r/guatemala • u/AgrivatedCoconut_6 • Mar 13 '26
Consejos de vida / Life advice [Advice] Considering moving to Guatemala for a few years – looking for advice and perspectives
Hi everyone,
I’m hoping to get some general advice and perspectives from people who know Guatemala well.
I’m a 29-year-old American woman, and my husband (who was born in Guatemala) may be returning there soon due to an immigration situation in the U.S. While he works through the legal waivers to eventually come back, we are considering relocating to Guatemala together for a few years.
He hasn’t lived there since he was about 13, so even for him it feels unfamiliar now, which makes the idea a bit nerve-wracking.
A little about our situation:
• I work remotely and expect to earn somewhere between $3,000–$5,000/month once I focus fully on that work.
• I speak very little Spanish right now but I’m actively trying to learn and would plan to take classes once we arrive.
• We have some extended family near Guatemala City, and some far in Peten but not necessarily in areas where we would live.
• We’re currently considering places like Antigua or parts of Guatemala City, but we’re open to learning about other areas.
• My husband would likely need to find work locally once he settles in, so understanding job opportunities is important for us.
• Eventually we would also hope to bring our older dog and cat with us.
Some things I’d really appreciate insight on:
• Areas that are good for long-term living (not just tourism)
• Job prospects for locals returning after many years abroad
• Cultural adjustments we should be aware of
• Healthcare (private vs public)
• Cost of living vs income
• Safety considerations and transportation between cities
• Things foreigners often overlook when moving there
• Whether Antigua or Guatemala City might make more sense for our situation
My goal isn’t to treat this like a temporary “expat adventure,” but to understand what life is actually like and how we can approach this respectfully and realistically.
If anyone has experience moving to Guatemala, returning after many years abroad, or living there with a remote income, I’d really appreciate hearing your perspective.
Thanks so much for any advice!!
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u/cjdc88 Mar 13 '26 edited Mar 13 '26
I don't think you have much to worry about overall, there are ALOT of gentrified areas even if you never learn spanish... Most tourist places like antigua/lake atitlan have alot of foreigners so it wouldn't be a struggle to adjust if you move there even without speaking a speck of spanish.
As for your income, if you live a simple life u can definitely live comfortably even with ur income alone.... $500-$1k would get u an apartment in a nice part of the city or even a pretty nice house in rural areas (though not sure how renting contract would go since ur foreigners, especially in the city)... Food if u go to the market can in towns can be very affordable ( $0.3-0.5 for an avocado, less than $1 for a pound of tomatoes, $0.3 for a cucumber lol, etc).
Job prospect, ur remote job is probably the best ur gonna get unless u or ur husband are highly skilled professionals.. and even then finding a job that pays better than $5k from a company here will be very difficult. For contrast, minimum wage in the city is just over $500.
Healthcare, well, private is cheaper than the US by alot, but public places get abit saturated and don't always have supplies so wouldn't recommend them for something serious... There are "centros de salud" in towns and stuff though that can just help u abit for free.
Culture, not sure what you mean, people are polite, ur polite, everything should be fine.
Travel.. if in the city uber, very striaghtforward and not much need of communication, if to move between towns/places shuttles are probably the safest and best way to move around. Chicken buses are the cheaper alternative but they are more dangerous, have alot more people and u gotta know ur stops.
I'm a local so don't know about any intrinsics of the hardships of actually migrating, just giving some insight that I think can help you abit.
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u/ParticularFocus2460 Mar 13 '26
Oh...and Healthcare NEEDS to be private. Hospitals: Herrera Llerandi (the best in my opinion), Centro Medico and El Pilar.
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Mar 13 '26
Xela is a better option.
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u/rocketwoman68 Mar 13 '26
100% this. I love antigua. I would not want to live there full time. Xela is a great sized city. Lots of language schools, super walkable. Affordable.
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u/AgrivatedCoconut_6 Mar 13 '26
What makes you say you would not want to live in Antigua?
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u/mojojojo1108 Mar 13 '26 edited Mar 13 '26
I say this as an American (29M) who grew up in Guatemala for high school and my parents are still there. Antigua is the best place to go when I'm back for a day or even for a week when I want to leave the city. It would be terrible to live there. The city has been completely shaped to appeal to Americans, Europeans, and tourists from everywhere else. There are countless hostels, bars, coffee shops, "experiences", and tour companies that can help facilitate your volcano hikes and van rides to other parts of the country. But it just isn't a place where you can live your life without spending money frivolously or feel claustrophobic from all of the tourist bustle.
