Cost of Living Comparison Between El Progreso and La Ceiba Cost of Living Comparison Between El Progreso and La Ceiba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $567 in El Progreso versus $686 in La Ceiba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $893 in El Progreso versus $1,054 in La Ceiba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,219 in El Progreso versus $1,423 in La Ceiba.

Living in El Progreso costs roughly 17% less than in La Ceiba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: El Progreso 58% lower, La Ceiba 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.72 HNL 153

$4.07 HNL 108

40.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.78 HNL 661

$30.14 HNL 803

-17.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 HNL 210

$6.85 HNL 183

15.04%

Cappuccino

$1.47 HNL 39.24

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 HNL 26.89

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 HNL 27.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 HNL 31.05

$0.99 HNL 26.39

17.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 HNL 53.0

$2.94 HNL 78.4

-32.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 HNL 34.35

$1.39 HNL 36.99

-7.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.08 HNL 55.5

$1.59 HNL 42.27

30.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 HNL 32.63

$1.39 HNL 36.94

-12.23%

Eggs

$2.04 HNL 54.4

$1.60 HNL 42.70

27.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.45 HNL 119

$6.92 HNL 184

-35.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 HNL 104

$5.76 HNL 154

-32.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.84 HNL 209

$9.32 HNL 248

-15.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 HNL 79.3

$4.09 HNL 109

-27.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 HNL 38.34

$0.48 HNL 12.78

200.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 HNL 38.66

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 HNL 40.51

$1.28 HNL 34.21

18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 HNL 42.66

$1.29 HNL 34.34

24.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 HNL 35.88

$1.96 HNL 52.3

-31.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 HNL 23.69

$0.76 HNL 20.13

17.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 HNL 44.45

$0.66 HNL 17.46

153.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.47 HNL 65.9

$2.51 HNL 67.0

-1.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.26 HNL 380

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 HNL 35.58

$1.10 HNL 29.33

20.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 HNL 48.01

$1.61 HNL 42.82

11.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 HNL 14.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 HNL 1,528

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.35 HNL 116

$1.08 HNL 28.88

302.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 HNL 38.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 HNL 101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 HNL 28.79

$1.11 HNL 29.60

-2.70%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.5K HNL 520.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.4K HNL 518.0K

$19.5K HNL 518.8K

-0.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.7 HNL 2,150

$130 HNL 3,466

-37.96%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.07 HNL 242

$11.39 HNL 304

-20.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.37 HNL 1,103

$49.53 HNL 1,320

-16.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.78 HNL 874

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.75 HNL 606

Cinema Ticket

$5.73 HNL 153

$3.56 HNL 94.9

60.96%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$245 HNL 6,538

$181 HNL 4,820

35.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,885 HNL 103.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 HNL 1,214

$17.53 HNL 467

159.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.67 HNL 951

$11.46 HNL 306

211.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 HNL 2,952

$34.85 HNL 929

217.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 HNL 2,750

$49.66 HNL 1,324

107.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$135 HNL 3,595

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.2 HNL 2,217

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 HNL 5,441

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$128 HNL 3,407

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,133 HNL 30.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$744 HNL 19.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$563 HNL 15.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

4.35%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for El Progreso: June 7, 2026

Last update for La Ceiba: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in El Progreso vs $30.00 in La Ceiba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $205 per month, with El Progreso cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

El Progreso vs La Ceiba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Progreso is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $850 in El Progreso and $1,029 in La Ceiba to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in La Ceiba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $567 per month in El Progreso versus $686 in La Ceiba – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though El Progreso gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find El Progreso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in La Ceiba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.