Moving to Japan from Guatemala
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Guatemala to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Guatemala to Japan, you would find that Japan is 28.8% more expensive than Guatemala overall. A GTQ572,138 salary in Guatemala would need to be roughly ¥11,933,678 in Japan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Guatemala to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
GTQ572,138 → ¥11,933,678
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 5.9% less
Groceries
pay 21.8% more
Transportation
pay 2.1 times more
Housing
pay 13.1% more
Childcare
pay 76.0% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 13.8% 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 Guatemala to Japan, based on official data.
Who's moving to Japan?
Top countries of origin for Japan's foreign-born residents.
- 775,893
- 456,203
- 335,668
- 275,252
- 204,814
- 58,340
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Guatemala to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs significantly better than Guatemala 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
Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan 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 Japan 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
Japan 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
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala leads in top income tax 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
Japan 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 | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Guatemala City | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH),
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Guatemala and Japan. To live, work, or study long-term in Japan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Japan's immigration authority.
Guatemala passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting Guatemala
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 Japan than Guatemala?
Costs in Japan and Guatemala are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ¥2,983,420 in Japan on a GTQ572,138 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Japan?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Japan has 37.2 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 Japan safe for expats?
Japan performs significantly better than Guatemala across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 20.0 in Guatemala.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Guatemala?
Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 12.8 in Guatemala. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guatemala: 59).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Guatemala?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 77°F in Guatemala City. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Guatemala City gets 46.7 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Guatemala, the official language is Spanish.
