Send Money to Guatemala: Best Rate Q7.62/USD

Compare USA → Guatemala providers in 30 seconds

The USA-Guatemala corridor moves approximately $20+ billion per year (2025 estimate, per Banguat) — roughly 19% of Guatemala’s GDP. The United States accounts for over 90% of all remittance inflows to Guatemala, making this single corridor the most important financial pipeline between any two countries in Central America.

This page compares the 5 providers tracked in our live data feed for USA → Guatemala specifically: Wise, Xoom (PayPal), Remitly, Western Union, and MoneyGram. Numbers are pulled from live API feeds (Wise comparison API) and reference scrapes (Western Union / MoneyGram against Banguat), updated daily.

Quick links: Cost-of-living context — Diaspora services — Bank deposit explainer — Today’s live exchange rate

Last updated: 2026-05-16

Data refreshes daily from /static/data/remittances/latest.json. Mid-market reference: Banguat 7.62326 GTQ/USD. Methodology: see our remittance methodology and the parent live comparator hub.

TL;DR — best USA → Guatemala provider today (May 16, 2026)

Xoom wins small-to-mid amounts ($100-$300) because its per-transaction fee scales gradually ($1.89-$5.49) while the exchange rate stays consistent at ~7.66. Remitly wins larger amounts ($500-$1,000) because its flat $1.99 fee doesn’t grow — at $1,000, you pay 0.2% in fees vs Xoom’s 1.5%.

Wise loses on small amounts (Q654 vs Xoom Q752 for $100, a Q98 gap) because Wise’s $14-22 fixed transfer fee crushes the mid-market rate advantage on small tickets. Wise becomes competitive only above $1,500-$2,000 where the mid-market rate advantage offsets the fee.

Western Union is the most expensive digital option on every tier we track, but remains the choice for cash pickup in deep-rural areas with no Banrural branch nearby (rare — Banrural reaches 3,500+ towns).

USA → Guatemala remittance flow — context

Why this corridor matters

• $20+ billion annually (Banguat 2025) — roughly $1.7 billion per month
• ~19% of Guatemalan GDP — the highest single-currency dependency in Central America
• ~3.5 million Guatemalans living in the USA — largest diaspora concentration
• >90% of inbound remittances originate in the USA (rest from Mexico, Canada, Spain, Italy)

Top 5 sending weeks of the year

Guatemalan remittance flows are highly seasonal. The five peak weeks (Banguat data, 2024-2025 average):

1. Christmas week (Dec 18-25) — +180% vs weekly average
2. Mother’s Day week (early-to-mid May, around May 10 in Guatemala) — +140% vs average; Guatemalan Mother’s Day is May 10, NOT the US date
3. Father’s Day week (June 17-23) — Guatemalan Father’s Day is June 17 (NOT US date); +85% vs average
4. Holy Week / Semana Santa (March-April) — +75% vs average
5. Back-to-school (early January) — +60% vs average for Guatemalan school start

If you’re sending around these dates, expect 5-15% worse exchange rates and longer processing times at all providers due to volume surges. Lock in transfers 3-5 days early when possible.

What recipients typically use the money for

Based on Banguat 2024 survey data of remittance recipients:

This pattern — heavily consumption-based — explains why even modest 2-3% improvements in exchange rate matter at family scale. A family receiving $400/month at a 2% better rate saves ~$96/year, often equivalent to a month of utilities.

5 providers compared for the USA corridor

Wise (formerly TransferWise)

Live rate today ($200): 7.6208 mid-market | Fee: $14.96 | You get: Q1,410.15

• Available in: All 50 US states + DC
• Hours: 24/7 online / app
• Funding methods: ACH bank transfer (cheapest), debit card, credit card (most expensive)
• Delivery to GT: Bank deposit only (no cash pickup) — Banco Industrial, Banrural, BAM, G&T, BAC, Promerica
• Delivery time: 1-2 business days typical; some same-day for verified accounts
• Strengths: True mid-market exchange rate (no markup), transparent upfront fees, multi-currency account
• Weaknesses: Highest fee on small transfers ($14+), no cash pickup, recipient needs bank account, initial verification 1-3 days for new users
• Best for: Recurring monthly transfers of $1,500+ to a recipient with a Guatemalan bank account

Xoom (PayPal)

