Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala City and Palm Springs, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Guatemala City: $1,347 a month against $2,842 in Palm Springs, CA, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Guatemala City, Guatemala
Palm Springs, CA, United States
Guatemala City
🇬🇹 Guatemala
$1,347
/mo nomad
Palm Springs, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,842
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Guatemala City and in Palm Springs, CA

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 Palm Springs, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,347 in Guatemala City versus $2,842 in Palm Springs, CA.

  • Guatemala City $1,347
  • Palm Springs, CA $2,842

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,028 in Guatemala City versus $4,583 in Palm Springs, CA.

  • Guatemala City $2,028
  • Palm Springs, CA $4,583

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,710 in Guatemala City versus $6,323 in Palm Springs, CA.

  • Guatemala City $2,710
  • Palm Springs, CA $6,323

Living in Guatemala City costs roughly 53% less than in Palm Springs, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala City
Palm Springs, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.76 Q 59.3
$29.92 $29.92
-74.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.88 Q 381
$74.5 $74.5
-33.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.72 Q 59.0
$9.96 $9.96
-22.49%
Cappuccino
$3.31 Q 25.28
$5.62 $5.62
-41.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 Q 8.98
$2.82 $2.82
-58.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 Q 7.75
$1.53 $1.53
-33.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 Q 24.29
$4.96 $4.96
-35.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 Q 36.00
$5.72 $5.72
-17.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala City
Palm Springs, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.08 Q 15.88
$1.28 $1.28
62.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 Q 23.78
$3.95 $3.95
-21.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.12 Q 16.19
$2.90 $2.90
-26.90%
Eggs
$2.44 Q 18.68
$5.52 $5.52
-55.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.19 Q 47.28
$14.16 $14.16
-56.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.64 Q 73.7
$13.80 $13.80
-30.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.48 Q 103
$12.59 $12.59
7.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 Q 30.43
$5.04 $5.04
-21.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 Q 12.58
$2.14 $2.14
-22.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Q 21.66
$4.47 $4.47
-36.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 Q 12.48
$4.90 $4.90
-66.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 Q 11.70
$4.58 $4.58
-66.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 Q 16.63
$4.26 $4.26
-48.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 Q 5.26
$2.20 $2.20
-68.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 Q 8.94
$2.24 $2.24
-47.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.01 Q 30.62
$11.85 $11.85
-66.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.08 Q 61.7
$13.37 $13.37
-39.57%
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
$2.73 $2.73
-1.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala City
Palm Springs, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 Q 7.69
$1.01 $1.01
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.11 Q 84.9
$34.37 $34.37
-67.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.17 Q 39.48
$4.03 $4.03
28.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$7.42 $7.42
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.66 Q 81.5
$23.75 $23.75
-55.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 Q 10.47
$1.46 $1.46
-6.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K Q 207.4K
$30.4K $30.4K
-10.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K Q 190.7K
$25.9K $25.9K
-3.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala City
Palm Springs, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.1 Q 559
$243 $243
-69.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.48 Q 225
$81.9 $81.9
-64.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.73 Q 349
$66.7 $66.7
-31.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala City
Palm Springs, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.04 Q 291
$76.0 $76.0
-49.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.79 Q 97.8
$49.15 $49.15
-73.98%
Cinema Ticket
$6.57 Q 50.2
$12.23 $12.23
-46.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala City
Palm Springs, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$338 Q 2,582
$551 $551
-38.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K Q 120.8K
$10.7K $10.7K
47.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala City
Palm Springs, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.96 Q 382
$30.90 $30.90
61.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.37 Q 362
$34.51 $34.51
37.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 Q 908
$70.9 $70.9
67.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 Q 845
$140 $140
-21.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala City
Palm Springs, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$835 Q 6,383
$2,014 $2,014
-58.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$538 Q 4,114
$1,342 $1,342
-59.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,568 Q 12.0K
$3,425 $3,425
-54.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$823 Q 6,292
$3,016 $3,016
-72.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,041 Q 15.6K
$5,391 $5,391
-62.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,099 Q 8,398
$3,594 $3,594
-69.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala City
Palm Springs, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$846 Q 6,463
$4,616 $4,616
-81.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.62
6.68
73.95%

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

Last update for Guatemala City: November 3, 2026

Last update for Palm Springs, CA: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Guatemala City
$538
Palm Springs, CA
$1.3K 149% $804
Groceries & Markets
Guatemala City
$283
Palm Springs, CA
$414 46.4% $131
Eating Out
Guatemala City
$159
Palm Springs, CA
$390 145% $231
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala City
$148
Palm Springs, CA
$391 164% $243
Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala City
$147
Palm Springs, CA
$125 15.3% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala City
$51
Palm Springs, CA
$100 96.3% $49
Getting Around
Guatemala City
$20 *
Palm Springs, CA
$80 292% $59

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $835 in Guatemala City and $2,014 in Palm Springs, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Palm Springs, CA pays about 5.5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $50 in Guatemala City vs $75 in Palm Springs, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $414 per month, with Guatemala City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇹 Guatemala City
🇺🇸 Palm Springs, CA
🕒 Local time
18:03 6:03 PM
16:03 4:03 PM
2 h behind Guatemala City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,450,212 Capital
44,575
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GTQ – Guatemalan Quetzal Converter

Guatemalan Quetzal exchange rates as of November 7, 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 7, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.895 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Guatemala City Palm Springs, CA 3,370 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Guatemala City
  • Palm Springs, CA

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 Palm Springs, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guatemala City or Palm Springs, CA?
Guatemala City wins on cost – living expenses run 53% lower than in Palm Springs, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Guatemala City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Guatemala City or in Palm Springs, CA?
On paper, salaries run 82% lower in Guatemala City. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Guatemala City compared to Palm Springs, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $835 in Guatemala City versus $2,014 in Palm Springs, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Guatemala City and in Palm Springs, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Guatemala City – a meal for two runs $50 versus $75 in Palm Springs, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Guatemala City compared to Palm Springs, CA?
All in, you’ll spend $1,347 per month in Guatemala City versus $2,842 in Palm Springs, CA – Guatemala City is about 53% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Guatemala City or in Palm Springs, CA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Guatemala City is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for families?
For families, Guatemala City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Palm Springs, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Guatemala City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Palm Springs, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Guatemala City vs other spots: cost of living compared

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