Moving to Guatemala from Benin

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Benin to Guatemala, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BJ
24.8
GT
12.6

Guatemala performs significantly better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BJ
$138
GT
$935
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BJ
2.0
GT
12.8

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Benin leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BJ
77.0
GT
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BJ
0.5t
GT
1.1t

Benin generally does better on environment, though Guatemala leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BJ
0.2
GT
3.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BJ
1.0%
GT
5.7%

Guatemala generally does better on infrastructure, though Benin leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BJ
1.4%
GT
2.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BJ
$3,800
GT
$12,700

Benin generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BJ
62.2 yrs
GT
72.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BJ
55.8
GT
26.2

Guatemala performs significantly better than Benin across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Porto-novo Rain: 47.0 in/yr (1194 mm)
None° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Porto-novo Guatemala City
Jan–Mar 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Apr–Jun 80°/61°F (27°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/60°F (25°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 74°/58°F (24°/14°C)
View all months
Month Porto-novo Guatemala City
Jan 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C)
Feb 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C)
Mar 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C)
Apr 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C)
May 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C)
Jun 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C)
Aug 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C)
Sep 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C)
Oct 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C)
Nov 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C)
Dec 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN) Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN), 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 Benin 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.

Benin passport

Benin passport holder visiting Guatemala

Visa Required
Benin passport holders need a visa to enter Guatemala.
Guatemala passport

Guatemala passport holder visiting Benin

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Guatemala passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Benin.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Guatemala?

With 3.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Guatemala can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Benin and Guatemala.

Is Guatemala safe for expats?

Guatemala performs significantly better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Benin?

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Benin leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Guatemala, compared to 2.0 in Benin. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Benin: 38).

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

The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to None°F in Porto-novo. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Porto-novo gets 47.0 in.

What language do they speak in Guatemala?

The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Benin, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

BJ GT
Population 13,754,688 17,703,190
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
Languages French Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +229 +502
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110