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