Moving to Guatemala from Kenya
What to Expect
Considering a move from Kenya to Guatemala? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Kenya to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 86.7% more expensive than Kenya overall. A KES9,700,000 salary in Kenya would need to be roughly GTQ1,070,000 in Guatemala to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Kenya and Guatemala.
What does your salary buy?
KES9,700,000 → GTQ1,070,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 53.7% more
Groceries
pay 92.8% more
Transportation
pay 16.4% less
Housing
pay 3.0 times more
Childcare
pay 14.9% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 17.1% 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 Guatemala compared to Kenya.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Kenya generally does better on safety, though Guatemala leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guatemala 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
Kenya performs better than Guatemala across all environment metrics.
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
Guatemala performs significantly better than Kenya across all infrastructure metrics.
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 Kenya leads in poverty rate.
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
Kenya generally does better on family life, though Guatemala leads in life expectancy.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Revenue Authority (2016), Superintendence of the Tax Administration (2016), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Nairobi | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Nairobi | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) |
| May | 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) |
| Jul | 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) |
| Aug | 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) |
| Sep | 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) |
| Oct | 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) |
| Nov | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) |
| Dec | 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) |
Data:
Kenya Meteorological Department,
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kenya 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.
Kenya passport holder visiting Guatemala
Visa Required
Guatemala passport holder visiting Kenya
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Kenya?
On average Guatemala is around 87% pricier than Kenya, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?
Budget about GTQ267,500 for 3 months in Guatemala (based on a KES9,700,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Guatemala?
Connectivity is usually fine (Guatemala: 5.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Guatemala offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Guatemala safe for expats?
Kenya generally does better on safety, though Guatemala leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Guatemala is 23.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.9 in Kenya.
How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Kenya?
Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guatemala leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Guatemala, compared to 2.9 in Kenya. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kenya: 53).
What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to Kenya?
The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 74°F in Nairobi. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Nairobi gets 40.3 in.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Kenya, the official languages are English and Swahili.