Live rate today ($200): 7.6612 | Fee: $3.69 | You get: Q1,503.97 — best for $100-$300

• Available in: All 50 US states + DC + Puerto Rico
• Hours: 24/7 online / app
• Funding methods: Bank transfer, debit card, PayPal balance
• Delivery to GT: Bank deposit (Banrural, BI, BAM, BAC), cash pickup (Banrural, BAM, Western Union network), door delivery in select urban areas
• Delivery time: Minutes to hours (cash); same-day to next-day (bank deposit)
• Strengths: PayPal integration, large Banrural cash pickup network, very fast, low fees on small amounts
• Weaknesses: Exchange rate has a small markup vs mid-market (0.5-1%), fees vary by payment method (credit card adds 2-3%)
• Best for: $100-$500 transfers needing fast cash pickup; PayPal users with existing balance

Remitly

Live rate today ($200): 7.4634 | Fee: $1.99 | You get: Q1,477.83 — best for $500+

• Available in: All 50 US states + DC
• Hours: 24/7 app and online
• Funding methods: Bank transfer (ACH), debit card, credit card
• Delivery to GT: Bank deposit (Banrural, BI, BAC, BAM), cash pickup (Banrural, BAM), mobile wallet (Tigo Money)
• Delivery time: Minutes (Express tier) / 3-5 business days (Economy tier)
• Strengths: Flat $1.99 fee scales beautifully on large amounts (0.2% at $1,000), first-transfer promo often beats Wise, strong app, excellent for ITIN holders
• Weaknesses: Exchange rate margin 0.5-1.5% on standard transfers, Economy is slow
• Best for: $500-$3,000 transfers to bank deposit or Banrural cash pickup; first-time users (promotional rates); undocumented senders (ITIN-friendly)

Compare Remitly rates for Guatemala{rel=“nofollow sponsored” data-affiliate=“remitly”}

Western Union (WU)

Live rate today ($200): 7.4555 | Fee: $8.00 | You get: Q1,431.46

• Available in: All 50 US states + DC + Puerto Rico + US Virgin Islands
• Hours: Agent locations 6am-10pm (varies); online and app 24/7
• Funding methods: Bank transfer, debit card, credit card, cash at agent (subject to 1% US federal tax 2026)
• Delivery to GT: Cash pickup (4,000+ agents — widest network), bank deposit, mobile wallet
• Delivery time: Minutes (cash pickup), 1-3 days (bank deposit)
• Strengths: Unmatched cash pickup network in Guatemala (every department, every major town), brand recognition with older recipients, no recipient bank account needed
• Weaknesses: Highest fees among digital providers, exchange rate 2-3% below mid-market (hidden cost), cash-funded transfers hit by 2026 US 1% federal excise tax
• Best for: Emergencies with cash pickup in rural areas Banrural doesn’t reach (rare), first-time senders unfamiliar with apps

MoneyGram

Live rate today ($200): 7.4860 | Fee: $4.99 | You get: Q1,459.84

• Available in: All 50 US states + DC + Puerto Rico
• Hours: Agent locations 7am-9pm typical; online 24/7
• Funding methods: Bank transfer, debit card, credit card
• Delivery to GT: Cash pickup (~2,000 agents), bank deposit, mobile wallet
• Delivery time: Minutes (cash), 1-3 days (bank)
• Strengths: Slightly cheaper than WU on same-tier transfers, decent network through partnerships with Banrural and BAM, app is reliable
• Weaknesses: Exchange rate margin ~1.5-2%, smaller agent footprint than WU
• Best for: Cash pickup when WU is unavailable or pricier; alternative to WU for the same use case

Best Effective Transfer Score — USA corridor ranking

We use a single number per provider per send amount: Effective Transfer Score (ETS) = recipient quetzales received ÷ USD sent. This collapses fee + exchange rate into one comparable rate. Higher is better.

At $200 (corridor benchmark):

At $500:

At $1,000:

The crossover point: Wise overtakes Western Union around the $1,500-$2,000 mark. For genuinely large transfers ($5,000+), Wise’s mid-market rate compounds, but at that scale a US bank wire becomes competitive too — call your bank.

Full methodology: see comparator-live methodology for how we compute, when we refresh, and how we handle source live vs estimated data.

