🙂A single person spends $824 per month in Guatemala vs $2,509 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,316 per month in Guatemala vs $3,641 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,807 per month in Guatemala vs $4,772 in Australia, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Guatemala is roughly 67% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Guatemala sits 40% below the global median, while Australia is 83% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02Q 61.1
$18.16A$25.48
-55.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.31Q 376
$85.9A$120
-42.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.72Q 58.9
$10.87A$15.25
-28.98%
Cappuccino
$3.52Q 26.84
$4.11A$5.77
-14.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43Q 10.91
$3.04A$4.27
-52.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07Q 8.13
$2.47A$3.46
-56.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.30Q 25.15
$7.87A$11.04
-58.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29Q 40.35
$7.98A$11.19
-33.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.12Q 16.20
$1.73A$2.42
22.54%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22Q 24.52
$2.78A$3.90
15.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07Q 15.78
$2.38A$3.34
-13.03%
Eggs
$2.51Q 19.12
$5.08A$7.13
-50.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.10Q 46.50
$9.98A$14.00
-38.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.99Q 76.1
$9.24A$12.96
8.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.20Q 93.0
$15.49A$21.73
-21.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.94Q 30.03
$3.73A$5.23
5.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97Q 15.01
$3.02A$4.24
-34.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.32Q 32.91
$3.23A$4.53
33.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65Q 12.56
$4.88A$6.85
-66.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90Q 14.48
$2.87A$4.03
-33.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.24Q 17.06
$2.36A$3.31
-5.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82Q 6.22
$2.49A$3.49
-67.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21Q 9.21
$1.68A$2.35
-27.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.83Q 29.19
$38.51A$54.0
-90.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.40Q 64.0
$14.25A$19.99
-41.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25Q 17.18
$5.07A$7.11
-55.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25Q 24.74
$5.19A$7.28
-37.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.01Q 15.31
$2.78A$3.90
-27.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.08Q 107
$94.8A$133
-85.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.15Q 39.22
$3.52A$4.94
46.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67Q 12.73
$1.60A$2.24
4.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.30Q 78.5
$40.42A$56.7
-74.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26Q 9.61
$1.27A$1.79
-0.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KQ 163.7K
$28.3KA$39.8K
-24.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4KQ 186.3K
$28.6KA$40.2K
-14.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.4Q 529
$202A$283
-65.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.74Q 257
$29.08A$40.80
16.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4Q 399
$59.6A$83.6
-12.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.74Q 318
$59.3A$83.2
-29.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.56Q 119
$20.13A$28.23
-22.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.64Q 50.6
$15.75A$22.09
-57.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$357Q 2,720
$2,197A$3,083
-83.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,374Q 56.2K
$18.2KA$25.6K
-59.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.94Q 335
$79.3A$111
-44.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.83Q 380
$57.2A$80.3
-12.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100Q 764
$114A$160
-12.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107Q 819
$125A$175
-13.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$816Q 6,220
$1,581A$2,217
-48.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$508Q 3,876
$1,291A$1,811
-60.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,615Q 12.3K
$2,530A$3,549
-36.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$912Q 6,953
$1,982A$2,780
-53.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,255Q 17.2K
$8,571A$12.0K
-73.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,147Q 8,746
$6,120A$8,585
-81.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$649Q 4,950
$3,979A$5,583
-83.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.62
5.93
95.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guatemala: September 13, 2026
Last update for Australia: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $176 in Guatemala vs $1,387 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $836 in Guatemala City and $1,829 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $737 in Guatemala vs $3,903 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 688% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 83% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 7800% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 430% 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 228% 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 228% 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.