MigrantoCost of living in Guyana
Average monthly spending, by standard of living and against other countries
Monthly cost
GYD 272,000
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
GYD 116,000richest 20%
GYD 696,000
Guyana is a different kind of expensive — not an old-money island but a country in the middle of an oil boom. Money has poured in fast, and prices have raced to keep up, so a life there now costs far more than its recent past would suggest. The gap between living well and getting by is moderate for the moment, though a boom this young tends to keep things unsettled.
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in Guyana
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in Guyana and how much you could have left each month
- What your lifestyle costs
- How much could be left each month
- How it compares with today
Cost of living in Guyana
GYD 116,000/mo
vs GYD 167,000 in your country
Take-home
GYD 131,000
vs GYD 251,000 in your country
Potential savings
GYD 14,600
more than in your country
Standard of living
Under a minute, no sign-up
How living costs in Guyana compare
Measured against its Latin American neighbors, Guyana now lands in the upper range, and it sits in a similar band worldwide. That's a recent change — for most of its history it would have counted among the cheaper countries here, not the dearer ones. For anyone deciding, the takeaway is that it's no longer a low-cost option, and which way it heads next is far from settled.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank, regional estimate), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
Ask Migo
Tap a question — our AI assistant answers it in chat
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Guyana?
A typical person in Guyana spends about GYD 272,000 a month — around GYD 3,260,000 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the cost of living in Guyana in US dollars?
The cost of living in Guyana is about $1,300 a month, or roughly $15,600 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Guyana?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about GYD 116,000 a month per person, a typical one around GYD 272,000, and a comfortable life around GYD 383,000. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
Is the average salary in Guyana enough to live on?
Usually not quite. Average spending is about GYD 272,000 a month, while the average take-home pay in Guyana is about GYD 255,000. For more on incomes, see salaries in Guyana.
Is Guyana an expensive country to live in?
Yes. Guyana is more expensive than 78% of countries worldwide and ranks 4th of 33 in Latin America by cost of living.
Where to live?
Match a country to your priorities
Living in Guyana
See the full country overview