Sending from major US states and cities

California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Oakland)

California has the largest Guatemalan population in the US (~600,000, concentrated in LA County). All five providers operate normally. California requires money transmitters to be licensed by DFPI — all five are. Specific quirks:

• Wise: Same as nationwide
• Xoom / Remitly / WU / MoneyGram: Dense agent networks; over 2,000 WU agents in LA County alone
• Cash pickup at Pueblito Express, Guatemalan-owned bodegas, and consulate-adjacent businesses is common in Pico-Union, Westlake, Koreatown
• Matrícula consular issued by the Guatemalan Consulate in LA is accepted as ID at most WU/MoneyGram agents

Texas (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio)

Texas has ~400,000 Guatemalans, mostly in Houston and DFW. Texas regulates money transmitters via the Department of Banking. All providers are licensed. Quirks:

• Walmart MoneyGram counters are extensively used by the Houston Guatemalan community — Walmart stores in Bellaire, Spring Branch, and Pasadena handle high remittance volume
• Mi Pueblo, Fiesta Mart, and HEB all host WU and MoneyGram desks in heavily Guatemalan zip codes
• Texas has no state remittance tax as of 2026

Florida (Miami, Homestead, Orlando)

~120,000 Guatemalans, growing in agricultural Homestead/Immokalee and service-economy Orlando. Quirks:

• Florida Office of Financial Regulation requires disclosure forms for transfers above $1,000 — all major providers handle this automatically; expect a 5-minute extra delay for first-time senders
• Sedano’s Supermarkets in Miami-Dade host WU desks with bilingual staff fluent in Guatemalan Spanish
• Homestead/Immokalee agricultural-zone senders often use cash at small bodegas — be aware these are agent locations and may charge an additional $2-3 service fee on top of WU’s official fee

New York (NYC, Long Island)

~80,000 Guatemalans, concentrated in Queens (Jackson Heights, Corona) and Long Island (Hempstead). New York has the strictest licensing requirements; all five providers comply. Quirks:

• New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) requires Spanish-language disclosure for any provider serving Spanish-speaking customers — every major provider complies
• Bodegas in Jackson Heights and Hempstead are dense with WU and MoneyGram agents
• Remitly app is extremely popular in NYC Guatemalan community per provider data — strong word-of-mouth in Queens

Other notable states

• Georgia (Atlanta area): ~50,000 Guatemalans; large WU/MoneyGram presence in Buford Highway corridor and Norcross
• North Carolina (Charlotte, Raleigh): Growing community; Bank of America wire transfers competitive for large amounts
• New Jersey (Newark, Trenton): ~40,000 Guatemalans; close ties to NYC patterns
• Virginia (Northern VA): ~30,000, professional/service economy; high digital provider adoption (Wise, Remitly)
• Illinois (Chicago): ~25,000 in Pilsen and Little Village; strong WU agent density

Cash pickup network — where dad/mom can pick up

Cash pickup is the most-used delivery method in rural Guatemala because many recipients (especially in highland departments) don’t have bank accounts. Here’s the network:

Recipient documents required for cash pickup at any network:

• DPI (Documento Personal de Identificación) with valid CUI number — primary ID
• Transfer reference number / MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number) — given by sender
• For amounts over Q20,000 (~$2,625), some agents require proof of relationship (family ID, declaration form)
• Driver’s license alone is NOT accepted in Guatemala — DPI is mandatory

Tip: If your recipient lives in a small town, search “[town name] Banrural” on Google Maps or use Banrural’s branch locator before sending. Banrural reaches more rural towns than any other network — including towns where WU agents are gas stations or internet cafés that may have limited hours.

Bank deposit corridor

Direct deposit to a Guatemalan bank account is the cheapest delivery method (no cash pickup surcharge) and typically the most-trusted by older recipients because they can verify the deposit in their bank’s app or at an ATM.

