Moving to Guatemala from Brazil
What to Expect
Considering a move from Brazil to Guatemala? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Brazil to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 38.7% more expensive than Brazil overall. A R$379,035 salary in Brazil would need to be roughly GTQ818,951 in Guatemala to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Brazil and Guatemala.
What does your salary buy?
R$379,035 → GTQ818,951
To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 9.1% more
Groceries
pay 72.2% more
Transportation
pay 6.0% less
Housing
pay 2.1 times more
Childcare
pay 15.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 73.0% more
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 Brazil 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
- · · ·
-
23.257
Brazil
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Guatemala compared to Brazil.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Guatemala performs significantly better than Brazil 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Brazil generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guatemala leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Brazil 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
Brazil 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
Guatemala generally does better on employment & economy, though Brazil leads in gdp per capita.
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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Brazil performs better than Guatemala across all family life metrics.
Data: Secretaria da Receita Federal do Brasil, 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 | Brasilia | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/63°F (27°/17°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 80°/58°F (27°/14°C) | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 80°/64°F (27°/17°C) | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Brasilia | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C) | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C) | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C) | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) |
| May | 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C) | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) |
| Jul | 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C) | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) |
| Aug | 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) |
| Sep | 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) |
| Oct | 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C) | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) |
| Nov | 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) |
| Dec | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.5°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) |
Data:
Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia,
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Brazil 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.
Brazil passport holder visiting Guatemala
Visa Free
Guatemala passport holder visiting Brazil
Visa FreeData: 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 Brazil?
On average Guatemala is around 43% pricier than Brazil, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?
Budget about GTQ204,738 for 3 months in Guatemala (based on a R$379,035 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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?
Guatemala performs significantly better than Brazil across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Guatemala is 20.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 20.6 in Brazil.
How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Brazil?
Brazil generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guatemala leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Guatemala, compared to 21.4 in Brazil. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Brazil: 80).
What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to Brazil?
The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 80°F in Brasilia. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Brasilia gets 61.1 in.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Brazil, the official language is Portuguese.
