Cost of Living in Guatemala: Rent, Housing & Income

Guatemala has a handful of places where most foreign residents settle, and each prices housing in its own way. Guatemala City is the capital and the business centre. Antigua is a colonial town with a large visitor and expatriate community. Quetzaltenango, usually called Xela, is a highland city with universities and Spanish schools. Lake Atitlan has villages that attract remote workers and retirees. This page reports national estimates, so the town you pick matters more than the average.

Figures are crowd-sourced from Numbeo and Livingcost, converted to US dollars from the quetzal.

The World Bank's price level ratio for Guatemala was 43.4 in 2025, with the U.S. at 100. At market exchange rates, the same basket of goods and services cost about 43% of its U.S. price.

GDP per capita, adjusted for purchasing power, was 15,197 international dollars in 2025 (U.S.: 90,027 international dollars in 2025). Consumer prices rose 1.5% in 2025 (U.S.: 2.9% in 2024).

Numbeo lists $739.90/mo excluding rent. Livingcost lists $552/mo excluding rent and $1,033/mo including it. On the non-rent number, Numbeo is higher, and a budget sitting between the two is a sensible starting point.

A one bedroom apartment in a city centre is listed at $523.03 – $1,040/mo, with a typical value of $828.79/mo. Outside the centre the range is $326.90 – $653.79/mo, and the typical value is $507.05/mo.

Three bedroom homes are listed at $1,300 – $2,615.17/mo in a centre and $653.79 – $1,500/mo outside it. The typical central price is $1,583.67/mo. That is high next to the food and transport lines, and it reflects the gap between homes aimed at expatriates and diplomats and homes aimed at local residents.

Finding a place to live

Local residents find homes through family, signs on gates and online groups, while foreigners often rely on agents and community boards. Ask about security, because many Guatemalan homes sit behind walls or gates, and some neighborhoods are more comfortable than others after dark. Check water supply and whether the building has a backup tank, since interruptions occur in some areas.

Utilities for an 85 square meter apartment are listed at $56.39 – $100/mo, with a typical value of $71.04/mo. The listed monthly transport figure is $14.21/mo, a single reported value rather than a range. Many local trips run on minibuses and the colorful former school buses known as chicken buses, which are cheap but crowded. Internet is listed at $32.69 – $84.21/mo, with a typical value of $51.01/mo, and the connection quality in smaller towns varies.

An inexpensive restaurant meal is listed at $3.92 – $13.08 each, with a typical value of $7.85 each. Local comedores serve set lunches that cost less than tourist restaurants. A liter of milk shows $2.06 each and a dozen large eggs show $2.48 each. Markets are central to daily shopping, and the produce is fresh.

The non-rent figure stays moderate. Rent is where the variation lies, and a house in Antigua or a modern apartment in the capital costs far more than a room in a village. If your budget is tight, a smaller town reduces the rent line the most.

Visit before you commit. Many people start with a few weeks in Antigua or Xela, which have established services for foreign visitors, and then decide whether to stay or move. Ask about heating, because highland nights can be cold and few homes have central heating. Allow extra for hot water and warm bedding.

Getting around the country is best planned in advance. Roads in the highlands are winding, and buses are the main way to travel between towns. Travel advisories from your own government cover current conditions in different regions.

Antigua is compact, walkable and full of restaurants, language schools and weekend visitors from the capital. Its cobblestone streets and heritage rules shape what landlords can renovate, and parking is limited. Xela has a student population and a more local feel, with a cooler climate and fewer foreign-oriented services. The villages around Lake Atitlan are reached by boat or road, and each has its own character, from quiet and traditional to popular with long-term visitors.

Choosing among them is a question of what you want daily. If you want easy access to hospitals and an airport, the capital region is the practical choice. If you want a small community and slower days, a lake village or Xela may suit better. Spend a week in each before signing anything.

• Health insurance and private clinic costs
• Visa and residence fees
• Vehicle purchase and fuel
• Spanish classes, which many newcomers take
• Income tax

Rules for foreign residents depend on nationality. Check the official Guatemalan immigration pages and consult a licensed advisor.