Moving to New York from Guatemala
What to Expect
Considering a move from Guatemala to New York? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Guatemala to New York, you would find that New York is 2.1 times more expensive than Guatemala overall. A GTQ570,000 salary in Guatemala would need to be roughly $156,000 in New York to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — New York City averages 62°F vs 77°F in Guatemala City, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is New York cheaper than Guatemala?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.3 times more
Groceries
pay 53.7% more
Transportation
pay 74.1% more
Housing
pay 2.7 times more
Childcare
pay 4.8 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 98.9% 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.
What salary do you need in New York?
What does your salary buy?
GTQ570,000 → $156,000
To maintain the same standard of living in New York
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to New York
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Guatemala to New York.
people moved from Guatemala to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
9.1,226,849
Guatemala
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in New York compared to Guatemala.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Guatemala performs better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
New York performs significantly better than Guatemala across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
New York generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
New York performs significantly better than Guatemala across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), World Health Organization (2024), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in New York vs Guatemala
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Guatemala City | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 43°/30°F (6°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) | 81°/66°F (27°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) | 54°/41°F (12°/5°C) |
View all months
| Month | Guatemala City | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) | 38°/27°F (3.5°/-2.8°C) |
| Feb | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) | 42°/29°F (5.3°/-1.7°C) |
| Mar | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) | 50°/35°F (9.8°/1.8°C) |
| Apr | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) | 61°/45°F (16.2°/7.1°C) |
| May | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.2°C) |
| Jun | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) | 79°/64°F (26.3°/17.6°C) |
| Jul | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) | 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.4°C) |
| Aug | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) | 83°/68°F (28.1°/19.9°C) |
| Sep | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) | 75°/61°F (24.0°/16.0°C) |
| Oct | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) | 64°/50°F (17.7°/10.0°C) |
| Nov | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) | 54°/42°F (12.1°/5.3°C) |
| Dec | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) | 43°/32°F (6.1°/0.0°C) |
Data:
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH),
National Weather Service
Can you move from Guatemala to New York?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Guatemala and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Guatemala passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States 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 New York than Guatemala?
On average New York is around 109% pricier than Guatemala, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to New York?
Budget about $39,000 for 3 months in New York (based on a GTQ570,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from New York?
From major New York cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Guatemala and New York are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in New York compared to Guatemala?
Guatemala performs better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in New York compared to Guatemala?
The average high temperature in New York City is 62°F, compared to 77°F in Guatemala City. New York City receives around 49.9 in of rainfall per year, while Guatemala City gets 46.7 in.
What language do they speak in New York?
The official language in New York is English. In Guatemala, the official language is Spanish.
