In case you want to retire in Central America, but be close to home, check out our list of best places to retire in Guatemala. The United States soil will be just under 3 hours flight away.
Although Guatemala has a violent past with military coups, civil war and long periods of instability, in the recent times, it has seen a significant economic growth and development. Still, the country struggles with poverty, high crime rates, and overall political instability. This may scare you off, but there are plenty of positive sides to being retired in Guatemala. First, the country is very affordable, and the cost of living is more than 50% lower than in the United States. Secondly, you’ll be able to enjoy lots of natural attractions and witness Guatemala’s rich cultural heritage.
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People living in the country are obviously not affected the bad things, since World Happiness Report ranks Guatemala as a 29th happiest country in the world, being placed in front of France, Spain, and Japan.
The healthcare system isn’t great in Guatemala. Although the Constitution of the country guarantees everyone the right to health care, in practice that is very hard to achieve, given the country’s limited resources. Close to 90% of the population is covered by public health care system operated by the government, while the rest opted for private health insurance. According to WHO, the country spent 6.2% of GDP on health in 2014, which is well below the expenditure of most other countries in the Central America. The biggest challenge the country faces is a lack of physicians, nurses, and hospital beds. Trading Economics tells us that there are 0.9 physicians, 0.8 nurses and 0.6 hospital beds per 1,000 population. Although the country is making some efforts in resolving these issues, it looks like there is a long way ahead until Guatemala has a well-functioning health system.
Unfortunately, safety situation isn’t any brighter, since the country is viewed as one of the 25 most dangerous countries in the world by many reports. Out of the 136 countries covered in the World Economic Forum report, in terms of safety and security, Guatemala ranks on the 121st place. From Crime and Safety report from 2017 for Guatemala made by OSAC (The United States Overseas Security Advisory Council), it is obvious why. The firearms are easily accessible, and the public institutions are unable to cope with widespread crime organizations or petty crimes. The American citizens are not specifically targeted, but they are often viewed as easy targets. The longtime residents tend to become victims if they don’t reside in safe areas since they get integrated into the society. The most common crimes that target American citizens include armed robberies and thefts, some of them happening in broad daylight. If this is too much for you, you can also check out our list of 10 best places to retire in Ecuador.
We encountered slight problems while making our list of best places to retire in Guatemala since there is a lack of information and recommendations. Still, we managed to get some places to begin with using multiple sources like Expat Exchange, Huffington Post, and Lonely Planet. Then we decided to rank the cities and award points according to rent cost (taken from Numbeo and Home Rentals Guatemala), hospital to population ration (Google Maps) and flight cost to U.S. (Google Flights). We added extra points if the cities had low homicide rates according to report compiled by country’s National Security Council. Keep in mind that hospital to population ratio should tell you how many people are assigned to one hospital, and that flight cost includes bus ticket cost to the nearest airport if required. Also, the rent prices are obtained by calculating the average from multiple offerings or by the experience of some forum users, so they should be viewed only as a guideline. Let’s get started then with the best places to retire in Guatemala.
10. Lake Atitlan
IM Score: N/A
Rent Cost: $550
Hospital to Population Ratio: N/A
Flight to U.S. Cost: $484
Rate of Homicides per 100,000: N/A
Although there will be entries on the list that belong to the area of Lake Atitlan, we put it on the list due to numerous sources just recommending this region. Surrounding the lake are numerous smaller towns and villages that are homes to many expats. If you want a taste of Mayan culture and traditional lifestyle, this is probably your best pick. The area around the lake also goes by the name “The Land of Eternal Spring” due to pleasant weather all year long. You can find much-needed calm here for an affordable price while being surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes Guatemala has to offer.
Pixabay/Public Domain
9. San Lucas Toliman
IM Score: 7
Rent Cost: $575
Hospital to Population Ratio: N/A
Flight to U.S. Cost: $484
Rate of Homicides per 100,000: <1
We are continuing San Lucas Toliman is the first entry on our list of best places to retire in Guatemala that lies on the shores of Lake Atitlan. The municipality has a population of around 17,000 people living in smaller communities, villages and rural settlements. San Lucas Toliman is often buzzing with life and has a vibrant community, but the downside is that the nearest hospital is situated in Santiago Atitlan, half an hour away.