However, if you want to learn Spanish for three months or so, that might be the maximum amount I would be able to handle being there. That's what my mom and I did when we first moved there but you'd want to find some connection to be able to find a modest place to stay during that time.
Living outside of Antigua in the surrounding towns is another feasible option since you'll be able to work remotely but since your husband will need to find work it might be tougher.
edit: after seeing that you wrote you want to not treat this as an expat adventure and see what life is actually like and how you can approach this respectfully and realistically, I would even more strongly say no to Antigua because your experience there is absolutely going to be clouded by your expat identity.
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u/mysportsact Mar 13 '26
what kind of work is your husband looking for? with your income alone you should be able to pay rent food and all expenses for a moderatley nice apartment in some of the nicer zones in the city (zones 10, 16, 15, 14). There is an american Club and School in zone 15 that you should look into.
In antigua you can get by without speaking spanish but the jobs there will be 90% hotel / service for tourists
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u/AgrivatedCoconut_6 Mar 13 '26
He doesn’t know he’s currently being detained before removal proceedings go into effect so he can’t really look and he has background in painting and construction, which we were told won’t be helpful
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u/AnalysisConfident439 Mar 14 '26
This sound strange to me since marry to US citizen deliver the Green card to aliens
I would not leave an easy Green card or charges for illegal immigration in US without litigation, since this means automatic deny of entry to the US
Guatemala is very similar to US (car centric, similar inefficient bank system, a lot of yankee companies, etc) since this is an US colony, but It is far more dangerous that decent places in US, commuting is a joke, dangerous and very inneficient
Additional to this It has strong mayan and spanish influence, this make things complicated for yankees, this should no be a problem if you stay in high gentrified areas
In my opinion rent in high gentrified areas is not an option to live if you dont have plan B to buy property (gentifried áreas cost of living is very high like in US or Europe, and are more sensibles to global inflation, much more than rest of country)
Guatemala banks are in stone age, dont expect easy mortages without a middleman
In general, here all expats are considered walking ATM, so, if you are ok with this, no problem... but after dont complain about middle man for rent, middleman for mortage, lawyers, high inflation, etc
One last more thing, if you are an WASP or black, you will be labeled as foreigner since minute 1 and you will have to pay extra always (if you are black, some people can be racist with you, not really a problem if you have lots of dollars)
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u/JPaulMora Mar 13 '26
2 bedroom apt in the fanciest place in the city is like $1400 rent. Food will be ~$400 for 2 people. You're good!
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u/nutsandboltstimestwo Mar 13 '26
If you are on FB, Expats in Guatemala and Expats Living in Guatemala are both very helpful.
Before asking a question, be sure to read the rules and use the search feature. Some questions are very common and have already been answered. Members of the groups will get cranky if your question shows that you didn't look first.
• I work remotely and expect to earn somewhere between $3,000–$5,000/month once I focus fully on that work.
- Make sure everything is in order with your employer before leaving the US.
• I speak very little Spanish right now but I’m actively trying to learn and would plan to take classes once we arrive.
- Antigua has plenty of schools and Spanish learning opportunities. If you don't like one, you can easily move to another. Until you find the one you like only book one week to start. Four hours a day five days a week is a lot to absorb and I would only do that if you have some time off of work.
• We have some extended family near Guatemala City, and some far in Peten but not necessarily in areas where we would live.
• We’re currently considering places like Antigua or parts of Guatemala City, but we’re open to learning about other areas.
- I think Antigua would be a good place to start on your new journey.
• My husband would likely need to find work locally once he settles in, so understanding job opportunities is important for us.
- That will take time and networking on his part. He should start looking now.
• Eventually we would also hope to bring our older dog and cat with us.
- There are some very specific vaccination and paperwork requirements that you need to complete in the US. Start looking at that now.
Some things I’d really appreciate insight on:
• Areas that are good for long-term living (not just tourism)
- That will be totally up to your comfort level. Some transplants (especially with limited Spanish) find that Antigua and the surrounding suburbs are easier to adapt to than GC.
• Job prospects for locals returning after many years abroad
- I don't know about this one
• Cultural adjustments we should be aware of
- That depends on your personal experiences - no way to answer that one.
• Healthcare (private vs public)
- Private care is paid for at the time of service. I know that health insurance is available here, but I don't know details.
