How Much Does It Cost to Live In Guatemala City?
Guatemala city is a very interesting destination for the tourists and expats going to move there.
First of all, you can hear four European languages in the streets, while native citizens also speak 23 officially recognized regional variants.
You will definitely feel the difference between the rainy season and the dry season in Guatemala city.
The first one starts in May and the second in November.
The life in Guatemala city might be quite tough but if you arrange everything in advance, you will succeed.
Guatemala : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
Restaurants in Guatemala city offer a great variety of foods cooked from the simplest products like rice, corn, peas, and beans.
The city has restaurants of various gourmet directions like the Mediterranean cuisine, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, and Italian.
It is possible to find good Italian wines, and delicious pastries at low prices.
MARKETS
The best place to shop in Guatemala is the traditional colorful central market Mercado.
All the imaginable categories of goods are offered for sale here.
As a part of the national tradition, you will have to bargain a little to get the better price.
If you don’t like haggling, you can buy cheap products from Walmart.
TRANSPORTATION
The red city buses that people use in Guatemala city has increased in crime, that is why it is recommended to use other means of transport like new buses and taxis.
You should usually pay $0.26 for a one-way ticket or $12.33 for a monthly pass and the money is given to the bus or taxi driver (some of the cabs are not metered though).
Guatemala city has an international airport.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
The prices for utilities and the Internet connection are impressively equal.
Local people pay an average of $67.15 to get their house supplied with electricity and water or get the trash collected.
At the same time, the Internet costs are $66.14 per month.
A minute of speaking on the phone inside the city will cost you $0.14.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Some traditional ways of spending your leisure time in Guatemala include cinema, fitness club or tennis court.
The prices for these activities are rather high, except for the seat in the cinema which is only $5.84 per person.
You can choose one of the outdoor activities among hiking, biking, dancing, horse-racing or climbing.
CLOTHING & SHOES
The shopping malls in Guatemala have all the necessary boutiques and shops that you might need during your stay in this picturesque city.
The chain stores like Nike, Zara or H&M offer clothes and shoes which might seem not so expensive for the tourists, although the local residents will find them high enough.
RENT PER MONTH
A very few houses and apartments are offered for rent in Guatemala city.
You will have a good sweat searching for decent accommodation in Guatemala.
Most of the flats go together with insects and mildew although Guatemala city is considered an expensive region where most flats are overpriced.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Guatemala City
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $5.19 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.95 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.79 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.48 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $2.11 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.71 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $0.26 |
| Monthly Pass | $12.33 |
| Gasoline | $0.85 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $67.15 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.14 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $66.14 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $51.13 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $19.90 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $5.84 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $55.84 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $42.16 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $88.10 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $494.42 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $314.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $926.73 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Guatemala City?
Top of the charts of an average Guatemala resident’s expenses belong to the markets.
Monthly rent of accommodation takes second place, or 23.9%.
As much as 12.5% is spent on restaurants while transportation is used less often or people choose the cheapest means of transport.
According to the statistics, sports and leisure play a significant role in the lives of Guatemala citizens.
They are ready to save 9.1% of income to pay for cinema, biking, hiking, surfing or guided tours.
Clothing and shoes are less important to the citizens, moreover, they can find cheap or discounted jeans, shoes, and dresses in the chain stores or at the local markets.
Average Costs Breakdown
Guatemala City: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Starting with the average monthly salary, it is worth mentioning that Guatemala city is the capital city of Guatemala, the poorest country in Central America.
The average salary is $595.91 per month but the data from the nearest largest cities are also included in the statistics which affects the figures a lot.
In reality, the average salary in Guatemala runs somewhere between $200 and $300.
The work is very difficult to find in Guatemala city and the salaries you see here are just for those who work in the offices, own their businesses, invest in the industries and so on.
The national minimum wage is said to be $302.7 per month for qualified and experienced residents of the city.
Again, the level of life in Guatemala is extremely low and the salaries mentioned here are predominantly of those who employ Guatemala citizens as a cheap working force.
In case you are interested in taking a mortgage loan in this city, the interest rate is fixed at 8.19% per annum.
Guatemala City Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Guatemala City Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: HIGH
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: HIGH
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: HIGH
