Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $789 per month in Guatemala vs $2,181 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,251 per month in Guatemala vs $3,218 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,713 per month in Guatemala vs $4,254 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Guatemala is roughly 64% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Guatemala sits 41% below the global median, while Australia is 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Cost ranges are similar: Guatemala spans $112$1,285, Australia $1,595$2,799. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.80 Q 44.25
$15.97 A$22.93
-63.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.95 Q 381
$79.0 A$113
-36.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.57 Q 50.1
$9.68 A$13.91
-32.13%
Cappuccino
$3.38 Q 25.81
$3.58 A$5.15
-5.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Q 10.32
$2.56 A$3.68
-47.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 Q 7.64
$2.22 A$3.19
-54.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 Q 24.63
$6.34 A$9.10
-49.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.26 Q 40.07
$6.95 A$9.98
-24.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 Q 14.78
$1.56 A$2.25
24.36%
White Bread (500g)
$2.69 Q 20.53
$2.53 A$3.63
6.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 Q 14.04
$2.00 A$2.87
-8.00%
Eggs
$2.34 Q 17.84
$4.26 A$6.12
-45.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 Q 58.5
$8.75 A$12.57
-12.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.10 Q 61.7
$8.23 A$11.83
-1.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.72 Q 74.1
$14.15 A$20.33
-31.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Q 27.10
$3.26 A$4.69
8.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 Q 12.85
$2.81 A$4.04
-39.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.29 Q 25.05
$3.00 A$4.31
9.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 Q 11.03
$4.31 A$6.19
-66.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 Q 11.46
$2.55 A$3.67
-41.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 Q 13.55
$2.16 A$3.10
-17.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 Q 5.96
$2.22 A$3.19
-64.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 Q 8.44
$1.53 A$2.20
-27.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.74 Q 28.48
$31.28 A$44.93
-88.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.15 Q 62.1
$14.09 A$20.24
-42.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 Q 14.63
$4.44 A$6.38
-56.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Q 21.01
$4.90 A$7.05
-43.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 Q 8.04
$2.95 A$4.24
-64.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.24 Q 101
$95.9 A$138
-86.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.67 Q 27.98
$3.49 A$5.01
5.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.84 A$2.64
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.27 Q 78.3
$37.26 A$53.5
-72.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 Q 8.55
$1.17 A$1.68
-4.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K Q 136.6K
$28.7K A$41.3K
-37.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K Q 176.7K
$22.5K A$32.3K
3.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.0 Q 450
$173 A$249
-65.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.77 Q 219
$26.62 A$38.23
8.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.9 Q 395
$53.1 A$76.2
-2.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.99 Q 343
$46.82 A$67.3
-3.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.45 Q 194
$16.38 A$23.53
55.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.64 Q 50.6
$13.56 A$19.48
-51.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$265 Q 2,021
$1,571 A$2,256
-83.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,240 Q 62.8K
$12.6K A$18.1K
-34.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2 Q 390
$72.1 A$104
-29.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5 Q 393
$51.6 A$74.1
-0.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.2 Q 749
$101 A$145
-2.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 Q 778
$108 A$155
-5.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$683 Q 5,204
$1,398 A$2,008
-51.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$435 Q 3,317
$1,086 A$1,560
-59.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 Q 10.0K
$2,272 A$3,263
-42.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$711 Q 5,420
$1,751 A$2,515
-59.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,287 Q 17.4K
$7,955 A$11.4K
-71.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,120 Q 8,536
$5,978 A$8,587
-81.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$583 Q 4,448
$4,053 A$5,822
-85.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.71
6.35
37.17%

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

Last update for Guatemala: July 25, 2026

Last update for Australia: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $220 in Guatemala vs $1,230 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $741 in Guatemala City and $1,557 in Canberra.

Average salary: $703 in Guatemala vs $3,808 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 459% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 126% more in Australia.

Public transport is 6600% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 442% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

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 vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Guatemala?
Guatemala is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 215% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Guatemala, contributing to the overall 215% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in Guatemala?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Guatemala, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Guatemala?
Guatemala is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Guatemala vs other spots: cost of living compared

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