Cost of Living in Guatemala - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Guatemala
Address: GT

Monthly Cost of Living

Average monthly costs for a single person come to about $787 including rent across Guatemala.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,253 including rent across Guatemala.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $1,719 including rent across Guatemala.

Living costs in Guatemala vary widely – from $112 in more affordable cities to $1,264 in major hubs, spanning a $1,152 range across 12 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.79 Q 44.26

$3.22 Q 24.58

$11.59 Q 88.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.80 Q 380

$32.34 Q 247

$97.0 Q 741

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.62 Q 50.6

$5.96 Q 45.54

$9.14 Q 69.8

Cappuccino

$3.52 Q 26.89

$2.00 Q 15.28

$5.33 Q 40.69

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

$1.31 Q 10.04

$0.77 Q 5.85

$2.56 Q 19.56

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 Q 7.88

$0.66 Q 5.02

$1.98 Q 15.15

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 Q 24.82

$1.82 Q 13.93

$4.98 Q 38.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.15 Q 39.32

$2.57 Q 19.66

$6.43 Q 49.11

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 Q 14.84

$1.28 Q 9.74

$2.31 Q 17.62

White Bread (500g)

$2.60 Q 19.85

$1.01 Q 7.73

$7.79 Q 59.5

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 Q 13.47

$0.98 Q 7.52

$3.47 Q 26.48

Eggs

$2.25 Q 17.20

$1.52 Q 11.64

$4.05 Q 30.92

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.61 Q 58.2

$2.66 Q 20.35

$13.20 Q 101

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.89 Q 60.3

$3.60 Q 27.48

$12.75 Q 97.4

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.97 Q 76.2

$5.34 Q 40.82

$13.25 Q 101

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 Q 27.61

$1.29 Q 9.86

$4.57 Q 34.89

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 Q 12.90

$0.70 Q 5.36

$3.98 Q 30.38

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 Q 25.00

$0.79 Q 6.00

$11.58 Q 88.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 Q 11.56

$0.88 Q 6.72

$2.14 Q 16.33

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 Q 11.54

$0.71 Q 5.40

$2.57 Q 19.64

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 Q 13.49

$0.83 Q 6.38

$2.79 Q 21.35

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 Q 5.69

$0.62 Q 4.73

$1.26 Q 9.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 Q 8.32

$0.63 Q 4.83

$1.91 Q 14.56

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.69 Q 28.22

$3.19 Q 24.34

$5.10 Q 38.97

Wine (Bottle)

$8.32 Q 63.5

$6.66 Q 50.9

$11.33 Q 86.5

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 Q 14.42

$1.13 Q 8.66

$3.19 Q 24.35

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 Q 21.56

$1.58 Q 12.04

$4.02 Q 30.69

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 Q 8.06

$0.43 Q 3.26

$2.03 Q 15.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 Q 99.3

$5.20 Q 39.70

$28.57 Q 218

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 Q 26.89

$2.56 Q 19.55

$6.39 Q 48.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.08 Q 77.0

$6.50 Q 49.68

$18.22 Q 139

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 Q 8.55

$1.04 Q 7.92

$1.24 Q 9.49

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

$18.2K Q 138.8K

$16.2K Q 123.9K

$22.7K Q 173.5K

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

$22.4K Q 171.4K

$19.2K Q 147.0K

$25.7K Q 196.0K

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

$58.3 Q 445

$38.92 Q 297

$99.5 Q 760

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

$29.30 Q 224

$13.20 Q 101

$52.8 Q 403

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.5 Q 409

$29.84 Q 228

$86.2 Q 659

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.71 Q 334

$19.32 Q 148

$87.6 Q 669

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.57 Q 195

$16.34 Q 125

$39.08 Q 299

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 Q 51.3

$6.05 Q 46.19

$10.07 Q 77.0

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

$262 Q 2,000

$104 Q 795

$468 Q 3,578

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,050 Q 61.5K

$4,662 Q 35.6K

$14.9K Q 113.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 Q 383

$32.18 Q 246

$74.0 Q 565

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 Q 387

$38.47 Q 294

$73.7 Q 563

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 Q 745

$77.1 Q 589

$154 Q 1,178

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 Q 796

$53.0 Q 405

$172 Q 1,316

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 Q 5,145

$326 Q 2,492

$1,000 Q 7,642

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 Q 3,319

$325 Q 2,481

$650 Q 4,962

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,325 Q 10.1K

$727 Q 5,551

$2,642 Q 20.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$699 Q 5,340

$260 Q 1,985

$1,494 Q 11.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,260 Q 17.3K

$2,018 Q 15.4K

$2,983 Q 22.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,141 Q 8,719

$1,096 Q 8,376

$1,212 Q 9,258

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 Q 4,523

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.71

6.5

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

Last update: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National average salary: $692. With average costs at $787, the gap is significant. Expats and remote workers with foreign income benefit most.

