 Q 580

$58.4 Q 445

30.13%

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

$29.03 Q 221

$37.77 Q 288

-23.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.87 Q 350

$63.8 Q 486

-28.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 Q 301

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 Q 99.6

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 Q 48.65

$8.11 Q 61.8

-21.33%

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

$340 Q 2,591

$547 Q 4,166

-37.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,730 Q 51.3K

$14.2K Q 108.2K

-52.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.11 Q 351

$44.90 Q 342

2.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.80 Q 364

$52.8 Q 402

-9.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 Q 831

$92.7 Q 707

17.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 Q 875

$77.7 Q 592

47.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$836 Q 6,375

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 Q 4,082

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,540 Q 11.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$819 Q 6,241

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,032 Q 15.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,109 Q 8,453

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$844 Q 6,435

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.62

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

Last update for Guatemala City: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiquimula: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Guatemala City versus $53.0 in Chiquimula. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $281 vs $328 – making Guatemala City 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

Guatemala City vs Chiquimula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guatemala City is pricier by about 65%, 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 $2,041 per month in Guatemala City and $1,235 in Chiquimula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Guatemala City and $53.0 in Chiquimula. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Guatemala City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chiquimula, where all-in costs run around $823, than in Guatemala City at $1,361. In Chiquimula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guatemala City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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