Moving to Guatemala from Ohio

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Ohio to Guatemala — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Ohio to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 29.0% cheaper than Ohio. A $75,000 salary in Ohio would need to be roughly GTQ451,640 in Guatemala to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from Ohio to Guatemala.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 GTQ451,640

To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 50.1% less

Groceries

pay 5.3% less

Transportation

pay 28.5% less

Housing

pay 41.1% less

Childcare

pay 74.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 25.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 7.62 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Ohio to Guatemala, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
9,299 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Guatemala · UN DESA

Who's moving to Guatemala?

Top countries of origin for Guatemala's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Ohio and Guatemala stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

OH
39.5%
GT
21.2%

Guatemala performs significantly better than Ohio across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

OH
89.0%
GT
51.0%

Ohio performs better than Guatemala across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

OH
4.0%
GT
2.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

OH
$60,669
GT
$12,700

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

OH
75.3 yrs
GT
72.9 yrs

Ohio 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.

Columbus Rain: 46.8 in/yr (1188 mm)
76° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Columbus Guatemala City
Jan–Mar 63°/41°F (17°/5°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Apr–Jun 84°/62°F (29°/16°C) 80°/61°F (27°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/71°F (32°/21°C) 76°/60°F (25°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) 74°/58°F (24°/14°C)
View all months
Month Columbus Guatemala City
Jan 58°/37°F (14.2°/2.7°C) 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C)
Feb 62°/40°F (16.7°/4.5°C) 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C)
Mar 69°/46°F (20.8°/7.8°C) 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C)
Apr 77°/53°F (24.8°/11.4°C) 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C)
May 84°/62°F (28.9°/16.6°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C)
Jun 90°/70°F (32.2°/20.9°C) 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C)
Jul 92°/73°F (33.4°/22.7°C) 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C)
Aug 91°/72°F (33.0°/22.4°C) 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C)
Sep 86°/67°F (30.2°/19.3°C) 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C)
Oct 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.1°C) 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C)
Nov 68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C)
Dec 59°/39°F (15.2°/3.8°C) 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, 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 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

United States passport holder visiting Guatemala

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Guatemala without a visa.
Guatemala passport

Guatemala passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Guatemala passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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 Ohio?

Generally yes: Guatemala runs about 21% cheaper than Ohio on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around GTQ112,910 in Guatemala for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Guatemala?

Working remotely from Guatemala's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Ohio and Guatemala.

How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Ohio?

Guatemala performs significantly better than Ohio across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 76°F in Columbus. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Columbus gets 46.8 in.

What language do they speak in Guatemala?

The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Ohio, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GT
Population 11,536,504 17,703,190
Currency United States Dollar ($) Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +502
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 110