The three banks most commonly used for deposit remittances:

Banrural

• Branches: 3,500+ (largest rural network)
• Account types accepted: Cuenta de ahorro, cuenta monetaria, cuenta de cheques
• Deposit speed: Same-day for Xoom/Remitly Express; 1-2 days for Wise; 1-3 days for WU
• Sender provides: Recipient full legal name (matching DPI exactly), account number, branch code (sometimes)
• Best for: Family in highland departments, agricultural zones

Banco Industrial (BI)

• Branches: 350+ (urban-heavy)
• Account types accepted: Cuenta monetaria, cuenta de ahorro, cuenta empresarial (for business)
• Deposit speed: Instant via SPEI/PIN system for Xoom/Remitly; same-day for Wise; 1-2 days WU
• Sender provides: Full name + account number + CUI
• Best for: Recipients in Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango, Antigua, Mixco; tech-comfortable younger recipients

Banco Agromercantil (BAM)

• Branches: 400+
• Account types accepted: All retail account types
• Deposit speed: Same-day typical
• Sender provides: Full name + account number
• Best for: Agricultural zones; coffee/cardamom region recipients

Other banks (less common but accepted)

• G&T Continental — broad national presence; deposits via Wise, Xoom
• BAC Credomatic — urban; deposits via most providers
• Promerica — accepted by Wise, Remitly
• Banco de los Trabajadores (Bantrab) — accepted by some providers, primarily Banrural-affiliated networks

Documents required to send

Document requirements vary by amount, provider, and funding method. Here’s the standard structure:

Under $1,000 (single transaction)

• US government-issued photo ID: driver’s license, state ID, US passport, or military ID
• Some providers also accept: Foreign passport (Guatemalan, Mexican, etc.) for ITIN holders
• Funding source: Verified US bank account, debit card, or credit card
• Recipient info: Full name (matching DPI), pickup location or bank account number

$1,000 to $3,000 (single transaction)

• All above, PLUS:
• SSN or ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number — available for non-citizens from IRS)
• Address verification may be requested for first transfers above $1,000

$3,000 to $10,000

• All above, PLUS:
• Proof of source of funds: recent pay stub, tax return, or bank statement showing the money’s origin
• Form 8300 / Currency Transaction Report (CTR) is filed automatically by the provider — you don’t fill it; the provider reports the transaction to FinCEN

Above $10,000 (single or aggregate per day)

• All above
• Bank Secrecy Act CTR mandatory — provider files automatically
• Enhanced due diligence: provider may call to verify purpose
• For business-related transfers: separate B2B account / documentation track

Special case: undocumented senders (ITIN-only)

• Remitly, Western Union, MoneyGram, Xoom (via PayPal) all accept ITIN
• Wise requires SSN for US residents — workaround: use a US-based family member’s SSN with their consent and verified account
• Cash payment at WU/MoneyGram agents only requires photo ID — including matrícula consular from the Guatemalan consulate — but is subject to the 2026 US 1% federal excise tax

Daily and monthly limits per provider

These are typical limits; verified accounts (after 30-90 days of activity) often see higher caps.

Common pitfall: First-time senders hitting the $500-$2,999 first-transfer cap on Remitly, Xoom, or WU online. Solution: complete identity verification (typically a 24-48 hour review with SSN, address proof, photo of ID) to lift the cap.

How long it takes — delivery time by provider and method

For genuinely urgent same-day: Xoom or Remitly Express to cash pickup is the proven fastest path, typically clearing in 10-30 minutes including verification.

For routine monthly: Wise scheduled transfer to a Guatemalan bank account is the most reliable and cheapest at $1,000+ ticket sizes.

Cohort guidance — pick the right provider for your situation

First-time sender (any amount)

Use Remitly’s first-transfer promo. New users typically get $0 fee and a mid-market-equivalent rate on the first send. Start with a small test transfer ($100-$200) to confirm recipient receives correctly before sending larger amounts.

Try Remitly first-transfer promo for Guatemala{rel=“nofollow sponsored” data-affiliate=“remitly”}

Monthly recurring sender ($300-$1,000/month)

Use Wise for amounts over $500. Set up recurring transfers from your US bank to your recipient’s Banrural or BI account. Mid-market rate compounds — at $500/month, you save ~$120-$180/year vs Western Union.

Compare Wise rates for Guatemala{rel=“nofollow sponsored” data-affiliate=“wise”}

Large one-time sender ($3,000-$10,000)

Wise wins on rate, but check your US bank’s wire transfer fees. For amounts above $5,000, a US bank international wire ($30-$50 fee + 2-3% currency markup) becomes comparable to Wise. Always compare total recipient quetzales.

Urgent same-day (medical, emergency)

Xoom for cash pickup at Banrural or Remitly Express. Both clear in minutes. Have your recipient’s full legal name and a Banrural branch in mind before starting — speed matters and verification can add 5-10 minutes if recipient info is wrong.

