Cost of Living Comparison Between Zacapa and Chiquimula Cost of Living Comparison Between Zacapa and Chiquimula

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $112 per month in Zacapa vs $815 in Chiquimula, rent included.

A couple spends around $181 per month in Zacapa vs $1,339 in Chiquimula, rent included.

A family of three spends $250 per month in Zacapa vs $1,862 in Chiquimula, rent included.

Zacapa is about 86% cheaper than Chiquimula, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zacapa and Chiquimula are more affordable than the global median – Zacapa 92% lower, Chiquimula 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.56 Q 65.4

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.2 Q 406

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.11 Q 69.6

Cappuccino

$4.07 Q 31.12

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

$2.01 Q 15.34

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 Q 9.50

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.84 Q 29.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.98 Q 45.70

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 Q 14.77

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 Q 27.54

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 Q 11.98

Eggs

$2.55 Q 19.49

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.47 Q 57.0

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.27 Q 70.8

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.25 Q 78.3

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 Q 33.72

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 Q 16.28

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 Q 40.41

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 Q 12.19

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 Q 14.92

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 Q 13.53

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 Q 9.73

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 Q 10.62

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.92 Q 29.96

Wine (Bottle)

$8.84 Q 67.5

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 Q 22.72

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 Q 28.36

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 Q 35.05

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 Q 4.94

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 Q 8.15

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

$20.3K Q 154.9K

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

$22.2K Q 169.8K

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

$48.35 Q 369

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

$40.06 Q 306

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.8 Q 510

Cinema Ticket

$8.61 Q 65.8

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

$529 Q 4,045

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K Q 97.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 Q 394

$46.33 Q 354

11.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.09 Q 299

$53.7 Q 410

-27.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 Q 609

$100 Q 765

-20.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 Q 589

$86.2 Q 659

-10.64%

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 Chiquimula: 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 Chiquimula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiquimula is pricier by about 625%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $169 per month in Zacapa and $1,223 in Chiquimula. 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 $815 in Chiquimula, 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, Chiquimula makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.