Intro:  Why Guatemala? 

Why I moved to Guatemala

The simple answer is that I moved to Guatemala to be with my husband!  In July 2021, I traveled to Guatemala for the second time, and it was a solo 6-week trip.  It was during this time that I met my husband, and we decided to do long-distance international dating.

In October 2021, I decided to rent an apartment in Guatemala City so I could spend more time in the country and date my now-husband.  However, I was not a resident of Guatemala at the time, and I was only visiting on a tourist visa.  Therefore, at this time, I was only living in the country on a part-time basis.  Even though I wasn’t able to get residency at this time (I have more on residency qualification listed below), I was able to rent an apartment, get a cell phone plan, and enter the country every 90 days on a tourist visa.

In April 2024, we got married in Antigua, Guatemala, and this is when my immigration journey truly began.  I started to live full-time in Guatemala and qualified for residency after one year of marriage.  We specifically decided to live in Guatemala and not the U.S. (my country) for the following reasons:

• We love the family-oriented culture in Guatemala (my husband is very close to his family).
• We prefer to visit all the travel destinations in Guatemala vs. the USA.
• We prefer the weather in Guatemala (eternal spring weather in the highlands).
• My husband owns a business in Guatemala City (more on this below).
• We like that the culture is focused less on materialism.
• It’s easier for me to immigrate to Guatemala compared to my husband immigrating to the U.S.
• We love the food in Guatemala.
• I’m a very adventurous person, and mostly adaptable.
• We like that, as much as Guatemala deals with a lot of corruption and political problems, there is less of an emphasis on political identity and divisions.
• We love the celebrations and traditions in Guatemala.

Who I think Would Enjoy Living in Guatemala

I think that there are many people who would enjoy living in Guatemala, but it’s important that they read this article and also visit before making a final decision.

I think the people who will enjoy living in Guatemala the most are Guatemalans who live in the United States and want to move back, plus their families.  I think it’s only natural that Guatemalans will want to move back to their country (especially those who speak Spanish).  I think many Guatemalan families who are dealing with deportation or stressed out about living in the U.S can find their second home in Guatemala.

I also think that people who want to retire in another country but not live far from the U.S. will enjoy living in Guatemala.  Guatemala is only a 3-6 hour flight from many destinations in the U.S., and I think it’s an easy transition to move somewhere in the same time zone.

I think people who work remotely and want to live in the same time zone as the United States or Canada will enjoy living in Guatemala.  Many places have high-speed Wi-Fi, and since Guatemala is located in Central Time (Chicago) half the year and Mountain Time (Denver) the other half of the year, it’s a great option for remote workers.  Guatemala doesn’t have a time change as we do in most states in the U.S., which is why it either aligns with Mountain Time from March until October and Central Time from October until March.

I also think that people who have already spent a lot of time in Guatemala and have gotten used to the culture, traditions, food, and way of life will enjoy living in the country. This is a no-brainer!

Who Might Not Enjoy Living in Guatemala

I think that there are many people who won’t enjoy living in Guatemala, and they should read this wisely.  If someone is expecting to have all the same conveniences as the United States, then Guatemala is not for them.

I do not think that people who want to live a “cheaper lifestyle” will necessarily enjoy living in Gautemala.

If you have a long list of questions or if you need help creating a customized Guatemala itinerary, then please click here to book a travel consultation with me.  

Visa & Legal Basics

Best Places To Live – Quick Overview

Cost of Living Snapshot

Finding a Place To Live

Salaries & Work in Guatemala

Working Online in Guatemala (With a Job From The U.S.)

Healthcare in Guatemala

Safety

Banking & Money

Internet & Cell Phone Service) 

Transportation & Driving

Culture Shocks & Things That Are Different

Learning Spanish 

Bringing Your Stuff To Guatemala

What I wish I Knew Before Moving to Guatemala