Cost of Living Comparison Between Zacapa and Chimaltenango Cost of Living Comparison Between Zacapa and Chimaltenango

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $112 per month in Zacapa vs $733 in Chimaltenango, rent included.

A couple spends around $181 per month in Zacapa vs $1,236 in Chimaltenango, rent included.

A family of three spends $250 per month in Zacapa vs $1,739 in Chimaltenango, rent included.

Zacapa is about 85% cheaper than Chimaltenango, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zacapa and Chimaltenango are more affordable than the global median – Zacapa 92% lower, Chimaltenango 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 Q 40.37

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 Q 386

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.19 Q 47.26

Cappuccino

$3.39 Q 25.86

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

$1.19 Q 9.09

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 Q 7.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.30 Q 25.20

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 Q 34.23

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 Q 16.25

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 Q 24.01

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 Q 16.28

Eggs

$2.65 Q 20.23

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.09 Q 61.8

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.38 Q 64.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 Q 91.2

Apples (1kg)

$3.53 Q 26.94

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 Q 11.60

Oranges (1kg)

$3.06 Q 23.41

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 Q 13.27

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 Q 12.86

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 Q 17.46

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 Q 5.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 Q 9.44

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.56 Q 27.21

Wine (Bottle)

$8.33 Q 63.7

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 Q 12.24

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 Q 18.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.26 Q 40.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 Q 4.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.63 Q 119

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 Q 8.49

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

$19.9K Q 151.8K

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

$24.4K Q 186.4K

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

$80.5 Q 615

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

$26.77 Q 205

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.17 Q 368

Cinema Ticket

$7.36 Q 56.3

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

$248 Q 1,893

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,726 Q 43.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 Q 394

$50.7 Q 387

1.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.09 Q 299

$52.7 Q 403

-25.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 Q 609

$116 Q 885

-31.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 Q 589

$123 Q 937

-37.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.9

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

Last update for Zacapa: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chimaltenango: April 28, 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 Chimaltenango: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chimaltenango costs about 552% more than Zacapa, 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 $169 per month in Zacapa and $1,099 in Chimaltenango. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $112 in Zacapa and $733 in Chimaltenango, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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