Moving to Guatemala from Australia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Australia to Guatemala? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Australia to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 35.9% cheaper than Australia overall. A A$107,450 salary in Australia would need to be roughly GTQ388,346 in Guatemala to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Guatemala City averages 77°F vs 67°F in Canberra, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Australia and Guatemala.
What does your salary buy?
A$107,450 → GTQ388,346
To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 53.6% less
Groceries
pay 8.1% less
Transportation
pay 36.7% less
Housing
pay 39.9% less
Childcare
pay 70.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 39.2% less
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?
What the data shows about people moving from Australia to Guatemala.
Who's moving to Guatemala?
Top countries of origin for Guatemala's foreign-born residents.
- 20,683
- 18,872
- 9,299
- 9,211
- 9,023
- 1,921
- · · ·
-
35.74
Australia
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Guatemala compared to Australia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Australia performs better than Guatemala across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Australia generally does better on environment, though Guatemala leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Australia performs better than Guatemala across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Australia performs better than Guatemala across all family life metrics.
Data: Australian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Canberra | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Canberra | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) |
| May | 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) |
| Jul | 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) |
| Aug | 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) |
| Sep | 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) |
| Oct | 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) |
| Nov | 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) |
| Dec | 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) |
Data:
Bureau of Meteorology,
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia 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.
Australia passport holder visiting Guatemala
Visa Free
Guatemala passport holder visiting Australia
Visa RequiredData: 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 Australia?
On average Guatemala is about 32% less expensive than Australia, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?
Budget about GTQ97,086 for 3 months in Guatemala (based on a A$107,450 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Guatemala?
Connectivity is usually fine (Guatemala: 3.7 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Guatemala offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Guatemala safe for expats?
Australia performs better than Guatemala across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Guatemala is 20.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Australia.
How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Australia?
Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Guatemala, compared to 39.8 in Australia. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Australia: 87).
What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to Australia?
The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 67°F in Canberra. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Canberra gets 24.8 in.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Australia, the official language is English.
