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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.81 Q 51.9

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.90 Q 380

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 Q 60.2

Cappuccino

$3.32 Q 25.28

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

$1.12 Q 8.56

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 Q 6.57

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 Q 24.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 Q 37.04

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 Q 15.48

White Bread (500g)

$2.93 Q 22.37

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 Q 16.09

Eggs

$2.45 Q 18.65

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.21 Q 47.38

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 Q 72.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.42 Q 102

Apples (1kg)

$3.96 Q 30.19

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Q 12.52

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 Q 21.35

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 Q 12.51

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 Q 11.35

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 Q 16.64

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 Q 5.49

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 Q 9.13

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 Q 31.34

Wine (Bottle)

$7.97 Q 60.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 Q 13.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Q 20.81

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 Q 40.28

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.36 Q 79.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 Q 9.65

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

$27.4K Q 208.5K

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

$25.1K Q 191.1K

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

$75.0 Q 572

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

$29.25 Q 223

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.85 Q 342

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 Q 49.82

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

$346 Q 2,638

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,820 Q 52.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.47 Q 362

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.48 Q 362

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 Q 817

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 Q 871

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.62

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

Last update for Zacapa: August 16, 2026

Last update for Chimaltenango: August 16, 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

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.