Moving to Guatemala from Mexico
What to Expect
Considering a move from Mexico to Guatemala? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Mexico to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 2.5% more expensive than Mexico overall. A MX$1,310,130 salary in Mexico would need to be roughly GTQ592,787 in Guatemala to maintain the same lifestyle.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Mexico and Guatemala.
What does your salary buy?
MX$1,310,130 → GTQ592,787
To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 23.8% less
Groceries
pay 12.3% more
Transportation
pay 30.1% less
Housing
pay 26.7% more
Childcare
pay 1.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 16.3% 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Mexico to Guatemala.
Who's moving to Guatemala?
Top countries of origin for Guatemala's foreign-born residents.
- 20,683
-
2.18,872
Mexico
- 9,299
- 9,211
- 9,023
- 1,921
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Guatemala compared to Mexico.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Mexico generally does better on safety, though Guatemala 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Mexico generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guatemala leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Mexico generally does better on environment, though Guatemala leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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
Mexico 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
share of people below the poverty line
Mexico generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala leads in unemployment 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
Mexico generally does better on family life, though Guatemala leads in life expectancy.
Data: Servicio de Administración Tributaria, SHCP, 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 | Mexico City | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 74°/45°F (23°/7°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Mexico City | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/42°F (21.2°/5.8°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 73°/45°F (22.9°/7.1°C) | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 78°/49°F (25.7°/9.2°C) | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.8°C) | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) |
| May | 80°/53°F (26.5°/11.7°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 76°/54°F (24.6°/12.2°C) | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) |
| Jul | 73°/53°F (23.0°/11.5°C) | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) |
| Aug | 74°/53°F (23.3°/11.6°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) |
| Sep | 72°/53°F (22.3°/11.5°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) |
| Oct | 72°/50°F (22.2°/9.8°C) | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) |
| Nov | 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) |
| Dec | 69°/44°F (20.8°/6.6°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) |
Data:
Coordinación General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional,
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Mexico 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.
Mexico passport holder visiting Guatemala
Visa Free
Guatemala passport holder visiting Mexico
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 Mexico?
On average Guatemala is around 3% pricier than Mexico, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?
Budget about GTQ148,197 for 3 months in Guatemala (based on a MX$1,310,130 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?
Mexico generally does better on safety, though Guatemala leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Guatemala is 20.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 26.1 in Mexico.
How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Mexico?
Mexico generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guatemala leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Guatemala, compared to 25.6 in Mexico. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Mexico: 75).
What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to Mexico?
The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 74°F in Mexico City. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Mexico City gets 32.1 in.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
Both Mexico and Guatemala share the same official language: Spanish.
