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: $565 in El Progreso versus $693 in La Ceiba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $896 in El Progreso versus $1,048 in La Ceiba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,227 in El Progreso versus $1,404 in La Ceiba.

Living in El Progreso costs roughly 18% less than in La Ceiba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: El Progreso 58% lower, La Ceiba 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.87 HNL 157

$4.02 HNL 108

46.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.96 HNL 667

$29.47 HNL 788

-15.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.76 HNL 208

$7.11 HNL 190

9.14%

Cappuccino

$1.46 HNL 39.03

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

$1.00 HNL 26.70

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 HNL 26.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 HNL 31.19

$1.02 HNL 27.32

14.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 HNL 53.1

$2.97 HNL 79.4

-33.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 HNL 35.57

$1.44 HNL 38.52

-7.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.10 HNL 56.1

$1.65 HNL 44.11

27.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 HNL 32.66

$1.36 HNL 36.37

-10.29%

Eggs

$2.10 HNL 56.2

$1.52 HNL 40.69

38.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.28 HNL 114

$6.88 HNL 184

-37.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.69 HNL 98.7

$5.67 HNL 152

-34.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 HNL 208

$8.94 HNL 239

-13.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 HNL 80.4

$4.00 HNL 107

-25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 HNL 38.94

$0.51 HNL 13.64

186.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 HNL 38.46

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 HNL 42.45

$1.28 HNL 34.34

24.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 HNL 43.19

$1.35 HNL 35.98

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 HNL 36.43

$1.92 HNL 51.5

-29.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 HNL 22.28

$0.75 HNL 20.17

10.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 HNL 45.83

$0.71 HNL 19.09

140.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 HNL 65.3

$2.42 HNL 64.8

0.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.02 HNL 375

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 HNL 34.46

$1.04 HNL 27.80

24.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 HNL 48.27

$1.60 HNL 42.90

12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 HNL 16.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.4 HNL 1,561

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.25 HNL 114

$1.07 HNL 28.68

297.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 HNL 39.68

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.95 HNL 106

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 HNL 28.81

$1.08 HNL 28.90

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

$19.5K HNL 521.1K

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

$19.0K HNL 508.5K

$19.4K HNL 519.1K

-2.05%

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

$81.4 HNL 2,176

$128 HNL 3,418

-36.35%

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

$8.78 HNL 235

$11.32 HNL 303

-22.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.49 HNL 1,083

$49.82 HNL 1,332

-18.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.18 HNL 861

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.75 HNL 608

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 HNL 159

$3.37 HNL 90.1

75.96%

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

$246 HNL 6,584

$175 HNL 4,682

40.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,885 HNL 103.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.70 HNL 1,222

$16.99 HNL 454

168.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.35 HNL 945

$11.69 HNL 313

202.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 HNL 2,923

$34.87 HNL 933

213.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 HNL 2,791

$49.44 HNL 1,322

111.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$135 HNL 3,604

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.0 HNL 2,247

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 HNL 5,313

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$130 HNL 3,469

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,105 HNL 29.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$741 HNL 19.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$558 HNL 14.9K

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for La Ceiba: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in El Progreso vs $29.00 in La Ceiba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $204 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 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $848 in El Progreso and $1,039 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 12% higher in La Ceiba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $565 per month in El Progreso versus $693 in La Ceiba – a 23% 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 23% less than in La Ceiba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.