Moving to Jamaica from Guatemala
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Guatemala to Jamaica — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Guatemala to Jamaica, you would find that Jamaica is 16.7% more expensive than Guatemala overall. A GTQ572,867 salary in Guatemala would need to be roughly JMD13,380,262 in Jamaica to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Jamaican Patois. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kingston averages 89°F vs 77°F in Guatemala City, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Guatemala to Jamaica.
What does your salary buy?
GTQ572,867 → JMD13,380,262
To maintain the same standard of living in Jamaica
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 10.1% more
Groceries
pay 29.6% more
Transportation
pay 2.1 times more
Housing
pay 18.9% more
Childcare
pay 36.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 28.0% 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?
Real numbers on people moving from Guatemala to Jamaica, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Jamaica?
Top countries of origin for Jamaica's foreign-born residents.
- 6,349
- 4,832
- 2,343
- 1,825
- 1,338
- 1,148
- · · ·
-
10.307
Guatemala
Key Indicator Comparison
How Guatemala and Jamaica stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Guatemala performs better than Jamaica 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Jamaica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guatemala leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Guatemala generally does better on environment, though Jamaica leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Jamaica 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
share of people below the poverty line
Guatemala generally does better on employment & economy, though Jamaica leads in poverty rate.
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
Jamaica 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Guatemala City | Kingston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 87°/70°F (30°/21°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Guatemala City | Kingston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) | 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C) |
| Feb | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) | 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C) |
| Mar | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C) |
| Apr | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) | 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C) |
| May | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C) |
| Jun | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) | 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C) |
| Jul | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) | 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C) |
| Aug | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) | 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C) |
| Sep | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) | 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C) |
| Oct | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) | 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C) |
| Nov | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C) |
| Dec | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) | 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C) |
Data:
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH),
Meteorological Service, Jamaica
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Guatemala and Jamaica. To live, work, or study long-term in Jamaica, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Jamaica's immigration authority.
Guatemala passport holder visiting Jamaica
Visa Free
Jamaica passport holder visiting Guatemala
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Jamaica than Guatemala?
Day-to-day costs in Jamaica run about 13% higher than Guatemala on average; specific cities can swing further.
How much money do I need to move to Jamaica?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a GTQ572,867 comparable salary, that's around JMD3,345,066 in Jamaica for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Jamaica?
With 15.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Jamaica can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Guatemala and Jamaica.
Is Jamaica safe for expats?
Guatemala performs better than Jamaica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Jamaica is 53.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 20.0 in Guatemala.
How is healthcare in Jamaica compared to Guatemala?
Jamaica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guatemala leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Jamaica, compared to 12.8 in Guatemala. Jamaica scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guatemala: 59).
What's the weather like in Jamaica compared to Guatemala?
The average high temperature in Kingston is 89°F, compared to 77°F in Guatemala City. Kingston receives around 32.0 in of rainfall per year, while Guatemala City gets 46.7 in.
What language do they speak in Jamaica?
The official languages in Jamaica are English and Jamaican Patois. In Guatemala, the official language is Spanish.
