Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala City and Ventura, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Guatemala City: $1,347 a month against $3,492 in Ventura, CA, rent and utilities included – about $25,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Guatemala City, Guatemala
Ventura, CA, United States
Guatemala City
🇬🇹 Guatemala
$1,347
/mo nomad
Ventura, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,492
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Guatemala City and in Ventura, 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 Ventura, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,347 in Guatemala City versus $3,492 in Ventura, CA.

  • Guatemala City $1,347
  • Ventura, CA $3,492

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,028 in Guatemala City versus $4,773 in Ventura, CA.

  • Guatemala City $2,028
  • Ventura, CA $4,773

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,710 in Guatemala City versus $6,054 in Ventura, CA.

  • Guatemala City $2,710
  • Ventura, CA $6,054

Living in Guatemala City costs roughly 61% less than in Ventura, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala City
Ventura, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.76 Q 59.3
$25.26 $25.26
-69.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.88 Q 381
$70.2 $70.2
-28.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.72 Q 59.0
$11.65 $11.65
-33.73%
Cappuccino
$3.31 Q 25.28
$5.63 $5.63
-41.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 Q 8.98
$2.69 $2.69
-56.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 Q 7.75
$2.02 $2.02
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 Q 24.29
$6.89 $6.89
-53.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 Q 36.00
$9.15 $9.15
-48.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala City
Ventura, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.08 Q 15.88
$1.15 $1.15
80.87%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 Q 23.78
$5.67 $5.67
-45.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.12 Q 16.19
$2.19 $2.19
-3.20%
Eggs
$2.44 Q 18.68
$5.09 $5.09
-52.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.19 Q 47.28
$8.83 $8.83
-29.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.64 Q 73.7
$8.56 $8.56
12.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.48 Q 103
$13.82 $13.82
-2.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 Q 30.43
$3.26 $3.26
22.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 Q 12.58
$1.54 $1.54
7.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Q 21.66
$3.38 $3.38
-16.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 Q 12.48
$4.35 $4.35
-62.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 Q 11.70
$2.23 $2.23
-31.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 Q 16.63
$3.51 $3.51
-37.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 Q 5.26
$2.03 $2.03
-66.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 Q 8.94
$2.19 $2.19
-46.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.01 Q 30.62
$10.76 $10.76
-62.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.08 Q 61.7
$14.54 $14.54
-44.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 Q 13.71
$1.77 $1.77
1.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 Q 20.46
$2.80 $2.80
-4.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala City
Ventura, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 Q 7.69
$1.98 $1.98
-48.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.11 Q 84.9
$56.9 $56.9
-80.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.17 Q 39.48
$2.23 $2.23
131.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.43 $1.43
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.66 Q 81.5
$24.84 $24.84
-57.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 Q 10.47
$1.50 $1.50
-8.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K Q 207.4K
$27.9K $27.9K
-2.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K Q 190.7K
$26.6K $26.6K
-6.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala City
Ventura, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.1 Q 559
$152 $152
-51.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.48 Q 225
$57.1 $57.1
-48.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.73 Q 349
$69.3 $69.3
-34.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala City
Ventura, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.04 Q 291
$35.43 $35.43
7.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.79 Q 97.8
$19.95 $19.95
-35.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.57 Q 50.2
$11.92 $11.92
-44.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala City
Ventura, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$338 Q 2,582
$1,113 $1,113
-69.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K Q 120.8K
$8,339 $8,339
89.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala City
Ventura, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.96 Q 382
$50.3 $50.3
-0.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.37 Q 362
$29.59 $29.59
60.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 Q 908
$66.3 $66.3
79.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 Q 845
$86.2 $86.2
28.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala City
Ventura, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$835 Q 6,383
$2,660 $2,660
-68.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$538 Q 4,114
$2,240 $2,240
-75.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,568 Q 12.0K
$3,754 $3,754
-58.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$823 Q 6,292
$3,251 $3,251
-74.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,041 Q 15.6K
$6,993 $6,993
-70.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,099 Q 8,398
$5,808 $5,808
-81.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala City
Ventura, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$846 Q 6,463
$4,220 $4,220
-79.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.62
6.44
80.43%

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

Last update for Guatemala City: November 3, 2026

Last update for Ventura, CA: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Guatemala City
$538
Ventura, CA
$2.2K 316% $1.7K
Groceries & Markets
Guatemala City
$283
Ventura, CA
$361 27.5% $78
Eating Out
Guatemala City
$159
Ventura, CA
$376 137% $217
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala City
$148
Ventura, CA
$278 87.5% $130
Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala City
$147
Ventura, CA
$105 28.9% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala City
$51
Ventura, CA
$59 15.8% $8.1
Getting Around
Guatemala City
$20 *
Ventura, CA
$74 265% $54

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 $2,660 in Ventura, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ventura, CA pays about 5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $50 in Guatemala City vs $70 in Ventura, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $361 per month, with Guatemala City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇹 Guatemala City
🇺🇸 Ventura, CA
🕒 Local time
17:37 5:37 PM
15:37 3:37 PM
2 h behind Guatemala City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,450,212 Capital
104,423
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 Ventura, CA 3,620 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Guatemala City
  • Ventura, 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 Ventura, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guatemala City or Ventura, CA?
Guatemala City wins on cost – living expenses run 61% lower than in Ventura, 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 Ventura, CA?
On paper, salaries run 80% 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 Ventura, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $835 in Guatemala City versus $2,660 in Ventura, 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 Ventura, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Guatemala City – a meal for two runs $50 versus $70 in Ventura, 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 Ventura, CA?
All in, you’ll spend $1,347 per month in Guatemala City versus $3,492 in Ventura, CA – Guatemala City is about 61% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Guatemala City or in Ventura, 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 digital nomads, Guatemala City or Ventura, CA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Guatemala City delivers better value at $1,347 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Guatemala City hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Guatemala City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Ventura, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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