For one person, living is cheaper in Guatemala: $1,352 a month against $2,453 in the United Kingdom, rent and utilities included – about $13,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the United Kingdom and in Guatemala
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United Kingdom and in Guatemala actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,453 in the United Kingdom versus $1,352 in Guatemala.
United Kingdom $2,453
Guatemala $1,352
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in the United Kingdom versus $2,108 in Guatemala.
United Kingdom $3,548
Guatemala $2,108
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,643 in the United Kingdom versus $2,865 in Guatemala.
United Kingdom $4,643
Guatemala $2,865
🌍
Living in the United Kingdom is roughly 82% more expensive than in Guatemala on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: the United Kingdom 82% above, Guatemala 0% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
Guatemala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82£15.62
$7.87Q 60.1
164.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.3£64.7
$49.36Q 377
74.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.76£8.07
$8.09Q 61.9
33.00%
Cappuccino
$4.87£3.65
$3.60Q 27.55
35.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55£1.91
$1.37Q 10.47
86.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85£1.39
$1.15Q 8.83
60.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.75£5.06
$3.29Q 25.14
105.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.49£4.87
$5.36Q 41.00
21.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
Guatemala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64£1.23
$2.04Q 15.63
-19.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66£1.24
$3.29Q 25.12
-49.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17£1.63
$2.06Q 15.77
5.34%
Eggs
$4.02£3.01
$2.46Q 18.83
63.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.40£7.05
$5.98Q 45.76
57.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.99£6.74
$9.92Q 75.9
-9.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.55£10.92
$12.39Q 94.7
17.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90£2.17
$4.14Q 31.65
-29.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60£1.20
$1.96Q 14.98
-18.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.78£2.08
$4.37Q 33.43
-36.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.39£2.54
$1.66Q 12.72
104.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78£1.34
$1.84Q 14.08
-3.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62£1.21
$2.15Q 16.47
-24.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23£0.92
$0.82Q 6.24
50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66£1.24
$1.21Q 9.23
37.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.67£17.76
$4.01Q 30.65
490.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.67£8.00
$8.34Q 63.7
27.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.06£2.30
$2.33Q 17.81
31.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33£2.50
$3.11Q 23.79
7.07%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
Guatemala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.34£2.51
$1.98Q 15.16
68.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$103£77.1
$14.19Q 109
623.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.44£4.08
$5.17Q 39.53
5.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.36£1.77
$1.72Q 13.18
37.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.17£19.63
$10.66Q 81.5
145.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95£1.46
$1.33Q 10.16
46.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K£28.5K
$21.4KQ 163.3K
77.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6K£30.5K
$24.6KQ 188.1K
65.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
Guatemala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$315£236
$71.0Q 543
343.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.88£13.41
$31.74Q 243
-43.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.77£32.09
$51.3Q 392
-16.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
Guatemala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.93£33.71
$41.40Q 317
8.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.98£13.49
$15.49Q 118
16.07%
Cinema Ticket
$13.06£9.80
$6.60Q 50.5
97.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
Guatemala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,753£1,315
$356Q 2,722
392.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.5K£16.9K
$7,545Q 57.7K
198.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
Guatemala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.4£67.8
$47.46Q 363
90.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.49£34.13
$49.39Q 378
-7.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101£75.9
$106Q 811
-4.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102£76.4
$106Q 812
-4.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
Guatemala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,339£1,005
$834Q 6,378
60.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,096£822
$504Q 3,851
117.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,152£1,615
$1,578Q 12.1K
36.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,699£1,275
$903Q 6,903
88.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,551£4,165
$2,306Q 17.6K
140.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,374£3,282
$1,122Q 8,581
289.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
Guatemala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,324£2,494
$641Q 4,899
418.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.32
11.62
-54.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United Kingdom: October 13, 2026
Last update for Guatemala: October 12, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
$1.1K 44.7%
Guatemala
$504 37.3% ↓ 54.1%$593
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
$375 15.3%
Guatemala
$154 11.4% ↓ 58.9%$221
🍽Eating Out
United Kingdom
$322 13.1%
Guatemala
$168 12.4% ↓ 47.9%$154
🛒Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
$303 12.4%
Guatemala
$297 21.9% ↓ 2.2%$6.8
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
$153 6.2%
Guatemala
$139 10.3% ↓ 8.8%$13
🚌Getting Around
United Kingdom
$133 5.4%
Guatemala
$36 2.7% ↓ 73.1%$97
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
$71 2.9%
Guatemala
$55 4% ↓ 23.2%$16
🏠Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
$1.7K 36.6%
Guatemala
$903 31.5% ↓ 46.9%$796
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
$393 8.5%
Guatemala
$186 6.5% ↓ 52.7%$207
🍽Eating Out
United Kingdom
$1.1K 23.3%
Guatemala
$578 20.2% ↓ 46.6%$505
🛒Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
$695 15%
Guatemala
$688 24% ↓ 1%$7.1
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
$339 7.3%
Guatemala
$309 10.8% ↓ 8.8%$30
🚌Getting Around
United Kingdom
$273 5.9%
Guatemala
$76 2.7% ↓ 72.3%$198
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
$160 3.5%
Guatemala
$125 4.4% ↓ 22.1%$35
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,252 in the United Kingdom, $174 in Guatemala. Capital cities: $2,869 in London vs $828 in Guatemala City.
💰National salary averages: $3,228 in the United Kingdom, $745 in Guatemala. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 620% higher in the United Kingdom.
⭐Dining out costs 77% more in the United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 8600% more expensive in the United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 333% higher in the United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United Kingdom.
United Kingdom→Guatemala8,770 km≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
United Kingdom
Guatemala
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
United Kingdom vs Guatemala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Guatemala or the United Kingdom?
At $1,352 per month in Guatemala and $2,453 in the United Kingdom, there's a 82% 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 the United Kingdom?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Guatemala: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 the United Kingdom?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,252 in the United Kingdom and $174 in Guatemala. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $2,000 go in Guatemala compared to the United Kingdom?
In Guatemala, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in the United Kingdom it stretches only to regional areas and 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 in the United Kingdom?
It depends on what you're after: Guatemala wins on affordability; the United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
United Kingdom vs other spots: cost of living compared