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