Cost of Living in Guatemala

Updated On January 23, 2023

How Much Does It Cost to Live In Guatemala?

Guatemala is located in Central America and is one of the most populated countries in the region.

The population is growing fast and most of the 15 million people are at the age of 21 or so.

The major problems that the country faces are illiteracy, health problems, lack of information about contraception, and infant mortality.

Due to all of these factors, Guatemala remains one of the poorest countries in Central America.

More than half of the citizens never cross the poverty line getting richer.

This makes people move to Mexico and the nearest countries in search of work.

Cost of Living Index:
40.2
* Based on Research & User Data

Guatemala FlagGuatemala : Cost of Living by City

Restaurants

RESTAURANTS

There are many luxury hotels where you can stay and try the foods you are accustomed to.

Or else, you can explore Guatemala deeper and try national dishes at extremely low prices.

Guatemala will serve you a merge of the best Mexican, Chinese, and Indian traditions.

Markets

MARKETS

The first thing a tourist does in Guatemala is go to the markets which are colorful and smell good.

Most of the locals do their daily shopping here as well.

The basics that all the local markets sell are products, groceries, and outfits.

Usually, the prices are low, but you will be able to get even better prices if you haggle in the market.

Transportation

TRANSPORTATION

Local transport throughout the country is represented by buses, tuk-tuks, taxis, and shuttle mini-buses.

The least safe way of traveling around the country is hitchhiking.

This way of getting to the point of destination is possible yet very risky, so it is highly recommended to use new buses (not the old red ones).

Utilities

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

Monthly utilities may seem too cheap for an average European or American citizen.

The water, electricity, cooling, garbage, or heating, in case they are applied in the place where you live, will cost about $66 per month.

The mobile phone is three or four times cheaper than that of the EU country for instance.

Although, the Internet connection is too expensive for most Guatemalans.

Sports and leisure

SPORTS & LEISURE

Apart from football, the most favorite kind of sport in Guatemala, there are lots of other different outdoor recreational activities like volcano climbing, spelunking, and mountain biking.

Also, you can do one or a few of the offered water sports: rafting, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and surfing.

Clothing and shoes

CLOTHING & SHOES

There are lots of markets in all the regions of Guatemala where local citizens are used to buying clothes and shoes.

Large metropolitan areas like Guatemala City or Antigua, have modern shopping malls with numerous chain stores, boutiques, and accessories shops.

Chain stores like Zara, Nike, H&M, or similar offer low prices for jeans, dresses, and shoes.

Rent per month

RENT PER MONTH

The rental prices in Guatemala are very high for local citizens and are most popular among newcomers.

To rent a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, an average Guatemalan citizen will have to give out all of his or her salary per month.

The landlords often ask for as much as $959.88 for a three-bedroom apartment downtown.

Cost of Living Averages Table for Guatemala

*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.
Average Restaurant Prices
Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant)$4.49
Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter)$1.92
Water (0.33 Liter)$0.76
Average Market Prices
Milk (1 Liter)$1.65
Loaf Bread (500g)$1.83
Eggs (12)$1.94
Average Transport Prices
One Way Ticket$0.58
Monthly Pass$10.58
Gasoline$1.07
Average Utilities Prices
Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling)$65.59
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local$0.18
Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)$47.55
Average Leisure Prices
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult$47.64
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour)$19.53
Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release$6.41
Average Clothing Prices
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable)$50.80
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...)$52.76
1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range)$92.91
Average Rent Prices
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center$506.95
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center$361.57
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center$959.88

How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Guatemala?

The Guatemalans spend a significant portion of their salary in the markets.

The food is diverse, fresh, and delicious.

Since a little number of people enjoy it in the restaurants, which are mostly designed for tourists and rich visitors, the markets are dominating.

Only 9.7% of the income goes to transportation expenses.

As much as 4.1% is spent on clothing and shoes.

An average utility bill in Guatemala equals to 6.8% of the monthly remuneration.

Locals tend to invest a lot of money in sports and recreation.

This percentage comes to the figure of 8.2%.

Average Costs Breakdown

11.6%
35.5%
9.7%
6.8%
8.2%
4.1%
24.1%

Guatemala: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages

The minimum wage in Guatemala is set to be $383.4 per month.

The average monthly income after tax is $489.6 per employee.

The mortgage interest rate is quite high for a country of this level and equals 8.18%.

The economy of the country is mainly supported by the private sector.

Lots of tourists come here to explore the Mayan history and the highlands, which makes local people earn money from them by selling food, souvenirs, traditional clothes, and accessories.

Employment and investments are taxed in Guatemala, as well as movable and immovable property and winnings in the lottery.

Average Salary$554.69
Minimum Wage$383.4
Mortgage Interest Rate8.18%

Guatemala Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Guatemala Safety Review

Safety Index:
53
  • OVERALL RISK: HIGH
  • TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
  • PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
  • NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
  • MUGGING RISK: HIGH
  • TERRORISM RISK: LOW
  • SCAMS RISK: HIGH
  • WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Cost of Living by City in Guatemala

CityCost of Living Index
Guatemala City44.39

Where to Next?

See these related locations:

Or, browse the country/city indexes:

Cost of Living - Country Index Cost of Living - City Index

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