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Estimated reading time: 24 minutes

Part of our family’s story is that we elected to show our kids a different culture early in their lives. Rather than have them remain stateside for their entire childhood, we choose different. In the summer of 2021, our family embarked on a 4 month adventure through the beautiful country of Guatemala. Having grown up in a private school that donated to multiple non-profits in the country, all I knew, when I was a kid, was that Guatemala was a very poor country. While that is still true today, Guatemala has a rich culture, incredible people, delicious coffee and food and beauty as far as the eye can see. There were many pros and cons living in Guatemala. All in all, it was an experience that we will not only never forget, but long to have again one day. 

Our Story

When we sold the family business in July of 2021, our family took a 6 month sabbatical to figure out where God wanted us next. We didn’t fully know his next move. So, we did what most people do. We took our family of 5 at the time in the middle of a pandemic with no income and no plan to a foreign country where we knew barely anyone! Of course, we didn’t just decide on a whim to head to Central America. We had planned this for month’s. You see, Celeste’s brother, Nathan, and his family had moved to Guatemala several years prior to help plant a church in Antigua, Guatemala. Since we had not gotten to spend much time with them over the years, we saw an opportunity to live life with them for a season.

We set sail on August 9th with 8 suitcases, 4 carry-ons, 3 car seats and 3 kids. We made it all the way to Houston before having to book tickets back to Lubbock. 

I’ll tell this story in another post at some point, but essentially, our 3 year old’s passport was not in good enough shape for TSA apparently, so they turned us back and would not let us leave the country. It was a compete mess. Nonetheless, we eventually got that situated a week later and arrived on August 18th. 

Arrival in Antigua – Living in Guatemala Pros and Cons

We arrived around midnight on the 18th, equally exhausted and excited. As we rose the next morning, we walked outside to see some of the most beautiful scenery we had ever seen. Below is the first picture I took on our first morning in Antigua.

Our neighborhood felt like a resort. Anything that we had ever thought Guatemala might look like was blown out of the water. We had heard bits and pieces that Guatemala, particularly Antigua were tourist havens. However, we could not have imagined just how beautiful this place was. The natural beauty of avocado trees against the backdrop of an active volcano was striking. The picture below shows the playground in our neighborhood in front of Acatenango, a dormant volcano that provides immense beauty to the Antiguan skyline. 

Antigua

We lived in a little town called Jocotenango, just outside of Antigua. If you’re not familiar with Antigua, let me provide a brief history. 

Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of Guatemala, lies the enchanting city of Antigua. Renowned for its colonial charm, vibrant culture, and breathtaking vistas, Antigua offers travelers a journey back in time, tracing its rich history through cobblestone streets and centuries-old architecture.

Founded in 1543 by Spanish conquistadors, Antigua, originally known as Santiago de los Caballeros, quickly became the capital of the Spanish Kingdom of Guatemala. Its strategic location nestled among three imposing volcanoes made it a significant political, economic, and cultural hub during the colonial era.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Antigua thrived as one of the wealthiest cities in the Americas. Its cobblestone streets were lined with opulent mansions, grand churches, and bustling markets, reflecting the prosperity fueled by lucrative trade in coffee, indigo, and other commodities.

Natural Disasters

However, Antigua’s prosperity was periodically interrupted by natural disasters. In 1773, a devastating earthquake rocked the city, leaving much of its splendid architecture in ruins. In the wake of this catastrophe, the Spanish crown chose to relocate the capital to present-day Guatemala City, leaving Antigua to languish in a state of neglect for decades.

Despite the devastation, Antigua’s charm endured. In the 20th century, efforts to restore and preserve its colonial heritage began in earnest, earning it recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Today, visitors can marvel at the city’s meticulously restored churches, convents, and plazas, which stand as testament to its enduring legacy.

