Moving to Guatemala from Vietnam
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Vietnam to Guatemala — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Vietnam to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 72.6% more expensive than Vietnam overall. A ₫1,900,000,000 salary in Vietnam would need to be roughly GTQ969,000 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 91°F in Ho Chi Minh City, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Guatemala cheaper than Vietnam?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.7 times more
Groceries
pay 55.7% more
Transportation
pay 32.8% more
Housing
pay 99.0% more
Childcare
pay 30.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.4 times 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.
What salary do you need in Guatemala?
What does your salary buy?
₫1,900,000,000 → GTQ969,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Guatemala
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Vietnam to Guatemala.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Vietnam 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
Vietnam 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 Vietnam 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
share of households with internet
Vietnam 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
share of people below the poverty line
Vietnam generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala 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
Vietnam generally does better on family life, though Guatemala leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2011–2021), World Health Organization (2024), General Department Of Taxation - Ministry Of Finance (2016), Superintendence of the Tax Administration (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Guatemala vs Vietnam
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Ho Chi Minh City | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/75°F (33°/24°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 94°/79°F (34°/26°C) | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 91°/77°F (33°/25°C) | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 90°/76°F (32°/25°C) | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Ho Chi Minh City | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.4°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.1°C) | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 92°/77°F (33.6°/24.9°C) | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 94°/80°F (34.5°/26.4°C) | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) |
| May | 95°/80°F (34.9°/26.4°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 92°/78°F (33.5°/25.5°C) | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) |
| Jul | 91°/77°F (33.0°/25.2°C) | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) |
| Aug | 91°/77°F (32.9°/25.1°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) |
| Sep | 91°/77°F (32.6°/25.0°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) |
| Oct | 90°/77°F (32.3°/25.0°C) | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) |
| Nov | 90°/77°F (32.4°/24.9°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) |
| Dec | 89°/75°F (31.6°/23.9°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) |
Data:
Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration,
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH)
Can you move from Vietnam to Guatemala?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Vietnam 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.
Vietnam passport holder visiting Guatemala
Visa Required
Guatemala passport holder visiting Vietnam
Visa Online (e-Visa)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 Vietnam?
No — Guatemala is on average about 73% more expensive than Vietnam. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly GTQ242,250 in Guatemala on a ₫1,900,000,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Guatemala?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Guatemala has 5.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Guatemala safe for expats?
Vietnam generally does better on safety, though Guatemala leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Guatemala is 23.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Vietnam.
How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Vietnam?
Vietnam 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 11.1 in Vietnam. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vietnam: 68).
What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to Vietnam?
The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 91°F in Ho Chi Minh City. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Ho Chi Minh City gets 65.1 in.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Vietnam, the official language is Vietnamese.