Undocumented sender (ITIN-only)

Use Remitly (ITIN-friendly online) or Western Union / MoneyGram cash at agent (matrícula consular accepted). Be aware: cash-funded transfers at WU/MoneyGram are subject to the 2026 US 1% federal excise tax. Switch to a debit card or prepaid card (issued with ITIN — Chime, Varo, and Wise debit cards work) to avoid this tax.

Sending to a recipient with no bank account

Xoom or Remitly to Banrural cash pickup. Banrural reaches 3,500+ towns including small highland villages. Western Union is a fallback when the nearest Banrural is closed or doesn’t exist (very rare).

Tax implications

US side — what the sender owes

• Personal remittances are NOT taxable to the sender by the IRS. You’ve already paid US income tax on the money before sending; no second tax applies.
• Annual gift tax exclusion (2026): $18,000 per recipient per year. You can send up to $18,000 to any single person (spouse, parent, child, friend) per calendar year with zero gift-tax reporting. Above $18,000, you file IRS Form 709 — but you still owe no tax unless your lifetime gifts exceed $13.6 million.
• 2026 US 1% federal excise tax on outbound remittances: Applies only to cash payments, money orders, and cashier’s checks. Bank-funded, debit-card-funded, and credit-card-funded transfers (Wise, Xoom, Remitly online, WU online with card) are exempt.
• BSA / FinCEN reporting: Above $10,000 single-day or aggregate, the provider files a Currency Transaction Report automatically. You don’t fill anything.

Guatemala side — what the recipient owes

• Personal family remittances are NOT subject to Guatemalan income tax. SAT explicitly excludes family remittances from taxable income.
• No VAT (IVA) on remittances received.
• SAT may inquire about very large remittances (typically above Q500,000 / ~$65,500 in a year to one recipient) — keep documentation of the family relationship and source.
• For business-related transfers (e.g., a remitter sending operating capital to a family business in Guatemala): different tax treatment applies; consult a Guatemalan tax advisor.

What the 2026 US tax means for your behavior

If you currently send cash at a WU/MoneyGram agent: switch to a debit-card-funded online send to avoid the 1% tax. On a $500 transfer, that’s $5 saved per transfer — meaningful for monthly senders.

Methodology and sources

Live data source: /static/data/remittances/latest.json — refreshed daily from Wise comparison API for live providers (Wise, Xoom via PayPal, Remitly, Instarem). Western Union and MoneyGram rates are estimated from Banguat reference + known provider margin (2-3% typical), refreshed weekly. All five providers’ fee structures are confirmed against each provider’s published rate card.

Mid-market reference: Banguat (Banco de Guatemala) official daily rate, currently 7.62326 GTQ/USD as of 2026-05-16.

Effective Transfer Score (ETS): ETS = recipient quetzales received ÷ USD sent. Includes all fees and exchange-rate spread in a single number. Higher = better.

Ranking source: rankings.bestFor200USD field in the live JSON, with derived calculations for $500 and $1,000 tiers using the same methodology.

Limitations:

• Promotional first-transfer rates (Remitly) are NOT shown — these vary by user history
• Cash pickup may incur a small per-agent surcharge ($1-3) not reflected in headline rates
• Rates change every 1-4 hours intraday; daily snapshot captures market rate at 08:30 Guatemala time
• We do not factor in PayPal balance funding (Xoom) which can be cheaper than card

See full methodology: /remittances/comparator-live/#methodology

Related corridors

This is one of four corridor pages in our remittance architecture:

• Tier 1 (hub): Live USA-Guatemala comparator — main interactive tool
• Tier 2 sibling: Canada → Guatemala remittances — for senders in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver
• Tier 2 sibling: Mexico → Guatemala remittances — for senders in Tapachula, CDMX, Tijuana
• Tier 3 deep-dive: Cheapest way to send $500 to Guatemala — amount-specific deep dive

Related diaspora resources:

• Today’s USD/GTQ exchange rate — verify your provider’s rate is fair
• CUI/NIT from the United States — your recipient needs DPI/CUI to pick up cash
• Guatemalan consulates in the US — for ID documents, matrícula consular
• Best banks for foreigners in Guatemala — if your recipient is opening a new account

For specific questions on your situation, email stu@livinginguatemala.com.