Pixabay/Public Domain
8. Guatemala City
IM Score: 9
Rent Cost: $565
Hospital to Population Ratio: 150, 721
Flight to U.S. Cost: $459
Rate of Homicides per 100,000: >6
Living in the capital surely has its perks. You’ll be near everything that you require for modern life, and the country’s only international Airport that has flights to the United States is situated here. Still, the crime is a huge issue, with the city having one of the biggest rates of homicides in the country. The city is divided into zones, and according to the opinions by many forum users, you would be best in Zones 1, 9 and 10. These zones are considered the safest and have the most attractions to offer.
Pixabay/Public Domain
7. San Pedro Las Huertas
IM Score: 12
Rent Cost: $535
Hospital to Population Ratio: N/A
Flight to U.S. Cost: $469
Rate of Homicides per 100,000: <1
Situated between Ciudad Vieja and Antigua Guatemala, this is the place that won’t offer you much of modern life, but there are friendly communities that will make you feel welcomed. If you get tired of slow life, Antigua Guatemala that offers a lot more is approximately 10 minutes away.
6. San Marcos la Laguna
IM Score: 12
Rent Cost: $425
Hospital to Population Ratio: N/A
Flight to U.S. Cost: $484
Rate of Homicides per 100,000: <1
Now we return to Lake Atitlan. Just like San Lucas Toliman, San Marcos la Laguna that ranks 6th on the list of best places to retire in Guatemala, doesn’t have a hospital, and according to our research, the nearest medical facilities are in Panajachel (an hour and 40 minutes away) and Santiago Atitlan (an hour away). Everything here is dedicated to relaxation since there are several meditation, yoga and massage centers in the village. When you are done with all spiritual things related, you can go fishing or just enjoy the beautiful scenery.
5. Jocotenango
IM Score: 15
Rent Cost: $445
Hospital to Population Ratio: 9,281
Flight to U.S. Cost: $469
Rate of Homicides per 100,000: >4
We are continuing our list of best places to retire in Guatemala with Jocotenango that is a small, affordable municipality that is 2 miles away from Antigua where you have more access to different commodities but would also have to part way with more money. The downside of Jocotenango is its safety situation. There are some neighborhoods with high crime rates, so you should be careful wandering alone until you are more familiar with the place.
4. Panajachel
IM Score: 17
Rent Cost: $400
Hospital to Population Ratio: N/A
Flight to U.S. Cost: $484
Rate of Homicides per 100,000: <1
The final entry on our list of best places to retire in Guatemala from the area of Lake Atitlan is Panajachel. Unlike previous entries, you can hope for a better medical care since there is a clinic in the town. Compared to other settlements around Lake Atitlan, Panajachel has the most developed infrastructure but is also the busiest one. If you don’t mind the tourist crowding the place every once and a while, you’ll have everything you need here.
3. Antigua Guatemala
IM Score: 17
Rent Cost: $555
Hospital to Population Ratio: 9,1333
Flight to U.S. Cost: $469
Rate of Homicides per 100,000: <1
Situated an hour and a half from Guatemala City, Antigua Guatemala, the next one on the list of best places to retire in Guatemala is much safer and quieter option. The city is oriented towards tourism, so the infrastructure is well above Guatemala’s average, and the number of attractions is getting bigger each day. The city is vibrant and has a lot to offer including the impressive architecture and rich cultural and art scene. When you are done trying everything the city has to offer, you can opt to explore the surrounding communities where there is always something exciting to encounter.
Pixabay/Public Domain
2. Ciudad Vieja
IM Score: 18
Rent Cost: $365
Hospital to Population Ratio: 25,696
Flight to U.S. Cost: $469
Rate of Homicides per 100,000: <1
Located 15 minutes away from Antigua Guatemala, Ciudad Vieja is the place for those who are on the budget. You can enjoy the low rent and overall cost of living of Ciudad Vieja, just hop on the bus and embrace the modernity of Antigua.
1. Quetzaltenango (Xela)
IM Score: 18
Rent Cost: $305
Hospital to Population Ratio: 16,971
Flight to U.S. Cost: $469
Rate of Homicides per 100,000: >1
It is time to close our list of best places to retire in Guatemala. First, we should warn you not to head to Xela if you are afraid of little cold since it is considered to be the coldest Guatemala’s city due to its elevation. Besides having the lowest rent cost on our list, Quetzaltenango is the perfect city for expats. You get all the perks of big cities, but without the crime, obnoxious tourists and discomfort. This is the place where tradition meets the modern lifestyle. You’ll enjoy the local cuisine, learn Spanish and bond with the neighbors, but also be able to visit the malls, spa centers, and amusement parks. What more can you ask for?
