Cost of Living Comparison Between Zacapa and Antigua Guatemala Cost of Living Comparison Between Zacapa and Antigua Guatemala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $112 in Zacapa versus $1,264 in Antigua Guatemala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $181 in Zacapa versus $2,126 in Antigua Guatemala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $250 in Zacapa versus $2,988 in Antigua Guatemala.

Living in Zacapa costs roughly 91% less than in Antigua Guatemala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zacapa 92% lower, Antigua Guatemala 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.21 Q 39.78

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 Q 406

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.38 Q 48.75

Cappuccino

$3.35 Q 25.59

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

$1.19 Q 9.08

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 Q 7.14

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.94 Q 30.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 Q 35.19

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 Q 15.33

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 Q 24.26

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 Q 12.40

Eggs

$2.46 Q 18.82

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.35 Q 56.2

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.64 Q 66.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.15 Q 77.6

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Q 28.09

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 Q 12.07

Oranges (1kg)

$3.17 Q 24.20

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 Q 12.22

Potato (1kg)

$1.71 Q 13.06

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 Q 13.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 Q 5.73

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 Q 9.50

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.68 Q 28.09

Wine (Bottle)

$8.11 Q 61.9

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 Q 12.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 Q 18.41

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 Q 15.49

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.72 Q 36.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.43 Q 118

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 Q 8.51

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

$19.3K Q 147.4K

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

$22.6K Q 172.9K

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

$49.93 Q 381

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

$26.20 Q 200

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.48 Q 378

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.27 Q 308

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.49 Q 210

Cinema Ticket

$7.35 Q 56.2

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

$247 Q 1,889

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,689 Q 43.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 Q 394

$46.84 Q 358

10.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.09 Q 299

$53.6 Q 410

-27.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 Q 609

$101 Q 775

-21.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 Q 589

$86.8 Q 663

-11.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$887 Q 6,774

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$555 Q 4,243

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,990 Q 15.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,277 Q 9,759

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,974 Q 22.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 Q 9,347

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$534 Q 4,081

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

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

Last update for Zacapa: April 26, 2026

Last update for Antigua Guatemala: April 25, 2026

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

Zacapa vs Antigua Guatemala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zacapa and Antigua Guatemala differ by about 1024% in total monthly costs ($112 vs $1,264 including rent). Zacapa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $169 in Zacapa and $1,896 in Antigua Guatemala to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $112 in Zacapa versus $1,264 in Antigua Guatemala, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zacapa but tight or insufficient in Antigua Guatemala. The gap between the two cities makes Zacapa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Zacapa and Antigua Guatemala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Zacapa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1024% less than in Antigua Guatemala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.