The Short Version
I’m a Guatemalan-American who grew up between Guatemala City and the United States. I’ve navigated both worlds — the visa paperwork, the culture shock, the “Is it safe?” questions from family, and the moment you realize this country has a quality of life that most people never discover.
After years of watching friends and strangers ask the same questions in Facebook groups and getting the same vague answers from travel bloggers who visited for two weeks, I decided to build the resource that should already exist.
Why Guatemala Life Exists
Most content about Guatemala falls into two camps:
The scare-mongers: “Guatemala is dangerous, don’t go.” Usually people who’ve never been or who visited the wrong neighborhood once.
The rose-tinted bloggers: “Everything is magical and cheap!” Usually digital nomads who spent a month in Antigua and think they understand the country.
Neither is useful if you’re actually trying to make a life here.
Guatemala Life is different because I’m not a visitor — I’m a local. I grew up here. I know which zones are safe and which to avoid. I know the real prices at the market (not the gringo price). I know how the bureaucracy actually works (not how the government website says it works).
What You’ll Find Here
- Real cost of living data — with actual receipts, not estimates from 2019
- Neighborhood-level safety guides — zone by zone, not country-level generalizations
- Relocation guides — step-by-step, from someone who’s helped friends make the move
- Remote work infrastructure — internet speeds, coworking spaces, timezone advantages
- Weekly newsletter — exchange rates, deals, events, and local picks
Get in Touch
Have a question about moving to Guatemala? Something I got wrong? Want to collaborate?
Email me: stu@livinginguatemala.com