Moving to Guatemala from South Carolina
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from South Carolina to Guatemala — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from South Carolina to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 33.7% cheaper than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly GTQ389,542 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 66°F in Columbia, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from South Carolina to Guatemala.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → GTQ389,542
To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 56.6% less
Groceries
pay 22.2% less
Transportation
pay 21.8% less
Housing
pay 52.1% less
Childcare
pay 76.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 24.7% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from South Carolina to Guatemala, based on official data.
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
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from South Carolina to Guatemala.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Guatemala performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
South Carolina 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
South Carolina generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
South Carolina 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Columbia | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Columbia | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) |
| May | 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) |
| Jul | 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) |
| Aug | 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) |
| Sep | 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) |
| Oct | 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) |
| Nov | 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) |
| Dec | 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
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 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 South Carolina?
Yes — Guatemala is on average about 32% cheaper than South Carolina. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly GTQ97,386 in Guatemala on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Guatemala?
Usually fine from major cities in Guatemala. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to South Carolina?
Guatemala performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to South Carolina?
The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In South Carolina, the official language is English.
