🙂A single person spends $842 per month in Guatemala vs $2,214 in Canada, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,334 per month in Guatemala vs $3,247 in Canada, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,826 per month in Guatemala vs $4,279 in Canada, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Guatemala is roughly 62% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Guatemala sits 39% below the global median, while Canada is 61% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.94Q 60.6
$17.99CA$24.90
-55.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.57Q 378
$71.3CA$98.7
-30.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.98Q 60.9
$10.91CA$15.10
-26.86%
Cappuccino
$3.59Q 27.40
$3.88CA$5.37
-7.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51Q 11.49
$2.17CA$3.01
-30.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13Q 8.64
$1.67CA$2.32
-32.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25Q 24.83
$5.80CA$8.03
-43.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22Q 39.79
$5.81CA$8.05
-10.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.04Q 15.53
$2.19CA$3.04
-6.85%
White Bread(500g)
$3.09Q 23.61
$2.75CA$3.81
12.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95Q 14.84
$3.69CA$5.11
-47.15%
Eggs
$2.49Q 18.97
$3.68CA$5.09
-32.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.33Q 55.9
$10.83CA$15.00
-32.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.13Q 77.3
$12.20CA$16.89
-16.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.08Q 92.2
$15.58CA$21.58
-22.46%
Apples(1kg)
$4.03Q 30.78
$4.18CA$5.79
-3.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26Q 17.21
$1.42CA$1.96
59.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.41Q 33.64
$4.02CA$5.57
9.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.70Q 12.97
$4.17CA$5.78
-59.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83Q 13.94
$2.73CA$3.78
-32.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.24Q 17.08
$2.54CA$3.52
-11.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79Q 6.05
$2.57CA$3.55
-69.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22Q 9.27
$1.72CA$2.38
-29.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.83Q 29.18
$14.43CA$19.98
-73.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98Q 60.9
$13.62CA$18.86
-41.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35Q 17.94
$2.90CA$4.01
-18.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08Q 23.53
$3.26CA$4.52
-5.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65Q 12.59
$2.48CA$3.43
-33.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.13Q 108
$74.9CA$104
-81.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.21Q 39.75
$3.11CA$4.31
67.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.74Q 13.28
$1.48CA$2.05
17.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.53Q 80.3
$27.37CA$37.90
-61.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18Q 9.01
$1.17CA$1.63
0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3KQ 162.4K
$28.1KCA$38.9K
-24.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6KQ 187.8K
$20.0KCA$27.7K
23.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.5Q 522
$154CA$214
-55.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.49Q 255
$43.31CA$60.0
-22.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.0Q 404
$60.3CA$83.5
-12.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.03Q 328
$41.22CA$57.1
4.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.76Q 120
$20.08CA$27.80
-21.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.29Q 47.98
$11.64CA$16.12
-45.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$357Q 2,721
$782CA$1,083
-54.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,656Q 58.4K
$14.8KCA$20.5K
-48.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.40Q 339
$54.9CA$76.1
-19.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5Q 385
$39.73CA$55.0
26.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102Q 780
$90.3CA$125
13.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114Q 868
$107CA$148
6.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$861Q 6,569
$1,317CA$1,824
-34.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$545Q 4,158
$1,136CA$1,572
-52.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,616Q 12.3K
$2,089CA$2,892
-22.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$910Q 6,945
$1,809CA$2,505
-49.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,285Q 17.4K
$4,846CA$6,710
-52.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,155Q 8,807
$3,928CA$5,439
-70.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$626Q 4,773
$2,998CA$4,151
-79.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.62
4.86
139.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guatemala: August 30, 2026
Last update for Canada: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $177 in Guatemala vs $1,225 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $828 in Guatemala City and $1,501 in Ottawa.
💰Average salary: $691 in Guatemala vs $2,968 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 592% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 43% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 5800% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are 330% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.
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 Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Guatemala?
Guatemala is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 243% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Guatemala, contributing to the overall 243% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Canada or in Guatemala?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Guatemala, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada 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.