The Value of Residing on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

As digital nomads, we’re on a regular basis shopping for the web throughout the hunt for someplace to reside, unpack and put down some momentary roots. We do our analysis and attempt to produce out prices and providers ahead of shifting, nonetheless hardly will we uncover actual prices of primary, every single day objects. Undoubtedly, these are the issues that folks wish to know when planning on visiting or residing someplace, appropriate?

We lived on Lake Atitlan for nearly 2 months, and are prepared to provide you a wonderful suggestion of what groceries, transportation and lodging value are like correct proper right here.

Phrase: on the time of writing, 1 USD = 7.66 GTQ

These month-to-month prices are for 2 individuals.

Lodging:

We checked out fairly a couple of leases ahead of deciding on our present casita (small residence). In case you’re cozy with merely exhibiting up and strolling spherical to look out an dwelling, that’s completely potential. Yow will uncover “for lease” indicators on the precise properties which can be obtainable, or, you’ll discover pretty plenty of advertisements and listings in cafes, bars, hostels and tour firms.

If in case you may have time and don’t concepts staying in a resort till you uncover an dwelling, then this selection might be merely finest for you. Nonetheless, you’ll most undoubtedly be coping with an area express particular person in case you go this route, which is able to point out that you just simply’ll must have the flexibleness to barter in Spanish.

In case you’d pretty uncover one issue forward of time ahead of arriving on the lake, you may at all times affirm on-line with fairly a couple of the exact property corporations. We discovered that the costs of lodging on-line have been actually fairly good, plus, you may take care of an English-speaking express particular person.

We booked by Atitlan Decisions/Atitlan Journey Leaseswho had fairly a couple of listings for us to try ahead of deciding on a go to residence we most popular. You may as successfully try Terra X Attlan or Century 21 (Antigua Constructive Houses).

In San Marcos, yow will uncover various rooms at Lush Flats. Some have kitchens, whereas others don’t. Some are studio model, whereas others have separate rooms. The prices fluctuate from $500 – $1,700 USD / month.

Merely exterior of San Marcos, a ten minute tuk-tuk experience, is Passage-heada rental superior with 6 dwelling fashions, 1 home and three cottages. The prices correct proper right here fluctuate in value ranging from $525 USD/month. An compulsory $12/week cleansing service should be paid on prime of the rental fee.

In Paxanax at Sundown Lodge (the place we reside), which is a 2 minute boat experience or a 20 minute stroll away from the village of Santa Cruz, the worth of our house is $600 USD / month (though, we acquired a reduction to $550 USD / month). This incorporates all utilities and a twice-weekly cleansing service, nonetheless we pay for ingesting water and cooking fuel.

There are fairly a couple of choices obtainable contained in the villages of Panajachel and San Pedro as appropriately.

Try the video of our lovely casita correct proper right here:

Casita – $550

Bottle of ingesting water, 18L, (x 5 bottles) 20Q/jug ($13)

Tank of cooking fuel (2 tanks) 140Q/tank – 280Q ($36.33)

Meals

We are literally fairly shocked on the price of groceries correct proper right here on Lake Atitlan, notably as in contrast with the prices in Mexico. It’s nonetheless cheaper than groceries contained in the western world although.

Here’s a breakdown of the worth of meals objects, in Guatemalan Quetzal and in American {{{Dollars}}}:

All via our first month correct proper right here (March), we spent 3,962 Quetzales ($517 USD) on groceries – strictly meals objects. All via our second month (April) we spent just a bit bit bit lower than that, nonetheless fairly shut.

It’s essential to notice, that we eat fairly appropriately, with 3 massive meals a day and a great deal of snacks. Your meals funds may very successfully be quite rather a lot lower than ours.

Alcohol and Leisure

This itemizing incorporates the worth of wine and beer on the retailers, avenue meals, espresso at a restaurant and a typical meal at a restaurant in Panajachel or San Pedro.

Bottle of wine – 41.75Q ($5.45)

Bottle of beer – 5Q ($0.65)

Cup of espresso – 12Q ($1.57)

Freeway meals meal with rooster and sides – 15Q ($1.96)

Meal at a restaurant – 30Q and up ($3.92 +)

Now we’ve got now a beer or a glass of wine almost each day, and we don’t eat out at consuming places, other than the occasional street-food meal.

Transportation

There aren’t any proper roads connecting the entire villages and most of the people go by taxi boat (boat). You’ll arrive by bus to the principle metropolis of Panajachel, and it is usually potential to achieve on to San Pedro by street from Guatemala Metropolis, Xela and Antigua. Contained within the villages of Panajachel, San Pedro, San Juan and Santa Cruz, you may take a tuk-tuk.

Phrase: Foreigners pay increased than the locals do for boat rides, there’s no diploma in arguing, it’s merely the way in which by which by which it’s. These are the costs for vacationers:

Taxi boat from:

Panajachel to Santa Cruz – 10Q ($1.31)

Panajachel to San Marcos – 20Q ($ 2.61)

Panajachel to San Pedro – 25Q ($ 3.27)

Panajachel to San Juan – 25Q ($ 3.27)

San Pedro – San Marcos – 10Q ($ 1.31)

TUK-TUK Journey inside Panajachel-5Q ($ 0.65)

Tuk-Tuk experience between San Juan and San Pedro – 15/20Q ($1.96/$2.61)

We go into Panajachel about as rapidly as every week by boat from Santa Cruz, we go to close by villages and we take a tuk-tuk generally contained within the metropolis. The extra you progress spherical, the faster your prices will add up. For each of us to go to San Pedro from Santa Cruz, it prices 100Q ($13) return.

Last Ideas and Prices

How quite rather a lot you’ll spend residing on the lake all will rely on which village you reside in. In case you’re in Panajachel or San Pedro, the temptation for bars and consuming places is excessive, which is able to lastly up your funds. In case you’re on a regular basis partying, travelling in between villages and consuming out at consuming places, you’ll spend fairly a bit increased than we did.

Our way of life consists of free actions like kayaking, swimming and strolling, the occasional journey to close by villages, consuming and ingesting at residence and simply chilling out.

Every month we furthermore spend an additional 300Q ($38.92) or so on miscellaneous objects like options, cellphone minutes, toiletries, clothes and odds and ends.

To be taught extra about Panajachel, click on on on correct proper right here.

To be taught extra about Santa Cruz, click on on on correct proper right here.

To be taught extra about San Pedro, click on on on correct proper right here.

Hopefully this data will assist you to plan and funds in your journey to the lake!

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