Moving to Uruguay from Guatemala
What to Expect
Considering a move from Guatemala to Uruguay? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Guatemala to Uruguay, you would find that Uruguay is 57.6% more expensive than Guatemala overall. A GTQ572,138 salary in Guatemala would need to be roughly UYU3,962,276 in Uruguay to maintain the same lifestyle.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Guatemala and Uruguay.
What does your salary buy?
GTQ572,138 → UYU3,962,276
To maintain the same standard of living in Uruguay
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.2 times more
Groceries
pay 15.8% more
Transportation
pay 2.2 times more
Housing
pay 21.7% more
Childcare
pay 76.0% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 24.7% 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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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Uruguay compared to Guatemala.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Guatemala generally does better on safety, though Uruguay 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uruguay 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 Uruguay 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
Uruguay 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
Guatemala generally does better on employment & economy, though Uruguay 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Uruguay 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 | Montevideo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) | 65°/50°F (19°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) | 61°/46°F (16°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) | 75°/57°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Guatemala City | Montevideo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) | 83°/64°F (28.4°/18.0°C) |
| Feb | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) | 82°/64°F (27.5°/17.9°C) |
| Mar | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) | 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.2°C) |
| Apr | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) | 72°/55°F (22.0°/12.9°C) |
| May | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) | 65°/50°F (18.6°/10.2°C) |
| Jun | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) | 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.7°C) |
| Jul | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) | 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.2°C) |
| Aug | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) | 61°/46°F (16.2°/7.8°C) |
| Sep | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) | 64°/48°F (18.0°/9.1°C) |
| Oct | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) | 69°/53°F (20.5°/11.5°C) |
| Nov | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C) |
| Dec | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) | 80°/61°F (26.5°/16.3°C) |
Data:
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH),
Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Guatemala and Uruguay. To live, work, or study long-term in Uruguay, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Uruguay's immigration authority.
Guatemala passport holder visiting Uruguay
Visa Free
Uruguay 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 Uruguay than Guatemala?
On average Uruguay is around 32% pricier than Guatemala, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Uruguay?
Budget about UYU990,569 for 3 months in Uruguay (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 Uruguay?
Connectivity is usually fine (Uruguay: 33.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Uruguay offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Uruguay safe for expats?
Guatemala generally does better on safety, though Uruguay leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Uruguay is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 20.0 in Guatemala.
How is healthcare in Uruguay compared to Guatemala?
Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Uruguay leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 46.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Uruguay, compared to 12.8 in Guatemala. Uruguay scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guatemala: 59).
What's the weather like in Uruguay compared to Guatemala?
The average high temperature in Montevideo is 71°F, compared to 77°F in Guatemala City. Montevideo receives around 43.3 in of rainfall per year, while Guatemala City gets 46.7 in.
What language do they speak in Uruguay?
Both Guatemala and Uruguay share the same official language: Spanish.
