Moving to Guatemala from Bolivia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Bolivia to Guatemala.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
145 ↑ 12% vs 2015

people born in Bolivia 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 Bolivia and Guatemala stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

BO
4.3
GT
20.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BO
17.6
GT
12.6

Bolivia 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

BO
$756
GT
$935
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

BO
12.7
GT
12.8

Bolivia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guatemala leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BO
54.0
GT
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BO
2.3t
GT
1.1t

Guatemala performs significantly better than Bolivia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BO
10.9
GT
3.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BO
1.2%
GT
5.7%

Bolivia performs better than Guatemala across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BO
3.1%
GT
2.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BO
$9,700
GT
$12,700

Guatemala performs significantly better than Bolivia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BO
72.5 yrs
GT
72.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BO
22.3
GT
26.2

Bolivia generally does better on family life, though Guatemala leads in life expectancy.

Data: Autoridad de Impugnación Tributaria (AIT), Bolivia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bolivia 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.

Bolivia passport

Bolivia passport holder visiting Guatemala

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

Guatemala passport holder visiting Bolivia

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

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 Bolivia and Guatemala.

Is Guatemala safe for expats?

Bolivia generally does better on safety, though Guatemala leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Guatemala is 20.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.3 in Bolivia.

How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Bolivia?

Bolivia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guatemala leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Guatemala, compared to 12.7 in Bolivia. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bolivia: 65).

What language do they speak in Guatemala?

The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Bolivia, the official languages are Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish.

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At a Glance

BO GT
Population 12,054,379 17,703,190
Currency Bolivian Boliviano (BOB) Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
Languages Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua, Spanish Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +591 +502
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 110