Moving to Guatemala from Malta

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Malta to Guatemala? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Malta to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 25.2% cheaper than Malta overall. A €65,577 salary in Malta would need to be roughly GTQ398,519 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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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Malta and Guatemala.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 GTQ398,519

To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 52.1% less

Groceries

pay 9.1% more

Transportation

pay 40.9% less

Housing

pay 20.4% less

Childcare

pay 45.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 18.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 8.72 GTQ (July 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.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Guatemala compared to Malta.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MT
0.6
GT
20.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MT
1.9
GT
12.6

Malta performs better than Guatemala across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MT
$5,706
GT
$935
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MT
42.8
GT
12.8

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MT
21.0
GT
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MT
3.2t
GT
1.1t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MT
43.0
GT
3.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MT
78.3%
GT
5.7%

Malta generally does better on infrastructure, though Guatemala leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MT
3.1%
GT
2.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MT
$57,200
GT
$12,700

Malta generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MT
83.2 yrs
GT
72.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MT
4.5
GT
26.2

Malta performs better than Guatemala across all family life metrics.

Data: Government of Malta - Inland Revenue, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Valletta Rain: 21.8 in/yr (553 mm)
72° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Valletta Guatemala City
Jan–Mar 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) 80°/61°F (27°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) 76°/60°F (25°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) 74°/58°F (24°/14°C)
View all months
Month Valletta Guatemala City
Jan 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C)
Feb 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C)
Mar 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C)
Apr 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C)
May 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C)
Jun 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C)
Jul 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C)
Aug 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C)
Sep 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C)
Oct 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C)
Nov 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C)
Dec 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C)

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malta 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.

Malta passport

Malta passport holder visiting Guatemala

Visa Free
Malta passport holders can enter Guatemala without a visa.
Guatemala passport

Guatemala passport holder visiting Malta

Visa Free
Guatemala passport holders can enter Malta without a visa.

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 Guatemala than Malta?

On average Guatemala is about 30% less expensive than Malta, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?

Budget about GTQ99,630 for 3 months in Guatemala (based on a €65,577 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: 3.7 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?

Malta performs better than Guatemala across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Guatemala is 20.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Malta.

How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Malta?

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Guatemala, compared to 42.8 in Malta. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malta: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 72°F in Valletta. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Valletta gets 21.8 in.

What language do they speak in Guatemala?

The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Malta, the official languages are English and Maltese.

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At a Glance

MT GT
Population 464,186 17,703,190
Currency Euro (€) Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
Languages English, Maltese Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +356 +502
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 110