Cost of Living Comparison Between Guelmim and Guanacaste Cost of Living Comparison Between Guelmim and Guanacaste

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Guelmim vs $1,572 in Guanacaste, rent included.

A couple spends around $968 per month in Guelmim vs $2,473 in Guanacaste, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,346 per month in Guelmim vs $3,373 in Guanacaste, rent included.

Guelmim is about 63% cheaper than Guanacaste, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Guelmim sits 57% below the global median, while Guanacaste is 14% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guelmim
Guanacaste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.40 MAD 50.4
$11.25 ₡5,013
-52.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.59 MAD 230
$48.69 ₡21.7K
-49.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 MAD 71.6
$11.38 ₡5,072
-32.60%
Cappuccino
$2.18 MAD 20.39
$4.38 ₡1,953
-50.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MAD 8.34
$2.67 ₡1,192
-66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 MAD 5.15
$1.94 ₡863
-71.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.43 MAD 50.7
$3.04 ₡1,353
78.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 MAD 44.45
$4.44 ₡1,977
7.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelmim
Guanacaste
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 MAD 8.80
$2.04 ₡911
-53.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.47 MAD 4.39
$3.09 ₡1,377
-84.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 MAD 10.24
$2.45 ₡1,090
-55.10%
Eggs
$1.74 MAD 16.25
$3.45 ₡1,539
-49.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.74 MAD 81.6
$5.61 ₡2,498
55.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.54 MAD 33.01
$4.32 ₡1,923
-18.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.40 MAD 87.7
$11.27 ₡5,022
-16.59%
Apples (1kg)
$1.31 MAD 12.24
$2.60 ₡1,158
-49.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 MAD 11.55
$1.61 ₡719
-22.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 MAD 8.28
$4.42 ₡1,969
-79.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.64 MAD 5.94
$1.52 ₡679
-57.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.30
$3.99 ₡1,780
-82.96%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 MAD 5.97
$2.19 ₡974
-70.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 MAD 5.33
$0.86 ₡384
-33.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MAD 5.37
$3.12 ₡1,391
-81.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 MAD 39.35
$4.36 ₡1,944
-3.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.03 MAD 112
$20.31 ₡9,051
-40.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MAD 11.90
$2.82 ₡1,258
-54.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 MAD 12.91
$2.72 ₡1,212
-49.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelmim
Guanacaste
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 MAD 6.78
$1.17 ₡522
-37.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.09 MAD 178
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 MAD 6.17
$2.45 ₡1,092
-73.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 MAD 5.81
$1.63 ₡727
-61.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.56 MAD 61.3
$8.93 ₡3,981
-26.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 MAD 12.96
$1.49 ₡663
-6.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K MAD 324.8K
$22.0K ₡9.8M
58.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K MAD 284.7K
$35.4K ₡15.8M
-13.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelmim
Guanacaste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$25.43 MAD 237
$94.6 ₡42.2K
-73.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.65 MAD 99.5
$36.82 ₡16.4K
-71.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.43 MAD 200
$33.81 ₡15.1K
-36.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelmim
Guanacaste
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.01 MAD 252
$74.7 ₡33.3K
-63.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.81 MAD 204
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.22 MAD 48.73
$8.54 ₡3,806
-38.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelmim
Guanacaste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.8 MAD 671
$989 ₡440.8K
-92.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,918 MAD 17.9K
$17.3K ₡7.7M
-88.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelmim
Guanacaste
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.68 MAD 174
$66.5 ₡29.6K
-71.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.02 MAD 150
$43.70 ₡19.5K
-63.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.5 MAD 574
$89.2 ₡39.7K
-31.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.50 MAD 303
$76.9 ₡34.3K
-57.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelmim
Guanacaste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$196 MAD 1,832
$811 ₡361.5K
-75.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$118 MAD 1,099
$633 ₡282.0K
-81.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$340 MAD 3,178
$1,841 ₡820.3K
-81.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$227 MAD 2,120
$1,296 ₡577.4K
-82.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,266 MAD 11.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$855 MAD 7,984
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelmim
Guanacaste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$319 MAD 2,981
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
8.78
-25.97%

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

Last update for Guelmim: August 31, 2026

Last update for Guanacaste: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $196 in Guelmim versus $811 in Guanacaste. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Guelmim versus $49.00 in Guanacaste. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $164 vs $313 – making Guelmim the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Guelmim vs Guanacaste: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guanacaste cheaper than Guelmim?
Yes – Guanacaste is pricier by about 167%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $884 per month in Guelmim and $2,358 in Guanacaste. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guelmim, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Guelmim and in Guanacaste?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $589 in Guelmim and $1,572 in Guanacaste. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $71.8 per month in Guelmim and $989 in Guanacaste. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Guelmim or in Guanacaste?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guelmim, where all-in costs run around $589, than in Guanacaste at $1,572. In Guelmim it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guanacaste it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Guelmim or Guanacaste more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Guelmim – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Guelmim or Guanacaste?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Guelmim. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guanacaste makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Guelmim vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities