Moving to Zimbabwe from Guatemala

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Guatemala to Zimbabwe — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Guatemala to Zimbabwe, you would find that Zimbabwe is 30.4% cheaper than Guatemala overall. A GTQ570,000 salary in Guatemala would need to be roughly ZWL16,700,000 in Zimbabwe to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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 Zimbabwe.

What does your salary buy?

GTQ570,000 → ZWL16,700,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Zimbabwe

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 20.5% less

Groceries

pay 23.6% less

Transportation

pay 49.1% more

Housing

pay 53.3% less

Childcare

pay 6.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 18.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GTQ = 42.12 ZWL (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Get free moving quotes to Zimbabwe

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Guatemala to Zimbabwe.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

GT
23.4
ZW
6.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GT
12.6
ZW
29.9

Guatemala generally does better on safety, though Zimbabwe leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

GT
$935
ZW
$103
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

GT
12.8
ZW
1.4

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zimbabwe leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

GT
40.0
ZW
56.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GT
1.1t
ZW
0.8t

Guatemala generally does better on environment, though Zimbabwe leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GT
5.3
ZW
1.9
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GT
5.7%
ZW
46.1%

Guatemala performs better than Zimbabwe across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

GT
2.6%
ZW
9.3%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

GT
$6,598
ZW
$3,021

Guatemala generally does better on employment & economy, though Zimbabwe leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

GT
72.8 yrs
ZW
63.1 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GT
17.2
ZW
62.4

Guatemala generally does better on family life, though Zimbabwe leads in literacy rate.

Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Superintendence of the Tax Administration (2016), Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (2016), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Guatemala City Rain: 46.7 in/yr (1186 mm)
77° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Harare Rain: 33.1 in/yr (841 mm)
78° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Guatemala City Harare
Jan–Mar 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 79°/59°F (26°/15°C)
Apr–Jun 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) 75°/49°F (24°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) 76°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Oct–Dec 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) 82°/59°F (28°/15°C)
View all months
Month Guatemala City Harare
Jan 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) 79°/60°F (26.2°/15.8°C)
Feb 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.7°C)
Mar 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) 79°/58°F (26.2°/14.5°C)
Apr 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) 78°/54°F (25.6°/12.5°C)
May 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) 75°/49°F (23.8°/9.3°C)
Jun 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) 71°/44°F (21.8°/6.8°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) 71°/44°F (21.6°/6.5°C)
Aug 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) 75°/47°F (24.1°/8.5°C)
Sep 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) 83°/53°F (28.4°/11.7°C)
Oct 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) 84°/58°F (28.8°/14.5°C)
Nov 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) 82°/60°F (27.6°/15.5°C)
Dec 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) 79°/60°F (26.3°/15.8°C)

Data: Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH) Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH), Meteorological Services Department Meteorological Services Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Guatemala and Zimbabwe. To live, work, or study long-term in Zimbabwe, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Zimbabwe's immigration authority.

Guatemala passport

Guatemala passport holder visiting Zimbabwe

Visa on Arrival
Guatemala passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe passport

Zimbabwe passport holder visiting Guatemala

Visa Required
Zimbabwe passport holders need a visa to enter Guatemala.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Zimbabwe than Guatemala?

Yes — Zimbabwe is on average about 30% cheaper than Guatemala. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Zimbabwe?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ZWL4,175,000 in Zimbabwe on a GTQ570,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Zimbabwe?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Zimbabwe has 1.9 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 Zimbabwe safe for expats?

Guatemala generally does better on safety, though Zimbabwe leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Zimbabwe is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 23.4 in Guatemala.

How is healthcare in Zimbabwe compared to Guatemala?

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zimbabwe leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Zimbabwe, compared to 12.8 in Guatemala. Zimbabwe scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guatemala: 59).

What's the weather like in Zimbabwe compared to Guatemala?

The average high temperature in Harare is 78°F, compared to 77°F in Guatemala City. Harare receives around 33.1 in of rainfall per year, while Guatemala City gets 46.7 in.

What language do they speak in Zimbabwe?

The official languages in Zimbabwe are Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language. In Guatemala, the official language is Spanish.

Share this

At a Glance

GT ZW
Population 18,687,881 16,950,795
Currency Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ) Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL)
Languages Spanish Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +502 +263
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 999