Expect to spend about $219 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $34.00 for two.

In Guatemala City (capital), expect about $1,215 per month, while Zacapa offers the lowest costs at $112 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($787) is 41% below the global median of $1,339.

Average rent ($221) is 65% below the global median of $625.

Dining out ($34.00) is 29% below the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($1.00) is 97% below the global median of $33.00.

By City in Guatemala

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Antigua Guatemala	46054	64	$606	$1,264	$1,817	$2,988	216.58	108.71
2	Chimaltenango	43900	37	$626	$733	$1,879	$1,739	17.6	110.54
3	Chiquimula	79815		$866	$815	$1,558	$1,862	72.35	94.52
4	Guatemala City	2450212	62	$640	$1,215	$1,986	$2,695	199.31	144.12
5	Mixco	688124	36	$440	$720	$1,114	$1,713	144.32	144.3
6	Panajachel	11142	33	$550	$636	$1,562	$1,461	30.13	68.9
7	Quetzaltenango	500000	55	$574	$1,110	$1,408	$1,730	28.76	103.47
8	Rio Dulce	-	34	$518	$690	$1,423	$1,454	145.94	27.66
9	San Miguel Dueñas	11000	35	$541	$684	$1,195	$1,361	137.43	108.57
10	Santa Lucía Milpas Altas	-	32	$539	$648	$1,117	$1,520	77.09	121.03
11	Villa Nueva	618397	41	$613	$816	$1,167	$1,854	104.05	125.66
12	Zacapa	59089		$99.1	$112	$212	$250	55.3	102.75

Guatemala Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Guatemala - Frequently Asked Questions

Guatemala tends to be affordable for travelers, expats, and digital nomads, with clear value in daily essentials and experiences. The Cost of Living in Guatemala varies by city and neighborhood, letting you balance budget-friendly days with richer cultural outings. You can stretch a modest budget by choosing locally owned eateries, using public transit, and renting furnished units for longer stays. In cities like Antigua or Guatemala City, thoughtful planning around housing, markets, and coworking spaces unlocks a comfortable rhythm without overspending. Tip: Map a few preferred neighborhoods and test a week in each to sense safety, noise, and accessibility.

Daily life centers on markets, affordable street food, and a mix of buses, shared taxis, and ride-hailing options. For housing, expect furnished, flexible-lease options in safer neighborhoods near historic centers or tech hubs. Co-working spaces with reliable internet are common in bigger towns, and cafes deliver workable setups for remote work. Groceries rely on fresh produce at market stalls, with meats and staples available at sensible prices if you shop locally. Guatemala living cost varies by location, so you will notice appreciable savings outside major cities. Tip: Build a two-to-three neighborhood rotation to compare noise, safety, and accessibility before renting.

To balance comfort and cost, adopt a simple budgeting framework: track essential, discretionary, and annual seasonality shifts. In Guatemala, rainy season can affect travel and transport, while peak tourist periods impact housing demand and prices more than base costs. Focus on safety and neighborhood fit by visiting several areas at different times of day, asking locals about commutes and services. Consider a mix of shorter stays in different neighborhoods to compare coffee shops, markets, and co-working vibes. For quality of life, prioritize reliable internet, access to fresh produce, and easy transit to errands. Tip: Track your essentials, adjust your plan seasonally, and reserve a buffer for occasional travel or repairs.

Guatemala covers a wide cost spectrum. As of 2026, monthly expenses run from about $112 in budget-friendly smaller cities to $1,264 in the priciest areas. The gap is big enough to meaningfully affect lifestyle for anyone on a fixed income.

As a lower-cost destination, Guatemala attracts expats, retirees, and long-term visitors on fixed budgets. Smaller cities are especially wallet-friendly, while bigger centers charge more but remain competitive globally.

Outside the capital and tourist areas, costs in Guatemala drop fast. Zacapa is one of the best budget options – lower costs without giving up access to essential services and everyday amenities.

$1,000 a month goes far in Guatemala, especially outside the big cities. It's a realistic single-person budget that covers housing, food, transport, and leisure comfortably.

Living in Guatemala is cheap by global standards. Regional cities offer the best value, with the capital Guatemala City sitting higher. Low living costs are one of the country's main draws for expats, retirees, and anyone stretching a budget.