Moving to Guatemala from New York
What to Expect
Considering a move from New York to Guatemala? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New York to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 52.2% cheaper than New York. A $75,000 salary in New York would need to be roughly GTQ274,000 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 62°F in New York City, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Guatemala cheaper than New York?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 56.3% less
Groceries
pay 34.9% less
Transportation
pay 42.6% less
Housing
pay 63.4% less
Childcare
pay 79.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 49.7% 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.
What salary do you need in Guatemala?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → GTQ274,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Guatemala
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from New York to Guatemala.
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
The numbers behind daily life in Guatemala compared to New York.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Guatemala performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
New York 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
New York generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
New York performs better than Guatemala across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Guatemala vs New York
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | New York City | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 43°/30°F (6°/-1°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 70°/54°F (21°/12°C) | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/66°F (27°/19°C) | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/41°F (12°/5°C) | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | New York City | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°/27°F (3.5°/-2.8°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 42°/29°F (5.3°/-1.7°C) | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 50°/35°F (9.8°/1.8°C) | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 61°/45°F (16.2°/7.1°C) | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) |
| May | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.2°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 79°/64°F (26.3°/17.6°C) | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) |
| Jul | 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.4°C) | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) |
| Aug | 83°/68°F (28.1°/19.9°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) |
| Sep | 75°/61°F (24.0°/16.0°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) |
| Oct | 64°/50°F (17.7°/10.0°C) | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) |
| Nov | 54°/42°F (12.1°/5.3°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) |
| Dec | 43°/32°F (6.1°/0.0°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH)
Can you move from New York to Guatemala?
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 New York?
On average Guatemala is about 52% less expensive than New York, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?
Budget about GTQ68,500 for 3 months in Guatemala (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Guatemala?
From major Guatemala cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in New York and Guatemala are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to New York?
Guatemala performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to New York?
The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 62°F in New York City. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while New York City gets 49.9 in.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In New York, the official language is English.
