Guatemala
Guatemala is a vibrant Central American nation located in the northern part of the continent, bordered by Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Characterized by diverse geography, the country features dramatic landscapes ranging from volcanic hi...
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With a safety index of 43/100, Guatemala offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.
Guatemala offers visa-free entry to citizens of approximately 83 Category A countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and most EU nations, for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days. A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival and with at least 2 blank pages is required, along with proof of onward travel such as a return ticket or sufficient funds. Ensure you receive an entry stamp upon arrival, as failure to do so...
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6% below EU avg
33% below EU avg
33% below EU avg
47% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Guatemala City
Timezone
UTC-06:00
Area
108,889 km²
Population
16,858,333
Guatemala shows a purchasing power index of 37/100, indicating below average economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$95.00B
HDI
0.6
Quality of Life
45/100
+2 vs NYC
Purchasing Power
15/100
-27 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Guatemala. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Very affordable with CPI of 43.8 (NYC=100). Groceries index 50.6 and restaurant prices 40.6 are significantly lower than developed nations, making daily expenses manageable for most budgets.
Housing Market
Property prices average 12.5 years of household income, indicating expensive housing relative to local earnings. Rental market (index 18.7) is more accessible, but homeownership requires substantial savings.
Average Income Levels
Purchasing power index of 41.5 indicates significantly low income levels compared to developed economies. GDP per capita of $5,763 reflects limited earning capacity, though remittances (22% of GDP) supplement household incomes.
Tax System
Progressive income tax system with moderate rates. Central government fiscal deficit improved to 1.0% of GDP in 2024. Tax revenues increased to 12.4% of GDP, reflecting strengthened tax administration efforts.
Business Environment
Guatemala demonstrates prudent macroeconomic management with lowest spreads in Central America and strong sovereign credit ratings after Panama. Growing investor confidence supports business development despite moderate regulatory complexity.
Social Security
Social safety net exists but remains limited. High informality rate of 68% in 2024 restricts formal social security coverage. Poverty remains high at approximately 46% despite economic growth, indicating gaps in social protection systems.
Guatemala features diverse climates across three major regions: hot and humid tropical lowlands in the Pacific coast and Petén regions, and more temperate highland areas where most major cities are located. The country's climate is primarily tropical, with variations determined by elevation and geography.
5 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
73.4
Population
16,858,333
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Guatemala. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Guatemala is a presidential republic where President Bernardo Arévalo de León, elected as an anti-corruption reformer in August 2023, took office on January 14, 2024. His administration faces significant challenges from an entrenched corrupt establishment, a legislature controlled by opposition forces, and a deeply politicized judicial system that has been undermined by previous administrations. Despite these obstacles, Arévalo's government is pursuing anti-corruption initiatives and security reforms with limited resources and international support.
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Population
16,858,333
Currency
GTQ
Timezone
UTC-06:00
Calling Code
+502
Week starts on
Monday
Gini Coefficient
48.3 (2014)
Traffic side
right side
Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.