Moving to Belgium from Guatemala

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Guatemala to Belgium? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Guatemala to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 2.0 times more expensive than Guatemala overall. A GTQ572,138 salary in Guatemala would need to be roughly €97,507 in Belgium to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Brussels averages 57°F vs 77°F in Guatemala City, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Guatemala and Belgium.

What does your salary buy?

GTQ572,138 €97,507

To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.9 times more

Groceries

pay 17.8% more

Transportation

pay 2.3 times more

Housing

pay 85.3% more

Childcare

pay 2.9 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 74.7% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GTQ = 0.1124 EUR (June 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?

What the data shows about people moving from Guatemala to Belgium.

Moved in 2023
62 ↓ 25% vs 2022

people moved from Guatemala to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Belgium?

Top countries of origin for Belgium's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Belgium compared to Guatemala.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GT
20.0
BE
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GT
12.6
BE
4.6

Belgium performs significantly better than Guatemala across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

GT
$935
BE
$7,489
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GT
12.8
BE
63.9

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium 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

GT
40.0
BE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GT
1.1t
BE
7.3t

Guatemala generally does better on environment, though Belgium leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GT
3.7
BE
43.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GT
5.7%
BE
51.9%

Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though Guatemala leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GT
2.7%
BE
5.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GT
$12,700
BE
$63,600

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GT
72.9 yrs
BE
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GT
26.2
BE
3.2

Belgium performs significantly better than Guatemala across all family life metrics.

Data: Superintendence of the Tax Administration, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Brussels Rain: 32.3 in/yr (820 mm)
57° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Guatemala City Brussels
Jan–Mar 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Guatemala City Brussels
Jan 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH) Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH), Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Guatemala and Belgium. To live, work, or study long-term in Belgium, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Belgium's immigration authority.

Guatemala passport

Guatemala passport holder visiting Belgium

Visa Free
Guatemala passport holders can enter Belgium without a visa.
Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Guatemala

Visa Free
Belgium passport holders can enter Guatemala without a visa.

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 Belgium than Guatemala?

On average Belgium is around 52% pricier than Guatemala, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Belgium?

Budget about €24,377 for 3 months in Belgium (based on a GTQ572,138 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Belgium?

Connectivity is usually fine (Belgium: 43.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Belgium offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Belgium safe for expats?

Belgium performs significantly better than Guatemala across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 20.0 in Guatemala.

How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Guatemala?

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 12.8 in Guatemala. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guatemala: 59).

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

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 77°F in Guatemala City. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Guatemala City gets 46.7 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Guatemala, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

GT BE
Population 17,703,190 11,847,338
Currency Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ) Euro (€)
Languages Spanish Dutch, French, German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +502 +32
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 112