Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala City and Westminster, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Guatemala City: $1,347 a month against $2,865 in Westminster, CA, rent and utilities included – about $18,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Guatemala City, Guatemala
Westminster, CA, United States
Guatemala City
🇬🇹 Guatemala
$1,347
/mo nomad
Westminster, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,865
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,347 in Guatemala City versus $2,865 in Westminster, CA.

  • Guatemala City $1,347
  • Westminster, CA $2,865

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,028 in Guatemala City versus $4,075 in Westminster, CA.

  • Guatemala City $2,028
  • Westminster, CA $4,075

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,710 in Guatemala City versus $5,285 in Westminster, CA.

  • Guatemala City $2,710
  • Westminster, CA $5,285

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala City
Westminster, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.76 Q 59.3
$25.47 $25.47
-69.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.88 Q 381
$78.4 $78.4
-36.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.72 Q 59.0
$11.32 $11.32
-31.80%
Cappuccino
$3.31 Q 25.28
$5.75 $5.75
-42.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 Q 8.98
$2.71 $2.71
-56.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 Q 7.75
$2.03 $2.03
-50.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 Q 24.29
$7.33 $7.33
-56.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 Q 36.00
$10.12 $10.12
-53.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala City
Westminster, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.08 Q 15.88
$1.14 $1.14
82.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 Q 23.78
$5.03 $5.03
-38.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.12 Q 16.19
$4.29 $4.29
-50.58%
Eggs
$2.44 Q 18.68
$5.01 $5.01
-51.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.19 Q 47.28
$12.25 $12.25
-49.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.64 Q 73.7
$8.94 $8.94
7.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.48 Q 103
$14.10 $14.10
-4.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 Q 30.43
$4.86 $4.86
-18.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 Q 12.58
$1.79 $1.79
-7.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Q 21.66
$4.01 $4.01
-29.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 Q 12.48
$5.49 $5.49
-70.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 Q 11.70
$3.50 $3.50
-56.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 Q 16.63
$3.19 $3.19
-31.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 Q 5.26
$2.17 $2.17
-68.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 Q 8.94
$2.31 $2.31
-49.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.01 Q 30.62
$11.84 $11.84
-66.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.08 Q 61.7
$15.11 $15.11
-46.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 Q 13.71
$1.68 $1.68
6.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 Q 20.46
$3.64 $3.64
-26.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala City
Westminster, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 Q 7.69
$2.25 $2.25
-55.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.11 Q 84.9
$63.8 $63.8
-82.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.17 Q 39.48
$4.58 $4.58
12.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.88 $1.88
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.66 Q 81.5
$35.77 $35.77
-70.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 Q 10.47
$1.58 $1.58
-13.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K Q 207.4K
$27.2K $27.2K
-0.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K Q 190.7K
$26.0K $26.0K
-4.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala City
Westminster, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.1 Q 559
$216 $216
-66.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.48 Q 225
$71.0 $71.0
-58.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.73 Q 349
$69.2 $69.2
-33.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala City
Westminster, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.04 Q 291
$36.41 $36.41
4.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.79 Q 97.8
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.57 Q 50.2
$11.84 $11.84
-44.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala City
Westminster, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$338 Q 2,582
$1,197 $1,197
-71.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K Q 120.8K
$12.6K $12.6K
25.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala City
Westminster, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.96 Q 382
$74.0 $74.0
-32.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.37 Q 362
$48.28 $48.28
-1.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 Q 908
$106 $106
11.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 Q 845
$102 $102
8.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala City
Westminster, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$835 Q 6,383
$1,570 $1,570
-46.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$538 Q 4,114
$1,430 $1,430
-62.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,568 Q 12.0K
$2,361 $2,361
-33.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$823 Q 6,292
$2,140 $2,140
-61.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,041 Q 15.6K
$2,671 $2,671
-23.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,099 Q 8,398
$2,175 $2,175
-49.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala City
Westminster, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$846 Q 6,463
$4,390 $4,390
-80.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.62
6.31
84.15%

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

Last update for Guatemala City: November 3, 2026

Last update for Westminster, CA: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Guatemala City
$538
Westminster, CA
$1.4K 166% $892
Groceries & Markets
Guatemala City
$283
Westminster, CA
$400 41.6% $118
Eating Out
Guatemala City
$159
Westminster, CA
$383 141% $223
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala City
$148
Westminster, CA
$356 140% $208
Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala City
$147
Westminster, CA
$149 1.3% $1.8
Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala City
$51
Westminster, CA
$60 17.4% $8.9
Getting Around
Guatemala City
$20 *
Westminster, CA
$87 328% $67

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 $1,570 in Westminster, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Westminster, CA pays about 5.2 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $50 in Guatemala City vs $78 in Westminster, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $400 per month, with Guatemala City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇹 Guatemala City
🇺🇸 Westminster, CA
🕒 Local time
10:20 10:20 AM
08:20 8:20 AM
2 h behind Guatemala City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,450,212 Capital
110,945
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 = 8.58 GTQ (1 GTQ = 0.117 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Guatemala City Westminster, CA 3,490 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Guatemala City
  • Westminster, 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 Westminster, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guatemala City or Westminster, CA?
Guatemala City wins on cost – living expenses run 53% lower than in Westminster, 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 Westminster, CA?
On paper, salaries run 81% 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 Westminster, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $835 in Guatemala City versus $1,570 in Westminster, 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 Westminster, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Guatemala City – a meal for two runs $50 versus $78 in Westminster, 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 Westminster, CA?
All in, you’ll spend $1,347 per month in Guatemala City versus $2,865 in Westminster, 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 Westminster, 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 offers a better quality of life: Guatemala City or Westminster, CA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Guatemala City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Westminster, 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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