Moving to Guatemala from Florida

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Florida to Guatemala — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Florida to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 36.1% cheaper than Florida. A $75,000 salary in Florida would need to be roughly GTQ368,921 in Guatemala to maintain the same lifestyle, 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 ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Florida to Guatemala.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 GTQ368,921

To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 56.7% less

Groceries

pay 20.8% less

Transportation

pay 25.7% less

Housing

pay 56.9% less

Childcare

pay 72.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 32.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 7.62 GTQ (July 2026)

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 Florida to Guatemala, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
9,299 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in United States 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Florida to Guatemala.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

FL
32.6%
GT
21.2%

Guatemala performs significantly better than Florida across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

FL
90.4%
GT
51.0%

Florida performs better than Guatemala across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

FL
4.4%
GT
2.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

FL
$57,636
GT
$12,700

Florida generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

FL
77.5 yrs
GT
72.9 yrs

Florida performs better than Guatemala across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tallahassee Rain: 59.2 in/yr (1504 mm)
80° / 56°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tallahassee Guatemala City
Jan–Mar 68°/43°F (20°/6°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Apr–Jun 86°/61°F (30°/16°C) 80°/61°F (27°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 91°/71°F (33°/22°C) 76°/60°F (25°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/48°F (23°/9°C) 74°/58°F (24°/14°C)
View all months
Month Tallahassee Guatemala City
Jan 64°/39°F (17.5°/3.9°C) 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C)
Feb 67°/42°F (19.7°/5.5°C) 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C)
Mar 74°/47°F (23.2°/8.4°C) 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C)
Apr 80°/52°F (26.6°/11.3°C) 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C)
May 87°/62°F (30.6°/16.4°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C)
Jun 91°/69°F (32.8°/20.8°C) 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.2°C) 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C)
Aug 92°/72°F (33.1°/22.3°C) 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C)
Sep 88°/68°F (31.3°/20.1°C) 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C)
Oct 81°/57°F (27.4°/14.1°C) 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C)
Nov 73°/47°F (22.8°/8.6°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C)
Dec 65°/41°F (18.5°/5.1°C) 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, 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 United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Guatemala

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Guatemala without a visa.
Guatemala passport

Guatemala passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Guatemala passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: 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 Florida?

Yes — Guatemala is on average about 35% cheaper than Florida. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly GTQ92,230 in Guatemala on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Guatemala?

Usually fine from major cities in Guatemala. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Florida?

Guatemala performs significantly better than Florida across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 80°F in Tallahassee. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Tallahassee gets 59.2 in.

What language do they speak in Guatemala?

The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Florida, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GT
Population 18,801,310 17,703,190
Currency United States Dollar ($) Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +502
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 110