What it costs to buy property in Guatemala
A foreign buyer should budget roughly 4.3%–5.5% of the purchase price on top of the price itself. No licence or permit is required.
What you pay
- Stamp tax3.0% of the price$15,000
- Notary and conveyancing0.8%–1.5% of the price$3,750–$7,500
- Registry0.5%–1.0% of the price$2,500–$5,000
| On a purchase of | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stamp tax | $7,500 | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Notary and conveyancing | $1,875 – $3,750 | $3,750 – $7,500 | $7,500 – $15,000 |
| Registry | $1,250 – $2,500 | $2,500 – $5,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Total on top of the price | 4.3%–5.5% | 4.3%–5.5% | 4.3%–5.5% |
Can you buy as a foreigner?
No licence required
Foreigners buy on the same terms as Guatemalans, with no permit required. The deed is executed before a notario — an attorney — and only becomes effective against third parties once registered at the Registro General de la Propiedad.
No approval to wait for
With no permission to obtain, the timeline is set by conveyancing rather than by a government queue.
Take it with you
These figures as a PDF, worked out at the price you enter, with every source and the date it was checked.
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Nearby markets compared
What a foreign buyer pays on top of a $500,000 price, here and in the markets around it nearest in cost.
- PanamaNo licence1.6%–4.5%
- NicaraguaNo licence2.7%–4.2%
- Costa RicaNo licence3.8%
- GuatemalaNo licence4.3%–5.5%
- HondurasNo licence5.0%–7.0%