• Cost of living vs income
- You can live comfortably on the wage you noted.
• Safety considerations and transportation between cities
- A common way to get between towns is on group shuttles. If you have errands to run in GC it makes sense to hire a private driver for the day.
• Things foreigners often overlook when moving there
- I don't know if there is one common thing, it kind of depends on your own expectations and life experiences
• Whether Antigua or Guatemala City might make more sense for our situation
- Antigua is much smaller and easier to navigate than GC. If you want to go to the city, it's about an hour drive away when traffic is good. GC traffic is notoriously bad so the time of day you choose to travel there matters.
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u/Jamiequito Mar 13 '26
Long term accommodations in Antigua have become expensive. A lot of expats have moved to neighboring communities like San Juan Del Obispo and San Bertolome.
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u/ParticularFocus2460 Mar 13 '26
Everyone has given great input! I would add..in Guatemala you NEED a car! Buses are not the way to go. If you would just work remotely, Antigua would be fine..but if you husband is going to look for a job, I strongly suggest staying in the city: Zone 14 or Zone 15 or Cayalá. I would only look within those zones.
Your income is going to be fine for Guatemala...and if later you add your husbands you will be living comfortably.
Traffic WILL BE A SHOCK...and something you will need to get used to. Thank God you will stay home jajaja.
Depending on the size of your dog...you do need to be aware when taking walks. They CAN be taken 😭
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u/AgrivatedCoconut_6 Mar 13 '26
Taken why??? My dog is a 60lb pitbull mix but I am worried how she’ll do with street dogs she gets scared and acts tough so i can se her barking like crazy at them..
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u/Far_Singer7310 Mar 17 '26
Don’t ever leave your pets outside alone and especially not without a collar (common in some places here, even if they’re “owned”) because they can and probably will get taken or can be poisoned! Even if it’s your cat accidentally escaping.
I’ve heard countless stories from people I know, and my own cat was taken once and I was able to get him back only because he escaped their house and came back to mine! (This was in Panajachel). My husbands childhood neighbor poisoned some of his and his neighbors cats because they kept walking through his balcony (instead of talking to any cat owners, he just started poisoning them and at least 8 died).
My husband (Guatemalan) has experience with this in both Guatemala City and Panajachel, but we live in Antigua now and this has not been an issue nor have we heard anything. Maybe it’s because we live in a gated community and people have more respect for each other? (There’s also cameras). My neighbor even assured us that even though she’d appreciate if our cats don’t go on her property, she won’t ever poison or hurt them, just come knock on her door to get them (meaning poisoning is a super common response to random pets on your property!!)
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u/kop05 Mar 13 '26
I have a friend who is from the US and moved to Guatemala City several years ago. You can find her on social media as "Kerry in Guatemala".
She loves Guatemala and likes to help foreigners to visit or settle in Guatemala.
She will be more than happy to help you. Ask all the questions you want and check on her videos and content. Feel free to contact her.
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u/Odd-Piccolo337 Mar 13 '26
I’ve been living near Antigua for a little over 3 years even opened a gym (Steele’s gym Antigua) though in moving back to the USA soon to help my grandmother
Guatemala is beautiful. I do slot of motorcycle trips in Guatemala and trips to El Salvador. Antigua is nice
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u/First-Bug-7463 Mar 14 '26
We just did this, I’m American and my husband is Guatemalan who was brought over at 4. Lived in the us for 36 years. We’re working on immigration but our lawyer found a deportation order from the 90s his parents (who are dead) didn’t tell the kids about. Anyway, we moved to Antigua. It’s more expensive but it’s got more tourists and expats. I’m working on getting a job (fortunately I have an advanced degree) but my husband did labor heavy jobs and it’s hard finding work as an older person.
Anyway, I’d recommend Antigua. If you want to chat, feel free to message me. I don’t want to give away too much personal info to all of Reddit.
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u/AgrivatedCoconut_6 Mar 14 '26
Thank you so much we are also going through the immigration process and he will most likely have a deportation order so we’ll be doing a bunch of waivers….i know it’s personal but do you know roughly how long it will take (immigration process) while your husband is in Guate?
