Guatemala City - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
There are a lot of expats in Antigua, it is a popular retirement community. The US Embassy is large. - Mar 2023
It's big and not especially cozy. Morale waivers. The embassy community works hard, long hours. I get the sense that people with children find community quickly. Childless people, in my experience, have a harder time finding opportunities to meet people. If you are a native or fluent speaker of Spanish, you will have a much easier time joining activities and potentially making friends. - Oct 2022
The expat community is large, although the expat density is small here compared to Antigua. Most people seem happy and morale is fairly high. - Oct 2022
The expat community in the city is small, but in Antigua it is much bigger you can find an expat almost anywhere you go. - Jul 2021
I think morale is pretty high, based on the great housing, good weather, the wonderful travel options nearby, and the ease of hiring household help. It's a nice community here, and everyone really supports one another. I think morale will only increase when the new Embassy building moves nearby. - Jan 2020
I suspect most expats in Guatemala tend to live in Antigua or on Lake Atitlán instead of the capital, but there are a fair number here in the city, as well. They seem to run the gamut from happy hippie backpacker kids to adventurous retirees. - Mar 2019
Average to smaller and insular. Fine, nothing great. - Feb 2019
Guatemala City is the most developed city in Central America, and accordingly home to a lot of expats who are here for work. Most retirees, backpackers, and students live in other parts of the country. Morale is high in general. - Jun 2015
Medium sized. Most people here love it. I haven't met anyone who hates it. - Apr 2014
Quite large for the size of the country. Apart from resident embassies (around 30), there are many UN and Aid Agencies offices, and large foreign companies also operate in the country. - Jan 2014
Large! - Nov 2011
There seems to be a good number of expats. - May 2010
Big. Lots of teachers, tourists, Spanish language students, volunteers, retirees, etc. If you go to Antigua it seems like there's more English than Spanish speakers. - Mar 2008
