Moving to United States from Guatemala
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Guatemala to United States — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Guatemala to United States, you would find that United States is 2.3 times more expensive than Guatemala overall. A GTQ571,522 salary in Guatemala would need to be roughly $133,323 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°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 ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Guatemala to United States.
What does your salary buy?
GTQ571,522 → $133,323
To maintain the same standard of living in United States
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.4 times more
Groceries
pay 46.9% more
Transportation
pay 2.2 times more
Housing
pay 2.4 times more
Childcare
pay 5.0 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 74.6% 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 United States, based on official data.
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
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Guatemala to United States.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Guatemala generally does better on safety, though United States leads in homicide rate.
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
Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States 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 United States 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
United States 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 United States leads in gdp per capita.
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
United States 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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Guatemala City | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) |
| Feb | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) |
| Apr | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) |
| May | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) |
| Jun | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) |
| Sep | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) |
| Oct | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) |
| Nov | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) |
| Dec | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) |
Data:
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH),
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
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 United States than Guatemala?
No — United States is on average about 78% more expensive than Guatemala. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to United States?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $33,331 in United States on a GTQ571,522 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from United States?
Internet is rarely the blocker — United States has 37.8 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 United States safe for expats?
Guatemala generally does better on safety, though United States leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 20.0 in Guatemala.
How is healthcare in United States compared to Guatemala?
Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 12.8 in Guatemala. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guatemala: 59).
What's the weather like in United States compared to Guatemala?
The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 77°F in Guatemala City. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Guatemala City gets 46.7 in.
What language do they speak in United States?
The official language in United States is English. In Guatemala, the official language is Spanish.
