Canasta Básica Alimentaria — Guatemala Research Data
Research date: February 22, 2026 Sources: INE (ine.gob.gt), DIACO (diaco.gob.gt), Soy502, Canal Antigua, La Hora, AGN, Plaza Publica
Publisher domains checked 2026-09-01; ine.gob.gt answers a bot wall to machine clients but is live. These are the publishers consulted, not per-figure citations — this is a working research file, and the per-figure sourcing lives on the published pages it feeds.
Most Recent Data (January 2026)
CBA (Canasta Básica Alimentaria)
| Metric | Urban (CBAU) | Rural (CBAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Per capita/month | Q924.35 | Q713.40 |
| Per capita/day | ~Q30.81 | ~Q23.78 |
| Per family (urban 4.16 members) | Q3,845.30 | — |
| Per family (rural 4.80 members) | — | Q3,424.32 |
Canasta Ampliada (food + housing + transport + health + education + clothing)
| Metric | Urban (CAU) | Rural (CAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Per capita/month | Q2,237.85 | Q1,403.97 |
| Per family (urban) | Q9,309.46 | — |
| Per family (rural) | — | Q6,739.06 |
USD Equivalents (Q7.67/USD)
| Metric | Urban | Rural |
|---|---|---|
| CBA per person/month | ~$120 USD | ~$93 USD |
| CBA per family/month | ~$501 USD | ~$446 USD |
| Canasta Ampliada per person/month | ~$292 USD | ~$183 USD |
| Canasta Ampliada per family/month | ~$1,214 USD | ~$879 USD |
Year-over-Year Change
- Jan 2026 vs Jan 2025 urban CBA: +Q19.71 (+2.2%)
- Jan 2026 vs Jan 2025 rural CBA: +Q14.23 (+2.0%)
CBA Composition
New Methodology (Jan 2024 — Present)
- Urban: 66 products across 14 food groups
- Rural: 60 products across 14 food groups
- Urban household: 4.16 members, 2,052 kcal/day
- Rural household: 4.80 members, 2,172 kcal/day
- Based on ENIGH 2022-2023 household survey
- CEPAL/IMF technical standards
Old Methodology (Oct 2017 — Dec 2023): 34 Products
1. Granos básicos: Tortillas de maíz, Arroz de segunda 2. Pan y cereales: Pan francés, Pan dulce, Pastas, Avena 3. Leguminosas: Frijol negro 4. Carnes/aves/pescados/huevos: Huevos, Carne de res sin hueso, Carne de cerdo sin hueso, Salchichas 5. Lácteos: Leche en polvo, Leche líquida, Queso fresco o duro 6. Verduras/hortalizas: Güisquil, Ejote, Tomate, Cebolla, Hierbas 7. Raíces/tubérculos: Papas 8. Frutas: Bananos, Plátanos, Aguacates, Sandía, Piña 9. Azúcares/grasas/aceites: Azúcar blanca, Margarina, Aceite corriente 10. Misceláneos: Café tostado, Sal, Incaparina, Sopas instantáneas, Bebida gaseosa
Historical Trend
Old Methodology (Per Family ~4.77 members)
| Period | CBA (Family/Month) |
|---|---|
| Jan 2020 | Q2,989.38 |
| Dec 2021 | Q3,097.23 |
| Apr 2022 | Q3,218.03 |
| Dec 2023 | Q3,904.98 |
Increase 2020-2023: +Q915.60 (+30.6% in 3 years)
New Methodology (Per Capita)
| Period | Urban p/c | Rural p/c |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2024 | Q846.30 | Q654.30 |
| Jun 2024 | Q888.53 | Q689.69 |
| Dec 2024 | Q904.55 | Q700.05 |
| Jan 2025 | Q904.63 | Q699.17 |
| Nov 2025 | Q926.32 | Q715.60 |
| Jan 2026 | Q924.35 | Q713.40 |
Urban CBA increase Jan 2024 to Jan 2026: +9.2%
CBA vs Minimum Wage (2026)
| Comparison | Amount |
|---|---|
| CBA per family (urban) | Q3,845.30 |
| Min wage non-agricultural (GC) | Q4,002.28 |
| Surplus for food only | +Q156.98 |
| Canasta Ampliada per family (urban) | Q9,309.46 |
| Deficit vs Canasta Ampliada | -Q5,307.18 |
A single minimum-wage earner can barely cover the CBA (food only). They need 2.3x minimum wage to cover the full Canasta Ampliada.
DIACO Suggested Retail Prices (Metropolitan Area)
Not current, source not re-verified. This list was copied on 22 February 2026 and we could not trace it to a dated DIACO release. For DIACO’s measured market prices published 22 October 2026 (for example tomato Q7.20/lb, onion Q9.00/lb, eggs Q17.80/dozen in the department of Guatemala), see Guatemala food prices.
| Product | Unit | Price (GTQ) |
|---|---|---|
| Huevos | Cartón (30) | Q30.00 |
| Aceite | 800ml | Q12.20 |
| Azúcar blanca | 500g | Q3.50 |
| Frijol negro | 1 lb | Q5.00 |
| Arroz blanco | 1 lb | Q4.20 |
| Leche | 450ml | Q5.35 |
| Café | 350g | Q20.80 |
| Incaparina | 450g | Q8.75 |
| Maíz | 1 lb | Q1.30 |
| Tomate | 1 lb | Q3.00 |
| Cebolla | 1 lb | Q3.50 |
| Papa | 1 lb | Q3.75 |
| Güisquil | Unidad | Q2.00 |
| Banano | Docena | Q6.00 |
| Plátano | Unidad | Q1.25 |
| Piña | Unidad | Q7.00 |
Key Takeaways
- The CBA measures ONLY minimum food spending for basic nutrition — not total cost of living
- Methodology changed significantly in 2024 (pre/post not comparable)
- Urban food costs ~30% higher than rural
- Food inflation moderate at ~2.2% annually in 2025
- Minimum wage barely covers food — need 2.3x for full Canasta Ampliada
- For expat comparison: CBA ~$120 USD/month per person is the absolute minimum; expats typically spend 2-3x that