Last update: Nov 2026 17.3M

Cost of Living in Guatemala

Name: Guatemala
Address: GT

Across Guatemala, living costs for one person average $1,351 a month, including rent and utilities, which take more than a third of the total. Other living expenses average about $25 a day.

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🇬🇹 Guatemala

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Guatemala

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Guatemala actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Average monthly costs for a single person come to about $1,351 including rent across Guatemala.

$1,351 /mo

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $2,098 including rent across Guatemala.

$2,098 /mo

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,846 including rent across Guatemala.

$2,846 /mo

Living costs in Guatemala vary widely – from $745 in the most affordable city to $1,347 in the most expensive one, spanning a $602 range across 12 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.97 Q 60.9

$4.65 Q 35.52

$13.28 Q 102

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 Q 389

$39.78 Q 304

$79.6 Q 608

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.08 Q 61.7

$7.27 Q 55.6

$9.25 Q 70.7

Cappuccino

$3.47 Q 26.49

$1.91 Q 14.58

$4.87 Q 37.20

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

$1.56 Q 11.94

$1.07 Q 8.14

$3.04 Q 23.27

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 Q 9.02

$0.63 Q 4.85

$1.91 Q 14.61

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 Q 25.35

$1.99 Q 15.20

$6.09 Q 46.52

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.20 Q 39.73

$4.29 Q 32.81

$6.50 Q 49.68

Milk (1 liter)

$2.08 Q 15.87

$1.58 Q 12.09

$2.38 Q 18.18

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 Q 25.80

$1.32 Q 10.06

$8.04 Q 61.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 Q 15.25

$1.27 Q 9.74

$2.30 Q 17.55

Eggs

$2.44 Q 18.61

$1.94 Q 14.83

$2.95 Q 22.55

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 Q 46.99

$2.62 Q 19.99

$14.39 Q 110

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.54 Q 72.9

$3.19 Q 24.37

$16.21 Q 124

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.41 Q 94.9

$9.27 Q 70.9

$20.44 Q 156

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 Q 31.60

$1.33 Q 10.20

$5.88 Q 44.91

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 Q 15.04

$0.99 Q 7.60

$4.26 Q 32.57

Oranges (1kg)

$4.48 Q 34.20

$1.25 Q 9.57

$11.85 Q 90.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 Q 13.14

$0.88 Q 6.69

$2.13 Q 16.25

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 Q 14.26

$1.14 Q 8.72

$2.61 Q 19.95

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Q 16.84

$1.32 Q 10.07

$2.90 Q 22.15

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 Q 6.18

$0.67 Q 5.15

$2.03 Q 15.53

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 Q 9.74

$0.67 Q 5.10

$2.01 Q 15.39

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 Q 29.77

$3.24 Q 24.77

$4.54 Q 34.69

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 Q 61.2

$5.77 Q 44.10

$10.89 Q 83.3

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 Q 17.27

$1.15 Q 8.79

$3.24 Q 24.77

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 Q 23.83

$1.62 Q 12.36

$4.46 Q 34.11

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.34 Q 10.26

$0.67 Q 5.09

$2.68 Q 20.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.94 Q 83.6

$7.78 Q 59.5

$14.10 Q 108

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.08 Q 38.84

$3.18 Q 24.29

$7.63 Q 58.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 Q 13.24

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.26 Q 78.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 Q 10.62

$1.03 Q 7.91

$1.60 Q 12.25

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

$22.0K Q 168.3K

$20.7K Q 158.1K

$23.4K Q 178.5K

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

$25.3K Q 193.3K

$23.9K Q 182.8K

$26.6K Q 203.1K

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

$71.0 Q 543

$56.4 Q 431

$99.9 Q 764

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

$32.54 Q 249

$15.84 Q 121

$52.8 Q 404

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.3 Q 384

$32.22 Q 246

$83.0 Q 634

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.61 Q 303

$19.97 Q 153

$86.6 Q 661

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.66 Q 120

$10.60 Q 81.0

$23.19 Q 177

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 Q 49.42

$5.82 Q 44.50

$9.06 Q 69.2

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

$347 Q 2,651

$258 Q 1,968

$689 Q 5,264

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K Q 125.7K

$7,898 Q 60.4K

$20.4K Q 155.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.76 Q 357

$25.10 Q 192

$75.3 Q 575

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 Q 385

$39.45 Q 301

$65.7 Q 502

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 Q 783

$77.3 Q 590

$155 Q 1,181

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 Q 803

$58.4 Q 447

$169 Q 1,290

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$814 Q 6,222

$514 Q 3,928

$1,021 Q 7,805

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$513 Q 3,922

$331 Q 2,530

$662 Q 5,059

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,602 Q 12.2K

$1,315 Q 10.0K

$2,647 Q 20.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$897 Q 6,854

$655 Q 5,006

$1,502 Q 11.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,240 Q 17.1K

$2,000 Q 15.3K

$2,957 Q 22.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 Q 8,824

$1,109 Q 8,473

$1,226 Q 9,366

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 Q 5,073

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.62

7.5

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

Last update: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Guatemala $1,351

Accommodation & Living

$513 38%

Groceries & Markets

$297 22%

Eating Out

$168 12.4%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$154 11.4%

Clothing & Footwear

$137 10.2%

Sport & Entertainment

$53 3.9%

Getting Around

$30 2.2%

Cost Breakdown

National average salary: $739. With average costs at $1,351, it doesn’t cover a typical monthly budget. Expats and remote workers with foreign income benefit most.

Expect to spend about $286 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $51 for two.

In Guatemala City (capital), expect about $1,347 per month, while Panajachel offers the lowest costs at $745 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Public transport ($11) is 67% below the global median of $33.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

17:15 5:15 PM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

17,263,239

💱 Currency

Guatemalan Quetzal GTQ Q

📈 Exchange rate

1 GTQ = 0.131 USD

1 GTQ = 0.117 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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	61	$694	$1,271	$1,748	$3,000	216.58	108.71
2	Chimaltenango	43900		$672	$746	$1,674	$1,747	17.6	110.54
3	Chiquimula	79815		$761	$819	$1,844	$1,901	72.35	94.52
4	Guatemala City	2450212	65	$736	$1,347	$1,813	$2,710	199.31	144.12
5	Mixco	688124		$762	$820	$1,843	$1,901	144.32	144.3
6	Panajachel	11142		$672	$745	$1,666	$1,739	30.13	68.9
7	Quetzaltenango	500000	55	$678	$1,144	$1,671	$1,745	28.76	103.47
8	Rio Dulce	-		$672	$745	$1,672	$1,744	145.94	27.66
9	San Miguel Dueñas	11000		$675	$747	$1,678	$1,751	137.43	108.57
10	Santa Lucía Milpas Altas	12234		$674	$746	$1,668	$1,740	77.09	121.03
11	Villa Nueva	618397		$705	$761	$1,711	$1,768	104.05	125.66
12	Zacapa	59089						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 $745 in budget-friendly smaller cities to $1,347 in the priciest areas. The gap is big enough to meaningfully affect lifestyle for anyone on a fixed income.

As of 2026, living expenses in Guatemala span $745 to $1,347 monthly. Which city you choose has a big effect on your budget.

Guatemala City sits at the top of the rental market in Guatemala, with regional cities offering noticeably better value. Even moving a short distance from major urban centers can save you a significant amount on housing.

Outside major cities, $1,200 covers essentials in Guatemala just fine. In Guatemala City and other expensive hubs, expect much tighter budgeting with little room for extras.