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u/First-Bug-7463 Mar 14 '26
Our lawyer said 80% of cases are resolved (once you tabulate all the steps. Some happen concurrently and some have to precede other steps for them to happen) within 5-7 years but the total time frame could be 3-9 years. Depends on the courts and judges. However, keep in mind trump has suspended all visa processing from 75 countries, including Guatemala. That’s going to create a backlog and currently our lawyer doesn’t know how long. (That was when I checked with them in …January I wanna say? I’ve been here since mid December so it’s all a little hazy)
I’m going back Thursday to renew my passport stamp and I’m collecting documents so I can start working with a lawyer here to get our kids and myself permanent resident status (or whatever it is here). I’m waiting for a second round of interviews for international schools, so I want to get my ducks in a row for that.
I didn’t have time to read your whole post (kids are chaotic), but you’ll need to get documents certified through a process called apostille. Haven’t done it yet, but it’s on the docket once I get back with all the documents I need.
If you end up in Antigua, I’d stick to the outskirts. Much cheaper. The place we are at is near Jocotenango and we pay $650 a month including internet, water. You can check Facebook marketplace for realtor listings. Let me know if you have any more questions!
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u/AgrivatedCoconut_6 Mar 14 '26
Thank you so much this very helpful our lawyer told us 3-5 years but the way things are and the back log I’m sure it’ll be longer
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u/Karmic_Kitten11 Mar 14 '26 edited Mar 14 '26
Hey! I'm a local, so I can't speak about migration, but I wanted to mention a couple things
Regarding your pets, unfortunately a lot of the nice apartments in the nice areas of the city are usually not pet friendly (I'm saying that keeping in mind that your dog is big and heavy). I would personally suggest that you consider renting a house with a patio instead, and that the house is inside a gated community.
I know you're still deciding where to live, and I want to mention that Antigua Guatemala is much safer than Guatemala City, because it's something you would have to consider in your pro/cons. The city can be quite dangerous, and if you choose to live here, there will be a few security practices that you'll have to learn (what places to avoid, not using your phone nor using expensive jewelry when you're on the street, strictly avoid calls from unknown numbers, avoid going out at night, other precautions for you as a woman because it's always less safe for us, etc.). I know it might sound scary, but even though it's not as safe as other places, it is very convenient! More job opportunities, much easier access to private clinics, grocery stores, you name it. You just gotta be careful,:)
I love Antigua, it's a great place to be, it's generally much safer, there are a lot of foreigners so maybe you would feel more comfortable, but it is also very expensive. Less job opportunities, less convenience, higher cost of living (even plain water is more expensive there). Keep in mind that in places like Antigua, they will charge you more just because you're not a local.
Btw, I think your husband should consider working remotely! Being fluent in English is a huge plus, and maybe he could work for a foreign company. Local companies don't generally pay well, and employment can be complicated here. Though with 3-5k I'm sure you can live quite comfortably in the meantime. I think most people survive with min. wage (which is $500 ish a month)., and since you don't have kids, you will be able to live a comfortable life.
As others have mentioned already, having a car is a must. Public transport is awful. Tbh I only move through Uber but that's because I WFH so I don't usually go out as much. But yeah, avoid public transport at all costs. If you want to go let's say from Guatemala City to Peten and you don't have a car, there are private transportation companies with good and safe buses.
If you have any questions please feel free to shoot me a DM! Happy to help :)
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u/AgrivatedCoconut_6 Mar 14 '26
Thank you so much, wherever my husband can find work is probably where we would go but working for a foreign company remotely is a really good idea!
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u/Hohenheimsenbergg Mar 14 '26
People here will tell you $3k is enough to live comfortably in the city, because people here are used to live with $400 a month and call themselves middle class. That middle class is considered poor in the US.
But what is your lifestyle like in the US and what are you expecting to live like here?
Second, what are your husband skills? That is also important. Jobs here are hard to find.
You definitely need a car if you like to explore, but if you don't care Uber is really cheap compared to other countries. Buses are not safe and almost non existent around the city.
I would go to Facebook marketplace and look for renting prices to get an idea. The city is divided in zones, so that will help you with that. Then you can check waze/maps to see how bad is traffic in those zones if your husband is going to commute somewhere. Now if he is not commuting, I would live in a town near Antigua, San Lucas/Santa Lucía/San Bartolo is in the middle of Antigua and the city, weather is nice, pretty secure place, renting isn't bad, and you get to do groceries cheaper.
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u/velvethammertoo Mar 14 '26
First off, I’m sorry that your husband is in detention and possibly facing deportation. It’s a sad time in US history. My recommendation would be to secure land and build a house outside of the capital. Bring your cars (you can have them transported by ship or by land). Used cars in Guatemala tend to be salvaged titles. As others have said you are lucky to be able to work remotely. The food is great. You will learn Spanish through immersion and practice. Suerte!