Modern-Day Antigua – Living in Guatemala Pros and Cons

As you stroll through Antigua’s cobblestone streets, you’ll encounter a vibrant tapestry of culture and tradition. From colorful markets brimming with handcrafted goods to lively festivals celebrating indigenous customs, the city offers a captivating blend of old-world charm and contemporary flair. Known as the city of eternal spring, Antigua, in my opinion, is a great place for adventurous expats as well as digital nomads. 

While our time in Antigua was absolutely one of the best seasons of our lives, it was not all roses for us. There were definitely some amenities we longed for back in the United States. So what are some of the pros and cons of living in Guatemala?

Living in Guatemala Pros and Cons

Low Cost of Living

Guatemala is place where your bank account can go a little further, or a lot further, than it can stateside due to its lower cost of living. Latin America is a region filled with many countries decades behind the developed world. It’s just simply more difficult to get the resources to countries like Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras and Belize. That being said, it also means that the cost of living is quite a bit lower. 

Our family is five had a monthly budget of around $4,000 (US dollars). This was less than half our monthly budget living in the US. This was one of the main reasons we elected to spend several months in Guatemala. When you don’t have income, finding a cheaper place to live is a nice strategy to stretch your dollars. We discovered that you could easily find a one-bedroom apartment for a mere $400 per month in the center of Antigua. 

Here is a brief breakdown of our monthly budget. 

Rent – $1,100 (3 bedroom, 2 bath)

Groceries – $600

Health Insurance – $200

All US Bills (Life ins., subscriptions, storage, etc.) – $800

Entertainment – $400

Bills (Utilities, Internet) – $300

Gas – $100

Misc. – $500

Food Costs

Food was a different animal in Guatemala. You could purchase 3 giant avocados for around $.70 from the local markets. This was about 6 times less than the cost of 3 avocados in the United States. However, organic chicken was about $10 compared to around $7 in the US. Further, if we wanted to eat healthy condiments that we enjoyed in the states, we had to pay close to double as well. All in all, our food budget was significantly less because we chose to eat fresh, natural vegetables along with the traditional rice and beans that were in plentiful supply. 

Moreover, the restaurant scene provided everything from Dunkin’ and Taco Bell to 4 star steakhouses priced as such. Rarely did we ever elect to eat American fast food chains. That being said, we did eat at Taco Bell once. The majority of restaurants in Antigua were not exuberantly priced. However, a similar restaurant in the US would have been quite a bit more expensive. 

We could eat as a family for around $35 total. Tipping is not traditional in Guatemala, so this made our meals even more affordable. All in all, the food was quite a bit cheaper as a whole than we experienced in the United States. 

Gas

Gas was definitely more expensive in Antigua than it was in the US. Higher prices of transportation and supplier costs meant that gasoline was around 15% more expensive in Guatemala than in the US. Since Guatemala is a relatively small country, travel costs are not exuberant. However, idling is certainly something that will waste precious gas if you elect to drive at the wrong times. The average cost of a gallon of gasoline at this time was around $3.15 per gallon, higher than the average cost of gas in the US. 

Rent

We were able to rent a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom single family home for $1,100 per month. We had all of the utilities (Electric and Water) that cost us around $200 per month. Clearly, the cost of living is significantly lower than that of Western countries. However, the house is not where we found the most value. The neighborhood we lived in was absolutely paradise. 

Not only were out volcanic background views spectacular, we had a resort-like pool as well as a children’s play area with thick, green grass. Further, our neighborhood was surrounded by a concrete wall with a singular entrance and exit. There were even guards stationed at the gate prohibiting anyone from entering that did not belong there. It was truly a haven for us. 

All in all, we were ecstatic at the amenities, safety and cost of our living situation. I don’t think we could have imagined that our living situation would be as inexpensive as it was for the level of beauty and luxury we experienced. 

High Quality of Life

Quality of life is one of those things that is arbitrary depending on the person. For example, a city slicker may feel that the Chicago or New York lifestyle is considered quality because everything is walkable if you live downtown. Other people may consider the more rural or suburban locales a little higher in quality. To each their own. For us, we wanted to experience a diverse culture filled with an authentic community. Antigua certainly provided that. 

