Moving to Guatemala from Arkansas

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Arkansas to Guatemala — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Arkansas to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 28.7% cheaper than Arkansas. A $75,000 salary in Arkansas would need to be roughly GTQ459,684 in Guatemala to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from Arkansas to Guatemala.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 GTQ459,684

To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 53.9% less

Groceries

pay 4.9% less

Transportation

pay 12.9% less

Housing

pay 44.8% less

Childcare

pay 73.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 29.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 7.64 GTQ (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Arkansas to Guatemala, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
9,299 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Guatemala · UN DESA

Who's moving to Guatemala?

Top countries of origin for Guatemala's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Arkansas and Guatemala stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

AR
38.3%
GT
21.2%

Guatemala performs significantly better than Arkansas across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

AR
84.9%
GT
51.0%

Arkansas performs better than Guatemala across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AR
4.2%
GT
2.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

AR
$47,319
GT
$12,700

Arkansas generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

AR
73.8 yrs
GT
72.9 yrs

Arkansas performs better than Guatemala across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Little Rock Rain: 50.0 in/yr (1271 mm)
72° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

Guatemala City Rain: 46.7 in/yr (1186 mm)
77° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Little Rock Guatemala City
Jan–Mar 56°/38°F (13°/3°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Apr–Jun 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) 80°/61°F (27°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/70°F (32°/21°C) 76°/60°F (25°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) 74°/58°F (24°/14°C)
View all months
Month Little Rock Guatemala City
Jan 49°/33°F (9.7°/0.4°C) 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C)
Feb 54°/36°F (12.4°/2.4°C) 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C)
Mar 64°/44°F (17.6°/6.8°C) 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C)
Apr 73°/53°F (22.7°/11.6°C) 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C)
May 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.4°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C)
Jun 88°/69°F (31.2°/20.7°C) 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C)
Jul 92°/73°F (33.4°/22.7°C) 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C)
Aug 92°/72°F (33.3°/22.2°C) 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C)
Sep 84°/65°F (29.1°/18.1°C) 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C)
Oct 73°/54°F (23.0°/12.3°C) 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C)
Nov 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.6°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C)
Dec 51°/35°F (10.7°/1.7°C) 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH) Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Guatemala. To live, work, or study long-term in Guatemala, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Guatemala's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Guatemala

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Guatemala without a visa.
Guatemala passport

Guatemala passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Guatemala passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Guatemala than Arkansas?

Generally yes: Guatemala runs about 20% cheaper than Arkansas on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around GTQ114,921 in Guatemala for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Guatemala?

Working remotely from Guatemala's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Arkansas and Guatemala.

How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Arkansas?

Guatemala performs significantly better than Arkansas across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to Arkansas?

The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 72°F in Little Rock. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Little Rock gets 50.0 in.

What language do they speak in Guatemala?

The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Arkansas, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GT
Population 2,915,918 17,703,190
Currency United States Dollar ($) Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +502
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 110