Moving to Guatemala from Zambia

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Zambia to Guatemala — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Zambia to Guatemala, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Zambia and Guatemala stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
5.2
GT
20.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
17.1
GT
12.6

Zambia generally does better on safety, though Guatemala leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ZM
$244
GT
$935
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZM
2.6
GT
12.8

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ZM
50.0
GT
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZM
0.5t
GT
1.1t

Zambia generally does better on environment, though Guatemala leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ZM
0.4
GT
3.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZM
2.8%
GT
5.7%

Zambia generally does better on infrastructure, though Guatemala leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ZM
5.9%
GT
2.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZM
$3,700
GT
$12,700

Guatemala performs significantly better than Zambia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ZM
66.3 yrs
GT
72.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZM
37.1
GT
26.2

Zambia generally does better on family life, though Guatemala leads in life expectancy.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank, Zambia Revenue Authority

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lusaka Guatemala City
Jan–Mar 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 80°/61°F (27°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) 76°/60°F (25°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) 74°/58°F (24°/14°C)
View all months
Month Lusaka Guatemala City
Jan 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C)
Feb 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C)
Mar 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C)
Apr 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C)
Jun 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C)
Jul 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C)
Aug 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C)
Sep 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C)
Oct 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C)
Nov 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C)
Dec 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C)

Data: Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), 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 Zambia 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.

Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Guatemala

Visa Required
Zambia passport holders need a visa to enter Guatemala.
Guatemala passport

Guatemala passport holder visiting Zambia

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

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Guatemala?

With 3.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Guatemala can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Zambia and Guatemala.

Is Guatemala safe for expats?

Zambia 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 5.2 in Zambia.

How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to Zambia?

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Guatemala, compared to 2.6 in Zambia. Guatemala scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).

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

The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Guatemala?

The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In Zambia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

ZM GT
Population 19,642,123 17,703,190
Currency Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +260 +502
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110