Moving to Guatemala from Benin

moving to

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.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Guatemala

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

BJ
1.1
GT
23.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BJ
24.8
GT
12.6

Benin generally does better on safety, though Guatemala leads in road traffic deaths.

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 World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

BJ
2.2
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 World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BJ
0.3
GT
5.3
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

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 World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BJ
1.6%
GT
2.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BJ
$1,658
GT
$6,598

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BJ
61.0 yrs
GT
72.8 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BJ
45.2
GT
17.2

Guatemala generally does better on family life, though Benin leads in education spending.

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 5.3 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?

Benin generally does better on safety, though Guatemala leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Guatemala is 23.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Benin.

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 2.2 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.

Share this

At a Glance

BJ GT
Population 14,814,460 18,687,881
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