Xela, Guatemala 🇬🇹
#790
,
Nomad Score:
63%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
87%
Weight: 150
Very affordable compared to global standards, with low prices for daily expenses.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
85%
Weight: 80
Affordable rental options, especially for long-term stays; good value for money.
🍎 Food & Groceries
89%
Weight: 40
Local markets and street food offer inexpensive and fresh options; imported goods cost more.
🚌 Transportation Cost
90%
Weight: 20
Public transportation and tuk-tuks are very cheap; walking is common in central areas.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
78%
Weight: 15
Affordable local entertainment, though options are somewhat limited compared to larger cities.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
72%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available but fewer in number; memberships are reasonably priced.
💱 Currency Stability
54%
Weight: 30
Guatemalan Quetzal is relatively stable but subject to regional economic fluctuations.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
63%
Weight: 100
Average speeds around 10-20 Mbps; reliable in central areas but can be spotty in outskirts.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
57%
Weight: 40
A handful of coworking spaces exist, but options are limited compared to major hubs.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
74%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, though connection quality varies.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
68%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not widespread.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
49%
Weight: 100
Growing but still a niche destination for digital nomads.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
82%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
81%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with good opportunities to balance work and leisure.
🌳 Environmental Quality
70%
Weight: 15
Generally good air and natural environment, though some urban pollution exists.
🧼 Cleanliness
55%
Weight: 10
Moderate cleanliness; some areas can be littered or less maintained.
🗨️ Language Barrier
42%
Weight: 30
Spanish is dominant; limited English spoken outside tourist areas.
💨 Air Quality
67%
Weight: 15
Air quality is decent but can worsen during dry season due to dust and burning.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
55%
Weight: 25
Limited family-oriented amenities; better for adventurous families.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
51%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare available; private clinics better but not up to Western standards.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
80%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are low compared to developed countries.
🏥 Healthcare
55%
Weight: 20
Sufficient for minor issues; serious conditions require travel to larger cities.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
79%
Weight: 80
Mild subtropical highland climate; warm days and cool nights, with a rainy season.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
50%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of earthquakes and volcanic activity; rainy season can cause flooding.
🏞️ Green Spaces
73%
Weight: 10
Several parks and proximity to natural attractions like mountains and lakes.
❄️ Air Conditioning
60%
Weight: 15
Not widespread in homes; some cafes and accommodations have AC.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
65%
Weight: 10
Two main seasons: dry and rainy; mild temperature variation year-round.
🔊 Noise Pollution
50%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise in city center; quieter in residential areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
86%
Weight: 20
Rich Mayan heritage and vibrant local traditions.
🌃 Nightlife
58%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly bars and small clubs.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
84%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to hiking, volcanoes, and natural parks.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
70%
Weight: 10
Several Spanish schools and language exchange meetups available.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
78%
Weight: 10
Good variety of cultural and adventure tours.
🎳 Indoors Fun
50%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
76%
Weight: 25
Strong local cuisine with some international options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
55%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios; growing interest but limited availability.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
60%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and outdoor fitness options.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
72%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce widely available; healthy eating possible but depends on choices.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
78%
Weight: 20
Central Standard Time (UTC-6) aligns well with North American time zones.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
53%
Weight: 25
Small but growing community of entrepreneurs and digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
45%
Weight: 20
Limited local remote job market; mostly dependent on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
50%
Weight: 20
Emerging freelance community but not well developed.
🏢 Coworking Quality
58%
Weight: 30
Basic facilities with decent amenities; not high-end.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
42%
Weight: 15
Small startup ecosystem with limited funding and infrastructure.
💳 Local Payment Services
55%
Weight: 10
Cash dominant; some mobile payment options but limited.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Low adoption and limited infrastructure for crypto payments.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
48%
Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is La Aurora in Guatemala City, about 3 hours away.
🚇 Public Transit
56%
Weight: 20
Local buses and tuk-tuks available; no formal public transit system.
🚶 Walkability
71%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable with many amenities nearby.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
43%
Weight: 15
Limited availability of Uber and similar services.
🚲 Cycling
50%
Weight: 10
Some cycling possible but infrastructure is limited.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
62%
Weight: 15
Buses connect to other cities; affordable but slow.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
47%
Weight: 10
Limited rental options for scooters and bikes.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
70%
Weight: 20
Good coverage in urban areas; 4G widely available.
🔒 VPN Reliability
75%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with no major restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
60%
Weight: 15
Occasional outages but generally stable in city areas.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
58%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited; mostly available in cafes and some public spaces.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
79%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa easy to obtain; 90-day stay without visa extension.
📊 Tax Friendliness
65%
Weight: 30
No tax on foreign income; simple tax system for residents.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
68%
Weight: 15
Generally respected but some political pressures exist.
🏛️ Political Stability
50%
Weight: 20
Some political unrest and corruption issues affect stability.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
45%
Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners; requires local documentation and references.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
52%
Weight: 10
Moderate bureaucracy; process can be slow and complex.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
56%
Weight: 50
Growing awareness but infrastructure and services still developing.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
48%
Weight: 25
Occasional meetups; community still small.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
55%
Weight: 20
Some Facebook groups and forums but limited activity.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
43%
Weight: 100
Moderate safety concerns; petty crime common, caution advised.
♀️ Female Friendly
47%
Weight: 50
Some safety concerns for women; cultural conservatism present.
✊ Racial Tolerance
60%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant but some social divisions exist.