Moving to Guatemala from Ukraine

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Ukraine to Guatemala? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Ukraine to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 93.7% more expensive than Ukraine overall. A UAH3,346,113 salary in Ukraine would need to be roughly GTQ790,217 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 56°F in Kiev, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Ukraine and Guatemala.

What does your salary buy?

UAH3,346,113 GTQ790,217

To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 54.9% more

Groceries

pay 2.4 times more

Transportation

pay 42.5% more

Housing

pay 3.4 times more

Childcare

pay 10.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.3 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 UAH = 0.1708 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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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Guatemala compared to Ukraine.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UA
3.8
GT
20.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UA
10.5
GT
12.6

Ukraine performs better than Guatemala across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

UA
$1,382
GT
$935
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

UA
29.9
GT
12.8

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

UA
66.0
GT
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

UA
3.1t
GT
1.1t

Guatemala performs significantly better than Ukraine across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

UA
18.3
GT
3.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UA
12.3%
GT
5.7%

Ukraine generally does better on infrastructure, though Guatemala leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

UA
9.8%
GT
2.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

UA
$16,200
GT
$12,700

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

UA
73.5 yrs
GT
72.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UA
7.3
GT
26.2

Ukraine performs better than Guatemala across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kiev Rain: 23.8 in/yr (605 mm)
56° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kiev Guatemala City
Jan–Mar 36°/25°F (2°/-4°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/51°F (20°/10°C) 80°/61°F (27°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/58°F (24°/14°C) 76°/60°F (25°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/33°F (6°/1°C) 74°/58°F (24°/14°C)
View all months
Month Kiev Guatemala City
Jan 31°/22°F (-0.7°/-5.5°C) 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C)
Feb 33°/23°F (0.8°/-5.0°C) 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C)
Mar 44°/31°F (6.5°/-0.8°C) 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C)
Apr 59°/42°F (15.1°/5.7°C) 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C)
May 70°/52°F (21.1°/10.9°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C)
Jun 76°/59°F (24.6°/14.8°C) 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C)
Jul 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.6°C) 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C)
Aug 79°/60°F (25.9°/15.7°C) 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C)
Sep 68°/51°F (20.0°/10.6°C) 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C)
Oct 55°/41°F (12.9°/5.1°C) 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C)
Nov 42°/33°F (5.3°/0.3°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C)
Dec 33°/26°F (0.5°/-3.5°C) 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C)

Data: Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, 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 Ukraine 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.

Ukraine passport

Ukraine passport holder visiting Guatemala

Visa Free
Ukraine passport holders can enter Guatemala without a visa.
Guatemala passport

Guatemala passport holder visiting Ukraine

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Guatemala passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Ukraine.

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 Ukraine?

On average Guatemala is around 38% pricier than Ukraine, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?

Budget about GTQ197,554 for 3 months in Guatemala (based on a UAH3,346,113 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and 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?

Ukraine performs better than Guatemala across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Guatemala is 20.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.8 in Ukraine.

How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Ukraine?

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Guatemala, compared to 29.9 in Ukraine. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ukraine: 76).

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

The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 56°F in Kiev. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Kiev gets 23.8 in.

What language do they speak in Guatemala?

The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Ukraine, the official language is Ukrainian.

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At a Glance

UA GT
Population 43,528,136 17,703,190
Currency Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
Languages Ukrainian Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +380 +502
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 110