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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $617 per month in Guelmim vs $1,434 in Guanacaste, rent included.

A couple spends around $997 per month in Guelmim vs $2,141 in Guanacaste, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,378 per month in Guelmim vs $2,849 in Guanacaste, rent included.

Guelmim is about 57% cheaper than Guanacaste, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Guelmim sits 54% below the global median, while Guanacaste is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 MAD 25.34

$9.77 ₡4,443

-71.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.29 MAD 232

$44.08 ₡20.0K

-42.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.72 MAD 61.8

$9.90 ₡4,504

-32.12%

Cappuccino

$1.75 MAD 16.09

$3.79 ₡1,723

-53.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 MAD 6.09

$2.01 ₡914

-67.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 MAD 2.36

$1.67 ₡757

-84.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 MAD 34.26

$2.89 ₡1,315

29.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 MAD 34.20

$4.14 ₡1,883

-10.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 MAD 8.41

$1.82 ₡829

-50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.37 MAD 3.39

$2.77 ₡1,261

-86.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 MAD 8.44

$2.18 ₡991

-57.80%

Eggs

$1.79 MAD 16.50

$3.02 ₡1,374

-40.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.15 MAD 65.7

$5.07 ₡2,304

41.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.32 MAD 30.47

$4.07 ₡1,852

-18.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.12 MAD 93.0

$10.11 ₡4,596

0.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.40 MAD 12.87

$2.46 ₡1,118

-43.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 MAD 11.42

$1.47 ₡668

-15.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 MAD 7.51

$3.94 ₡1,790

-79.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 MAD 5.46

$1.42 ₡647

-58.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 MAD 5.97

$3.40 ₡1,546

-80.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 MAD 5.82

$1.93 ₡878

-67.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 MAD 6.26

$0.76 ₡346

-10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MAD 5.88

$2.91 ₡1,322

-78.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.09 MAD 37.58

$3.89 ₡1,770

5.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.12 MAD 65.5

$22.38 ₡10.2K

-68.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 MAD 11.95

$2.51 ₡1,140

-48.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MAD 14.41

$2.45 ₡1,114

-35.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MAD 6.83

$1.01 ₡461

-26.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.62 MAD 153

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MAD 6.31

$1.79 ₡815

-61.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 MAD 5.75

$1.83 ₡833

-65.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.68 MAD 61.4

$8.05 ₡3,660

-17.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 MAD 14.44

$1.46 ₡663

7.53%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.3K MAD 251.1K

$37.6K ₡17.1M

-27.35%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.0K MAD 193.0K

$32.3K ₡14.7M

-34.95%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$28.49 MAD 262

$92.7 ₡42.2K

-69.27%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.86 MAD 99.8

$25.74 ₡11.7K

-57.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.01 MAD 202

$29.44 ₡13.4K

-25.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.45 MAD 225

$57.9 ₡26.3K

-57.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.38 MAD 215

$23.98 ₡10.9K

-2.50%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 MAD 61.3

$9.76 ₡4,438

-31.66%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$77.0 MAD 707

$567 ₡257.9K

-86.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,929 MAD 17.7K

$12.6K ₡5.7M

-84.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.31 MAD 177

$59.1 ₡26.9K

-67.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.56 MAD 152

$39.12 ₡17.8K

-57.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.32 MAD 453

$78.8 ₡35.9K

-37.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.53 MAD 308

$69.2 ₡31.5K

-51.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 MAD 2,660

$758 ₡344.9K

-61.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 MAD 1,796

$591 ₡268.8K

-66.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 MAD 5,404

$1,532 ₡696.7K

-61.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 MAD 3,523

$976 ₡444.0K

-60.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,589 MAD 14.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$943 MAD 8,668

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$331 MAD 3,041

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

10.17

-45.92%

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

Last update for Guelmim: May 31, 2026

Last update for Guanacaste: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $289 in Guelmim versus $758 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 $44.00 in Guanacaste. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $150 vs $291 – 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

Yes – Guanacaste is pricier by about 133%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $925 per month in Guelmim and $2,151 in Guanacaste. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $617 in Guelmim and $1,434 in Guanacaste. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $77.0 per month in Guelmim and $567 in Guanacaste. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guelmim, where all-in costs run around $617, than in Guanacaste at $1,434. In Guelmim it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guanacaste it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.