We lived in Antigua in what is considered the rainy season of late fall. What this meant was that every afternoon between 2:00 and 4:00, we could have a downpour of rain followed by sun. It was like clockwork. Being from West Texas, rain is like manna from heaven. We loved every second of it. It cooled off the house and provided a nice atmosphere for a little rest and respite throughout the day. 

Local Culture

From street food vendors to the city center, we got to experience the best parts of the Guatemalan culture. Local traditions such as Santa Semana provided an opportunity for us to truly see the Guatemalan culture up close. We experienced amazing live music venues such as Cerviceria 14 that provided wide open views of Fuego, one of Guatemala’s most active volcanoes.

Mixco, La Azotea and Ecofarm offered plentiful opportunities for our 3 young children to run around and get dirty. These were two of the most popular tourist areas just outside the city of Antigua.

A popular destination to truly embrace the local culture of Guatemala was the famous ruins near the city center. As mentioned earlier, earthquakes decimated Antigua centuries earlier, but the remains were breathtaking. 

Tropical Climate 

The city of eternal spring, as Antigua is commonly known, provides temperatures between 50 degrees and 80 degrees year round. The warm season still feels cool while the cool season still feels warm at times. It’s truly a paradise which would explain the expat culture and numerous sources of fresh produce throughout the country. Many foreigners seek to escape cold winters in the beautiful weather of Guatemala. 

American Expats

As a US citizen, I can appreciate seeking a new adventure in a foreign country as so many expats do. We encountered dozens of expat friends from all over the world that had chosen Antigua as their residence of choice. Being one of the most affordable places to live with a phenomenal ability to create work-life balance, Antigua has proven to be one of the best places to retire to. 

Further, while the official language of Guatemala is Spanish, many Guatemalans are fluent English speakers. In the major cities of Guatemala City and Antigua, businesses operate in English just as my as they do in Spanish. The American dollar is also widely accepted throughout the country.

Community

There is a very strong digital nomad community in Antigua. This is due to the fantastic weather, great walkability and the ease of securing a tourist visa at any time. Most of the coffee shops have great internet for mobile work. Further, due to Antigua’s walkability, tourists and digital nomads have easy access to plenty of coffee shops. The community we discovered was part of Shoreline City Guatemala, a growing church community led by Celeste’s brother and his wife. 

Our personal experience with community was one of the best things about our time in Antigua. Community in North America, particularly the United States is becoming less and less visible. However, we quickly found that the Guatemalan people are not only accepting of American citizens, they welcome and cherish them. Due to this, we considered calling Guatemala our new home country. 

Coffee

The coffee. Oh the coffee. Not only does Guatemala have some of the best coffee in the world, a huge amount of coffee we drink around the world is produced in Guatemala. Our neighbors actually were part of a family that operated 7 coffee farms in the Antigua area. They provided a tour of their coffee production to us, and it was simply stunning how much effort goes into every single coffee bean produced. Moreover, we were able to taste the freshest cup of coffee that could possibly be tasted. It had been roasted that day.

The Antiguan coffee shops truly were paradise. Most were open air and open door establishments that provided plentiful seating and even air conditioning. While the larger cities have a plentiful supply of American staples like Starbucks, Antigua has much more quaint, local establishments. My favorite Antigua coffee shops were Fat Cat, 12 Onzas, and Rooftop Antigua. Coffee shops provide great job opportunities for locals as well. 

Food

While the coffee was fantastic, the food wasn’t bad either! One of the things we often here about the Guatemalan food is that it is bland. While this may be the case, it was a welcome change from the super-processed foods of America. We were able to partake in fresh meals with fresh, local ingredients, and we could definitely feel the difference in how we felt. Guatemalan delicacies include foods like fresh fruits, beans, tortillas, meat, pepian, jocon, and desayuno tradicional de Guatemala (traditional Guatemalan breakfast). The “international food” like Dunkin Donuts and Taco Bell, as mentioned earlier, were not bad either! We were known to frequent Little Ceasar’s a time or two. 

