😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Guatemala City versus $745 in San Miguel Dueñas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,999 in Guatemala City versus $1,248 in San Miguel Dueñas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,668 in Guatemala City versus $1,752 in San Miguel Dueñas.
🌍Living in Guatemala City is roughly 79% more expensive than in San Miguel Dueñas, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Guatemala City3% lower, San Miguel Dueñas46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala City
San Miguel Dueñas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.00Q 53.4
$6.84Q 52.2
2.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.0Q 382
$50.4Q 385
-0.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.84Q 59.8
$7.81Q 59.6
0.38%
Cappuccino
$3.30Q 25.18
$3.29Q 25.09
0.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10Q 8.41
$1.15Q 8.78
-4.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90Q 6.90
$0.85Q 6.51
5.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37Q 25.72
$3.34Q 25.47
0.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66Q 35.57
$4.71Q 35.91
-1.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala City
San Miguel Dueñas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.08Q 15.84
$2.07Q 15.81
0.48%
White Bread(500g)
$2.95Q 22.48
$2.86Q 21.84
3.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03Q 15.45
$2.13Q 16.24
-4.69%
Eggs
$2.45Q 18.67
$2.51Q 19.16
-2.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.23Q 47.53
$6.40Q 48.80
-2.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56Q 72.9
$9.52Q 72.6
0.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.32Q 102
$13.26Q 101
0.45%
Apples(1kg)
$4.01Q 30.57
$3.84Q 29.33
4.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72Q 13.11
$1.67Q 12.72
2.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91Q 22.22
$2.83Q 21.59
2.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Q 11.99
$1.58Q 12.07
-0.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56Q 11.90
$1.50Q 11.42
4.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17Q 16.59
$2.10Q 16.04
3.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68Q 5.16
$0.68Q 5.19
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17Q 8.92
$1.16Q 8.83
0.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04Q 30.83
$3.95Q 30.14
2.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.17Q 62.3
$8.04Q 61.3
1.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75Q 13.32
$1.79Q 13.67
-2.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68Q 20.43
$2.62Q 20.00
2.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala City
San Miguel Dueñas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.34Q 10.21
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.35Q 109
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.13Q 39.10
$5.38Q 41.05
-4.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.64Q 81.1
$10.42Q 79.5
2.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22Q 9.30
$1.24Q 9.43
-1.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1KQ 206.8K
$27.9KQ 212.7K
-2.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KQ 196.6K
$25.8KQ 196.8K
-0.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala City
San Miguel Dueñas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.4Q 590
$75.2Q 574
2.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.79Q 220
$29.53Q 225
-2.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.28Q 353
$45.82Q 350
1.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala City
San Miguel Dueñas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.97Q 297
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.05Q 99.5
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.55Q 49.99
$6.38Q 48.69
2.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala City
San Miguel Dueñas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$343Q 2,617
$337Q 2,569
1.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,605Q 50.4K
$6,600Q 50.3K
0.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala City
San Miguel Dueñas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.47Q 354
$46.07Q 351
0.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.00Q 359
$46.80Q 357
0.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109Q 834
$111Q 845
-1.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111Q 846
$113Q 861
-1.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala City
San Miguel Dueñas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$815Q 6,216
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$539Q 4,112
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,576Q 12.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$815Q 6,219
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,079Q 15.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,101Q 8,395
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala City
San Miguel Dueñas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$849Q 6,474
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.62
11.62
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guatemala City: September 7, 2026
Last update for San Miguel Dueñas: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Guatemala City vs $50.0 in San Miguel Dueñas. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $279, with San Miguel Dueñas cheaper for home cooking.
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 San Miguel Dueñas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guatemala City or San Miguel Dueñas?
San Miguel Dueñas wins on cost – living expenses run 79% lower than in Guatemala City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Miguel Dueñas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Guatemala City and in San Miguel Dueñas?
You'd need roughly $1,996 in Guatemala City and $1,117 in San Miguel Dueñas to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Guatemala City and in San Miguel Dueñas?
Childcare runs $343 in Guatemala City versus $337 in San Miguel Dueñas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Guatemala City and in San Miguel Dueñas?
Dining out is cheaper in San Miguel Dueñas – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $50.0 in Guatemala City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Guatemala City or in San Miguel Dueñas?
At $745 in San Miguel Dueñas versus $1,331 in Guatemala City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Miguel Dueñas but tight or insufficient in Guatemala City. The gap between the two cities makes San Miguel Dueñas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Guatemala City or San Miguel Dueñas?
Both work as nomad bases, but San Miguel Dueñas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $745 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Miguel Dueñas hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find San Miguel Dueñas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Guatemala City. 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