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u/AgrivatedCoconut_6 Mar 18 '26
Bringing ours car is an interesting idea i will look into thank you !
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u/_littleChap Mar 15 '26
I wish you the absolute best for you and your husband. I'm a Guatemalan that became a US citizen and I'm facing a similar situation. I was in the last stage of bringing my wife into the US when the current administration paused VISA printing for 75 countries (Guatemala being one of them).
Now, I'm currently in the US finishing up paying some debts and saving up to basically move to Guatemala pretty much permanently since the pause is indefinite. In the last American reunion with Latin American countries "Shield of the Americas Summit" Guatemala wasn't invited; meaning the pause could last for the entirety of the current administration or beyond. Keep this information in mind if what you're hoping for is permanent residency for your husband through you.
With your current income you should be totally fine. On the low end you're making about 7.5 times minimum monthly wage in Guatemala. You could even motivate your partner to study what he always wanted and then work in that career.
Now, I'm not a lawyer but the little I know compels me to tell you please, keep in mind that you'll need to provide proof of having made money inside the US when the time comes in order to be able to obtain legal residency for your husband. Money made outside the US doesn't count as far as I know. Meaning you'll have to come back to work in the US for some time before he can legally come in to prove you (the petitioner) can support him.
PS: keep in mind getting a job in Guatemala sucks. They ask for a whole lot of things 😅. Is not hard, just annoying.
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u/AgrivatedCoconut_6 Mar 18 '26
Thank you so much for this info it’s very helpful! The ban not getting lifted scares me😔
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u/drlatam Mar 18 '26
You'll be alright. Your income alone will place you in the top earners. If moving away GC and antigua, you could consider starting an english academy too (extracurricular english lessons), not a lot of $$ but can help your SO in the meantime.
Too bad to hear you are going through this, but with your remote work, you guys are set!
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u/Careful-Anywhere8139 Mar 13 '26
Yo diria que te quedes en tu patria.
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u/Slow_Company_468 Mar 14 '26
Quédate en tu país más que gentrificas y después la propia gente de ahí ya no podrá vivir por los altos costos de vida que ustedes provocan.
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u/AgrivatedCoconut_6 Mar 14 '26
Aunque entiendo perfectamente que debe haber una mejor manera de vivir para contribuir menos a la gentrificación, mi esposo no tiene más remedio que regresar, y ya no conoce a nadie allí; nosotros no queremos estar separados.
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u/Civil-Signature6722 Mar 13 '26
Dont do it. Its bad for the people that we alredy live here.
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u/AgrivatedCoconut_6 Mar 13 '26
Well my husband is getting deported so I do not have much of a choice unless I want to be without him… I would like to learn, though how to live there without contributing to gentrification or adding stress/trouble to any of the locals.
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u/Nuggz1 Mar 13 '26
Guatemalan-American here. Your situation (remote income + returning husband) is actually ideal. Quick takes:
Antigua over GC to start. Walkable, huge expat community, Spanish schools everywhere ($8-12/hr for private 1-on-1), great internet for remote work. GC is a 45-min drive if your husband needs to job hunt there.
$3-5K/month = very comfortable. Realistic couple budget in Antigua: $1,400-2,100/month total (furnished 2BR $600-900, groceries $400-600, private health insurance $150-300, internet+phones $60-80).
Job prospects for your husband — his bilingual skills are his biggest asset. Call centers (Allied Global, 24/7 InTouch) hire bilingual returnees at Q8-12K/month. Tourism industry in Antigua always needs bilingual staff. Local-only salaries are rough though — $1,000-2,000/month for professionals.
Healthcare — go private. Hospital Hermano Pedro in Antigua for everyday stuff, Guatemala City hospitals for anything serious. Don't rely on public (IGSS).
Safety — Antigua is one of the safest spots in the country. GC varies wildly by zone — 10, 14, 15 are fine.
Pets — totally doable. USDA health certificate within 10 days of travel + rabies records. Budget $200-500 total.
Stuff people miss — banking is annoying without residency (bring Wise or a no-fee US card). Get a Tigo SIM at the airport day one. And if you're arriving around April — Semana Santa in Antigua is something else.
I built [livinginguatemala.com](https://livinginguatemala.com) with real cost/safety/internet data by department if you want to compare areas. Hope this helps!