Moving to Guatemala from Philippines
What to Expect
Considering a move from Philippines to Guatemala? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Philippines to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 71.3% more expensive than Philippines overall. A ₱4,612,875 salary in Philippines would need to be roughly GTQ806,990 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 88°F in Manila, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Philippines and Guatemala.
What does your salary buy?
₱4,612,875 → GTQ806,990
To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 88.0% more
Groceries
pay 29.7% more
Transportation
pay 93.3% more
Housing
pay 2.1 times more
Childcare
pay 41.0% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 73.7% 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 Philippines to Guatemala.
Who's moving to Guatemala?
Top countries of origin for Guatemala's foreign-born residents.
- 20,683
- 18,872
- 9,299
- 9,211
- 9,023
- 1,921
- · · ·
-
36.71
Philippines
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Guatemala compared to Philippines.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Philippines performs better than Guatemala across all safety metrics.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Philippines 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
Guatemala performs significantly better than Philippines 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
Philippines 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
Guatemala generally does better on employment & economy, though Philippines 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
Philippines generally does better on family life, though Guatemala leads in life expectancy.
Data: Bureau of Internal Revenue, 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 | Manila | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/79°F (33°/26°C) | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/77°F (30°/25°C) | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Manila | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C) | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C) | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) |
| May | 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C) | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) |
| Jul | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C) | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) |
| Aug | 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) |
| Sep | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) |
| Oct | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) |
| Nov | 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) |
| Dec | 85°/75°F (29.7°/23.9°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) |
Data:
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration,
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Philippines 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.
Philippines passport holder visiting Guatemala
Visa Required
Guatemala passport holder visiting Philippines
Visa FreeData: 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 Philippines?
On average Guatemala is around 41% pricier than Philippines, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?
Budget about GTQ201,748 for 3 months in Guatemala (based on a ₱4,612,875 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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?
Philippines performs better than Guatemala across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Guatemala is 20.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.3 in Philippines.
How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Philippines?
Philippines 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 7.9 in Philippines. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Philippines: 58).
What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to Philippines?
The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 88°F in Manila. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Manila gets 86.7 in.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Philippines, the official languages are English and Filipino.
