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Antigua, Guatemala 🇬🇹
#785 ,

Nomad Score: 66%

💰 Cost & Affordability

💸 Cost of Living
87% Weight: 150
Generally very affordable compared to Western standards, with low prices for food, transport, and services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
79% Weight: 80
Reasonably priced apartments and shared housing, though prices can spike in tourist-heavy areas.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85% Weight: 40
Local markets and street food are very cheap; imported goods cost more but still affordable.
🚌 Transportation Cost
91% Weight: 20
Public transport and tuk-tuks are very inexpensive; walking is common in the city center.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
76% Weight: 15
Affordable nightlife and cultural activities, though some tourist attractions have higher fees.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
72% Weight: 10
Gyms are available at moderate prices, but fewer high-end options compared to larger cities.
💱 Currency Stability
53% Weight: 30
Guatemalan Quetzal is relatively stable but subject to regional economic fluctuations.

💻 Digital Nomad Essentials

🚀 Internet Speed
68% Weight: 100
Average speeds around 20-30 Mbps; reliable in cafes and coworking spaces but can be inconsistent.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
64% Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist but limited compared to larger digital nomad hubs.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
75% Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, though connection quality varies.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
71% Weight: 30
A decent number of cafes cater to remote workers with power outlets and decent WiFi.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
60% Weight: 100
Growing but still a niche destination for digital nomads compared to cities like Medellin or Bali.

🌟 Quality of Life

⚖️ Work-Life Balance
80% Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with plenty of opportunities for leisure and cultural immersion.
🌳 Environmental Quality
70% Weight: 15
Generally good air quality; some pollution in busy areas but surrounded by nature.
🧼 Cleanliness
58% Weight: 10
Historic city center is well-maintained, but some areas have issues with litter and waste management.
🗨️ Language Barrier
55% Weight: 30
Spanish is dominant; English is spoken in tourist and expat areas but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
67% Weight: 15
Moderate air quality; occasional pollution from traffic but generally better than larger cities.

🏥 Healthcare

🏥 Healthcare Quality
59% Weight: 20
Basic healthcare is available; private clinics offer better services but not on par with developed countries.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
83% Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are low compared to Western countries, making private care accessible.
🏥 Healthcare
62% Weight: 20
Adequate for minor issues; serious medical needs may require travel to Guatemala City or abroad.

🌿 Climate & Environment

☀️ Weather
89% Weight: 80
Mild, spring-like climate year-round with a dry season from November to April.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
42% Weight: 10
Located in a seismic zone with occasional volcanic activity and risk of tropical storms.
🏞️ Green Spaces
74% Weight: 10
Several parks and proximity to natural reserves and volcanoes for outdoor activities.
❄️ Air Conditioning
60% Weight: 15
Not widespread in older buildings; newer accommodations and coworking spaces usually have AC.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
31% Weight: 10
Tropical climate with wet and dry seasons; little temperature variation throughout the year.

🎭 Culture & Entertainment

🎭 Culture
92% Weight: 20
Rich colonial history, vibrant local traditions, and numerous festivals.
🌃 Nightlife
65% Weight: 15
Modest nightlife with bars and live music; quieter than larger cities but sufficient for most.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
86% Weight: 15
Excellent access to volcano hikes, lakes, and surrounding countryside.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
78% Weight: 10
Many Spanish schools and language exchange meetups available.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
84% Weight: 10
Abundant cultural tours, cooking classes, and artisan workshops.
🎳 Indoors Fun
57% Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; focus is more on outdoor and cultural activities.

🍎 Food & Fitness

🍽️ Food Scene
79% Weight: 25
Good mix of traditional Guatemalan cuisine and international options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
63% Weight: 10
Several yoga studios and wellness centers, though not as many as larger cities.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
65% Weight: 15
Basic gyms and fitness centers available; limited variety of classes.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
70% Weight: 15
Fresh fruits and vegetables widely available; some organic and health-focused cafes.

💼 Work Environment

🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
81% Weight: 20
Central Standard Time (UTC-6) aligns well with North American business hours.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
54% Weight: 25
Smaller expat and digital nomad community limits networking but growing steadily.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
48% Weight: 20
Local job market limited; most remote work comes from international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
50% Weight: 20
Emerging freelance community but lacks established infrastructure.
🏢 Coworking Quality
62% Weight: 30
Decent facilities with good ambiance but fewer amenities than top-tier coworking hubs.

📈 Business & Economy

🚀 Startup Scene
37% Weight: 15
Very limited startup ecosystem; mostly small local businesses.
💳 Local Payment Services
55% Weight: 10
Cash is king; digital payments growing but not widespread.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
41% Weight: 15
Low adoption and limited infrastructure for crypto payments.

🚆 Transportation

✈️ Airport Connectivity
59% Weight: 30
Closest major airport is La Aurora International in Guatemala City, about 1.5 hours away.
🚇 Public Transit
43% Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; mostly minibuses and tuk-tuks.
🚶 Walkability
78% Weight: 20
Compact city center is very walkable with pedestrian-friendly streets.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
56% Weight: 15
Uber and local apps available but less prevalent than in larger cities.
🚲 Cycling
50% Weight: 10
Some cycling possible but infrastructure is limited and roads can be busy.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
63% Weight: 15
Bus services connect to other cities; private shuttles common for tourists.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
54% Weight: 10
Limited scooter rentals; bike rentals available but not widespread.

📡 Connectivity

📱 Mobile Network Coverage
70% Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage in city and surrounding areas; 5G limited.
🔒 VPN Reliability
80% Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with no known restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
65% Weight: 15
Occasional outages but generally stable power supply.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
67% Weight: 10
WiFi available in cafes and some public areas but not widespread.

⚖️ Legal & Administrative

🛂 Visa Ease
73% Weight: 40
Tourist visa on arrival for many nationalities; stays up to 90 days easily extendable.
📊 Tax Friendliness
51% Weight: 30
Tax system is complex for foreigners; no special digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
70% Weight: 15
Generally respected but some political pressures exist.
🏛️ Political Stability
49% Weight: 20
Some political unrest and corruption issues but stable enough for short-term stays.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
47% Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners due to documentation and banking regulations.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
52% Weight: 10
Bureaucratic and slow process; requires local assistance.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0% Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa currently available.

🌍 Digital Nomad Community

🌍 Nomad Friendly
63% Weight: 50
Friendly locals and growing expat community but limited infrastructure tailored to nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
50% Weight: 25
Occasional meetups and events but not frequent or large-scale.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
57% Weight: 20
Small but active online groups and forums for digital nomads in Antigua.

🛡️ Safety & Tolerance

🛡️ Safety
54% Weight: 100
Generally safe in tourist areas; petty crime exists, so caution advised.
♀️ Female Friendly
60% Weight: 50
Moderate; women should exercise standard travel caution, especially at night.
✊ Racial Tolerance
65% Weight: 50
Generally tolerant but some social and economic disparities exist.

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