Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala and United Kingdom Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala and United Kingdom

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in Guatemala versus $2,363 in United Kingdom.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,247 in Guatemala versus $3,474 in United Kingdom.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,707 in Guatemala versus $4,585 in United Kingdom.

Living in Guatemala costs about 67% less than in United Kingdom on average.

Guatemala (41% below) and United Kingdom (76% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,678 to $3,892, compared to $112$1,267 in Guatemala. City choice carries more weight in United Kingdom.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guatemala
United Kingdom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 Q 45.37
$20.41 £15.17
-70.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9 Q 388
$87.0 £64.7
-41.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.47 Q 49.29
$10.13 £7.53
-36.13%
Cappuccino
$3.52 Q 26.83
$4.70 £3.49
-25.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 Q 10.01
$2.36 £1.75
-44.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 Q 7.63
$1.76 £1.30
-43.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.27 Q 24.95
$6.66 £4.95
-50.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25 Q 40.02
$6.43 £4.78
-18.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guatemala
United Kingdom
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 Q 15.44
$1.70 £1.27
19.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 Q 20.43
$1.63 £1.21
64.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 Q 13.92
$2.29 £1.70
-20.09%
Eggs
$2.26 Q 17.22
$4.03 £2.99
-43.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.39 Q 56.3
$9.77 £7.26
-24.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.12 Q 61.9
$8.92 £6.63
-8.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.60 Q 73.2
$14.31 £10.64
-32.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.56 Q 27.12
$3.05 £2.26
16.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 Q 12.33
$1.61 £1.19
0.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.27 Q 24.89
$2.84 £2.11
15.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 Q 11.57
$3.53 £2.62
-56.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 Q 11.40
$1.61 £1.19
-6.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 Q 14.09
$1.57 £1.17
17.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 Q 6.00
$1.17 £0.87
-32.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 Q 8.43
$1.56 £1.16
-28.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86 Q 29.40
$20.03 £14.89
-80.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.30 Q 63.2
$10.90 £8.10
-23.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 Q 14.32
$2.90 £2.16
-35.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Q 21.92
$3.38 £2.51
-14.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Guatemala
United Kingdom
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 Q 7.77
$3.17 £2.35
-67.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.81 Q 97.6
$95.2 £70.8
-86.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 Q 26.99
$5.45 £4.05
-35.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.59 £1.18
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.15 Q 77.4
$27.31 £20.30
-62.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 Q 8.15
$1.99 £1.48
-46.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K Q 137.8K
$37.8K £28.1K
-52.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K Q 170.8K
$40.2K £29.9K
-44.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guatemala
United Kingdom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.7 Q 447
$323 £240
-81.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.61 Q 218
$17.22 £12.80
66.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4 Q 400
$42.23 £31.39
24.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guatemala
United Kingdom
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.54 Q 339
$46.03 £34.21
-3.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.03 Q 198
$15.67 £11.65
66.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.33 Q 48.26
$13.48 £10.02
-53.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guatemala
United Kingdom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$262 Q 1,995
$1,713 £1,274
-84.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,973 Q 60.8K
$20.8K £15.5K
-61.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guatemala
United Kingdom
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8 Q 395
$91.3 £67.8
-43.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 Q 390
$44.88 £33.36
13.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 Q 741
$102 £75.9
-4.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 Q 788
$104 £77.3
-0.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guatemala
United Kingdom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$665 Q 5,071
$1,417 £1,053
-53.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$436 Q 3,321
$1,132 £841
-61.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,318 Q 10.0K
$2,308 £1,715
-42.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$695 Q 5,293
$1,839 £1,367
-62.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,252 Q 17.2K
$5,727 £4,257
-60.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,126 Q 8,582
$4,523 £3,362
-75.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guatemala
United Kingdom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$582 Q 4,438
$3,333 £2,477
-82.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.71
5.75
51.48%

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

Last update for Guatemala: June 1, 2026

Last update for United Kingdom: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $218 in Guatemala, $1,265 in United Kingdom. Capital cities: $716 in Guatemala City vs $3,019 in London.

National salary averages: $698 in Guatemala, $3,219 in United Kingdom. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 480% higher in United Kingdom.

Dining out costs 147% more in United Kingdom.

Public transport is 9200% more expensive in United Kingdom.

Salaries are 361% higher in United Kingdom, giving United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Guatemala or United Kingdom?
At $690 per month in Guatemala and $2,785 in United Kingdom, there's a 304% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Guatemala or United Kingdom?
Guatemala is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between Guatemala and United Kingdom?
Rent in United Kingdom beats Guatemala across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $2,000 go in Guatemala vs United Kingdom?
In Guatemala, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In United Kingdom, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Guatemala and United Kingdom?
It depends on what you're after. Guatemala wins on affordability; United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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