Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $787 per month in Guatemala vs $2,316 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,247 per month in Guatemala vs $3,376 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,707 per month in Guatemala vs $4,436 in Canada, rent included.

Guatemala is roughly 66% cheaper than Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Guatemala sits 41% below the global median, while Canada is 73% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Canada has a wider regional cost range ($1,310$3,100) than Guatemala ($112$1,267), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Canada.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 Q 45.37
$18.44 CA$25.53
-67.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9 Q 388
$74.5 CA$103
-31.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.47 Q 49.29
$10.88 CA$15.07
-40.53%
Cappuccino
$3.52 Q 26.83
$3.90 CA$5.39
-9.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 Q 10.01
$2.16 CA$2.99
-39.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 Q 7.63
$1.73 CA$2.40
-42.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.27 Q 24.95
$5.74 CA$7.94
-43.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25 Q 40.02
$6.05 CA$8.37
-13.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 Q 15.44
$2.20 CA$3.05
-7.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 Q 20.43
$2.75 CA$3.81
-2.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 Q 13.92
$3.66 CA$5.07
-50.00%
Eggs
$2.26 Q 17.22
$3.63 CA$5.03
-37.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.39 Q 56.3
$11.72 CA$16.22
-36.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.12 Q 61.9
$12.28 CA$17.01
-33.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.60 Q 73.2
$14.88 CA$20.60
-35.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.56 Q 27.12
$4.14 CA$5.73
-14.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 Q 12.33
$1.45 CA$2.01
11.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.27 Q 24.89
$3.79 CA$5.25
-13.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 Q 11.57
$4.09 CA$5.66
-62.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 Q 11.40
$2.73 CA$3.78
-45.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 Q 14.09
$2.77 CA$3.83
-33.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 Q 6.00
$2.62 CA$3.62
-69.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 Q 8.43
$1.87 CA$2.59
-40.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86 Q 29.40
$14.79 CA$20.48
-73.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.30 Q 63.2
$13.08 CA$18.11
-36.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 Q 14.32
$3.03 CA$4.19
-37.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Q 21.92
$3.41 CA$4.72
-15.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 Q 7.77
$2.52 CA$3.49
-59.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.81 Q 97.6
$77.9 CA$108
-83.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 Q 26.99
$3.49 CA$4.83
1.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.48 CA$2.04
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.15 Q 77.4
$28.25 CA$39.12
-64.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 Q 8.15
$1.15 CA$1.59
-6.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K Q 137.8K
$25.4K CA$35.2K
-28.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K Q 170.8K
$20.6K CA$28.6K
8.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.7 Q 447
$155 CA$214
-62.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.61 Q 218
$45.76 CA$63.4
-37.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4 Q 400
$62.2 CA$86.1
-15.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.54 Q 339
$43.67 CA$60.5
1.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.03 Q 198
$18.14 CA$25.11
43.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.33 Q 48.26
$11.38 CA$15.76
-44.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$262 Q 1,995
$798 CA$1,104
-67.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,973 Q 60.8K
$12.1K CA$16.8K
-34.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8 Q 395
$56.8 CA$78.7
-8.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 Q 390
$42.19 CA$58.4
21.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 Q 741
$87.9 CA$122
10.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 Q 788
$106 CA$147
-2.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$665 Q 5,071
$1,359 CA$1,882
-51.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$436 Q 3,321
$1,204 CA$1,667
-63.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,318 Q 10.0K
$2,136 CA$2,957
-38.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$695 Q 5,293
$1,860 CA$2,575
-62.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,252 Q 17.2K
$4,642 CA$6,427
-51.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,126 Q 8,582
$3,852 CA$5,333
-70.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$582 Q 4,438
$3,029 CA$4,194
-80.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.71
6.33
37.60%

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

Last update for Guatemala: June 1, 2026

Last update for Canada: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $218 in Guatemala vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $716 in Guatemala City and $1,500 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $698 in Guatemala vs $2,972 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 488% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 100% more in Canada.

Public transport is 6400% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 326% higher in Canada, giving Canada stronger purchasing power.

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 220% 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 220% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Canada or 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 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.

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