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