Moving to Guatemala from Dominican Republic
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Dominican Republic to Guatemala — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Dominican Republic to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 19.9% more expensive than Dominican Republic overall. A DOP4,375,500 salary in Dominican Republic would need to be roughly GTQ675,139 in Guatemala to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Guatemala City averages 77°F vs 87°F in Santo Domingo, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Dominican Republic to Guatemala.
What does your salary buy?
DOP4,375,500 → GTQ675,139
To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 13.9% more
Groceries
pay 49.6% more
Transportation
pay 33.0% less
Housing
pay 36.8% more
Childcare
pay 13.1% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 36.3% 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?
How many people actually move from Dominican Republic to Guatemala, based on official data.
people born in Dominican Republic live in Guatemala · UN DESA
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
- · · ·
-
32.115
Dominican Republic
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Dominican Republic to Guatemala.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Dominican Republic generally does better on safety, though Guatemala leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Dominican Republic 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
Dominican Republic 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
Dominican Republic generally does better on infrastructure, though Guatemala leads in water stress level.
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 Dominican Republic 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
Dominican Republic generally does better on family life, though Guatemala leads in life expectancy.
Data: Direccion General de Impuestos Internos, 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 | Santo Domingo | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 85°/67°F (29°/20°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 87°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/73°F (31°/23°C) | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/71°F (30°/21°C) | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Santo Domingo | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.7°C) | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 85°/68°F (29.6°/20.2°C) | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.1°C) | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) |
| May | 87°/72°F (30.4°/22.2°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) |
| Jul | 88°/73°F (31.3°/22.8°C) | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) |
| Aug | 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.7°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) |
| Sep | 89°/73°F (31.4°/22.7°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) |
| Oct | 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.3°C) | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) |
| Nov | 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.4°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) |
| Dec | 85°/69°F (29.6°/20.3°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) |
Data:
Oficina Nacional de Meteorologiá,
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Dominican Republic 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.
Dominican Republic passport holder visiting Guatemala
Visa Required
Guatemala passport holder visiting Dominican Republic
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 Dominican Republic?
No — Guatemala is on average about 18% more expensive than Dominican Republic. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly GTQ168,785 in Guatemala on a DOP4,375,500 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Guatemala?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Guatemala has 3.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Guatemala safe for expats?
Dominican Republic 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 12.4 in Dominican Republic.
How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Dominican Republic?
Dominican Republic 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 22.3 in Dominican Republic. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Dominican Republic: 77).
What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to Dominican Republic?
The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 87°F in Santo Domingo. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Santo Domingo gets 57.0 in.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
Both Dominican Republic and Guatemala share the same official language: Spanish.
