Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetzaltenango and Villarrica Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetzaltenango and Villarrica

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,150 per month in Quetzaltenango vs $970 in Villarrica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,444 per month in Quetzaltenango vs $1,230 in Villarrica, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,739 per month in Quetzaltenango vs $1,491 in Villarrica, rent included.

Quetzaltenango costs about 19% more than Villarrica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quetzaltenango and Villarrica are more affordable than the global median – Quetzaltenango 17% lower, Villarrica 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.67 Q 50.9

$7.24 ₲42.8K

-7.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.3 Q 383

$20.44 ₲120.7K

145.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.00 Q 61.0

$6.57 ₲38.8K

21.77%

Cappuccino

$3.33 Q 25.42

$3.36 ₲19.8K

-0.89%

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

$1.11 Q 8.46

$1.06 ₲6,277

4.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 Q 6.51

$0.59 ₲3,454

44.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 Q 24.79

$1.42 ₲8,379

128.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 Q 36.89

$1.29 ₲7,601

275.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 Q 15.99

$1.14 ₲6,753

84.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 Q 19.61

$1.27 ₲7,470

102.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 Q 15.65

$1.35 ₲7,984

51.85%

Eggs

$2.47 Q 18.82

$2.04 ₲12.1K

21.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 Q 47.18

$9.13 ₲53.9K

-32.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.04 Q 61.3

$3.79 ₲22.4K

112.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.22 Q 101

$10.13 ₲59.8K

30.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 Q 21.68

$2.95 ₲17.4K

-3.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 Q 12.98

$1.21 ₲7,117

40.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Q 21.30

$1.18 ₲6,986

136.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 Q 12.17

$2.42 ₲14.3K

-33.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 Q 11.60

$1.35 ₲7,957

12.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Q 16.70

$0.81 ₲4,787

170.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 Q 5.51

$0.86 ₲5,055

-16.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 Q 8.77

$0.69 ₲4,055

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 Q 25.65

$1.21 ₲7,147

177.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 Q 63.2

$9.10 ₲53.7K

-9.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 Q 13.63

$0.67 ₲3,927

167.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 Q 19.78

$1.72 ₲10.2K

50.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.30 Q 40.46

$1.43 ₲8,415

270.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.68 Q 12.85

$1.51 ₲8,905

11.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.54 Q 80.4

$5.11 ₲30.1K

106.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 Q 9.43

$1.16 ₲6,824

6.90%

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

$27.7K Q 211.5K

$17.0K ₲100.2M

63.40%

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

$25.6K Q 195.2K

$34.5K ₲203.5M

-25.78%

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

$75.0 Q 572

$29.81 ₲176.0K

151.69%

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

$13.24 Q 101

$17.26 ₲101.9K

-23.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.17 Q 345

$21.79 ₲128.6K

107.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.36 Q 247

$32.71 ₲193.1K

-1.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.47 ₲20.5K

Cinema Ticket

$6.53 Q 49.82

$8.49 ₲50.1K

-23.09%

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

$342 Q 2,612

$41.98 ₲247.8K

715.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,774 Q 51.7K

$5,836 ₲34.5M

16.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.47 Q 362

$63.5 ₲374.9K

-25.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.46 Q 362

$56.4 ₲332.7K

-15.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 Q 844

$104 ₲615.5K

6.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 Q 861

$69.2 ₲408.2K

63.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 Q 3,034

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 Q 2,981

$383 ₲2.3M

2.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$254 ₲1.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 ₲1.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 ₲3.2M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.62

10.15

14.48%

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

Last update for Quetzaltenango: September 7, 2026

Last update for Villarrica: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Quetzaltenango versus $20.00 in Villarrica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $196 – making Villarrica 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

Quetzaltenango vs Villarrica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quetzaltenango costs about 19% more than Villarrica, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,725 per month in Quetzaltenango and $1,454 in Villarrica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,150 in Quetzaltenango and $970 in Villarrica. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $342 per month in Quetzaltenango and $41.98 in Villarrica. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Villarrica, where all-in costs run around $970, than in Quetzaltenango at $1,150. In Villarrica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quetzaltenango it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Villarrica – 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 Villarrica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Quetzaltenango makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.