Moving to Guatemala from Iowa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iowa to Guatemala — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iowa to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 30.6% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly GTQ458,361 in Guatemala to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Guatemala City averages 77°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
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 Iowa to Guatemala.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → GTQ458,361
To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 51.6% less
Groceries
pay 5.0% less
Transportation
pay 18.0% less
Housing
pay 39.8% less
Childcare
pay 74.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 37.9% less
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 Guatemala
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
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Iowa to Guatemala, based on official data.
Who's moving to Guatemala?
Top countries of origin for Guatemala's foreign-born residents.
- 20,683
- 18,872
-
3.9,299
United States
- 9,211
- 9,023
- 1,921
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iowa to Guatemala.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Guatemala performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs 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
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Guatemala across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Guatemala. To live, work, or study long-term in Guatemala, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Guatemala's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Guatemala
Visa Free
Guatemala passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Guatemala than Iowa?
Yes — Guatemala is on average about 20% cheaper than Iowa. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly GTQ114,590 in Guatemala on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Guatemala?
Usually fine from major cities in Guatemala. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Iowa?
Guatemala performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Iowa, the official language is English.
