Moving to Guatemala from Suriname
What to Expect
Considering a move from Suriname to Guatemala? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Suriname to Guatemala, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Guatemala City averages 77°F vs 92°F in Paramaribo, making it significantly cooler.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Guatemala compared to Suriname.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Suriname generally does better on safety, though Guatemala leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname 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
Suriname 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
Suriname 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Guatemala generally does better on employment & economy, though Suriname leads in gdp per capita.
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
Suriname generally does better on family life, though Guatemala leads in life expectancy.
Data: Ministry of Finance, 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 | Paramaribo | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 89°/71°F (32°/22°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 93°/73°F (34°/23°C) | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 94°/73°F (34°/23°C) | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Paramaribo | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C) | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C) | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C) | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) |
| May | 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C) | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) |
| Jul | 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C) | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) |
| Aug | 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) |
| Sep | 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) |
| Oct | 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C) | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) |
| Nov | 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) |
| Dec | 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Service,
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Suriname 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.
Suriname passport holder visiting Guatemala
Visa Required
Guatemala passport holder visiting Suriname
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
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?
Suriname generally does better on safety, though Guatemala leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Guatemala is 20.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.3 in Suriname.
How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Suriname?
Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Guatemala, compared to 14.8 in Suriname. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Suriname: 63).
What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to Suriname?
The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 92°F in Paramaribo. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Paramaribo gets 84.6 in.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Suriname, the official language is Dutch.