Laid-Back Lifestyle – Living in Guatemala Pros and Cons

Being a small city, Antigua has an incredibly laid-back lifestyle. It almost seems like everyone is just one vacation. The priorities of Guatemalans are vastly different than the priorities of Americans. Antiguans typically tend to work hard, but they don’t seem to excessively as we often to in America. Further, we were able to simply walk the city at all times during the day at a slow pace taking in the sites and sounds. This laid-back lifestyle contributed deeply to our emotional and mental well-being while we were there. We certainly missed this pace of life when we returned to the states. 

The shores of Lake Atitlan provided one of the most serene and peaceful experiences for us. While not one of the coastal areas, Lake Atitlan provided a beach-like experience nonetheless. Numerous Airbnb’s or VRBO’s lined the shores of Guatemala’s largest lake. Tourists flocked here from all distances to experience the beauty of both mountain and water. 

Cons of Living in Guatemala

While life in Antigua was absolutely incredible, there certainly were some negative aspects of our time in Guatemala. 

Language Barrier

Early in our time, we had to get over the language barrier. After all, the entire country is a Spanish-speaking country. We had known a little bit of Spanish, but not enough to be conversational. Throughout our time there, we slowly learned enough to get by. We had friends that only spoke Spanish which made conversations difficult to say the least. Moreover, when we encountered locals at coffee shops, Uber rides or local businesses, we often had trouble communicating our wishes to them. However, they understood enough English to help solve whatever problem we had at the time!

Kids Activities

Antigua is not necessarily a kid-friendly city. Fortunately, our neighborhood provided enough entertainment options to keep them busy. The city itself just did not have places like we in the United States. From trampoline parks, places for sports, city parks and bounce houses, Guatemala simply does not have the financial infrastructure for such places in rural areas. In Guatemala City, though, options were more plentiful. 

Health Care

The health care system in Guatemala is not near as advanced as American or Western European countries. Poverty levels contribute to a lack of health options available in small towns. This has led to Guatemala continually being the most malnourished country in Central America. The healthcare system does provide options for basic medical care, but often local must drive to Guatemala City in order to receive proper care.

Public hospitals and private hospitals alike can perform necessary medical procedures, but the expertise level is not up to standards we see in America. Fortunately, for us, we never needed to experience health care during our stay. Although, we did have a scare when Gavin had his head gashed open by a rock that “fell” on his head. By fell, I mean a neighbor threw it at him. I’m not bitter though. I’m totally fine three years later. I don’t even remember the nickname I gave this boy. It was David the Rockslayer in case you’re wondering. 

Traffic

Lastly, the traffic is some of the most dangerous and dense we have ever experienced. There are a lot of people in a very small space throughout the country. We certainly had a hard time getting around at certain times throughout tour time there. While only a mere 14 kilometers from Antigua to Guatemala City, often it would take over 2 hours to drive between the two cities due to the amount of bumper-to-bumper traffic that was ever present. If you happen to drive from Antigua to Guatemala City between the hours of 7:00a and 9:00a on weekdays, where many Antiguans work, you’re likely to spend the first two hours of the day staring at the taillights in front of you. The same is true if you happen to drive from Guatemala City to Antigua between 3:00p and 5:00p.

Conclusion – Living in Guatemala Pros and Cons

All in all, our time in Guatemala was one of the most life-changing experiences we could have ever hoped to experience. To say we had a great experience would certainly be an understatement. When we left on December 14th, 2021, tears were shed. I remember our final morning with Nathan and Whitney, Celeste’s brother and his family, and mentioning the following quote:

“We don’t leave here with sorrow because it’s over. We leave here with joy because it happened.”

Leaving a place you called home for 4 months will have a profound impact on you. It will leave an imprint on your heart forever. In recent years, we have often thought back to our time in Guatemala, even going so far as to wonder what life would be like if we would have stayed. We are exactly where God wants us to be. However, if He ever called us back to Guatemala, we would say yes with a very exuberant tone. 

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