Cost of Living Comparison Between El Progreso and San Pedro Sula Cost of Living Comparison Between El Progreso and San Pedro Sula

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $565 in El Progreso versus $1,259 in San Pedro Sula.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $896 in El Progreso versus $1,881 in San Pedro Sula.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,227 in El Progreso versus $2,504 in San Pedro Sula.

Living in El Progreso costs roughly 55% less than in San Pedro Sula, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: El Progreso 58% lower, San Pedro Sula 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.87 HNL 157
$7.80 HNL 209
-24.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.96 HNL 667
$30.22 HNL 808
-17.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 HNL 208
$8.57 HNL 229
-9.45%
Cappuccino
$1.46 HNL 39.03
$2.23 HNL 59.6
-34.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 HNL 26.70
$1.34 HNL 35.71
-25.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 HNL 26.18
$1.11 HNL 29.62
-11.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.17 HNL 31.19
$1.89 HNL 50.4
-38.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 HNL 53.1
$3.21 HNL 85.7
-38.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 HNL 35.57
$1.54 HNL 41.05
-13.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 HNL 56.1
$2.06 HNL 55.0
1.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 HNL 32.66
$1.50 HNL 40.06
-18.67%
Eggs
$2.10 HNL 56.2
$2.62 HNL 70.1
-19.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.28 HNL 114
$9.27 HNL 248
-53.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.69 HNL 98.7
$6.19 HNL 166
-40.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.77 HNL 208
$11.20 HNL 299
-30.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 HNL 80.4
$4.26 HNL 114
-29.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 HNL 38.94
$1.56 HNL 41.71
-6.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 HNL 38.46
$3.90 HNL 104
-63.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 HNL 42.45
$2.11 HNL 56.5
-24.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.62 HNL 43.19
$2.25 HNL 60.1
-28.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 HNL 36.43
$2.52 HNL 67.4
-46.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 HNL 22.28
$0.88 HNL 23.58
-5.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 HNL 45.83
$1.62 HNL 43.37
5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 HNL 65.3
$3.10 HNL 83.0
-21.29%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$12.93 HNL 346
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 HNL 34.46
$1.16 HNL 30.96
11.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 HNL 48.27
$1.57 HNL 42.11
14.65%
🚌 Getting Around
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.62 HNL 16.65
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$37.19 HNL 994
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.25 HNL 114
$3.78 HNL 101
12.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.49 HNL 39.92
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$7.10 HNL 190
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 HNL 28.81
$1.10 HNL 29.44
-1.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K HNL 521.1K
$21.3K HNL 568.8K
-8.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K HNL 508.5K
$16.6K HNL 444.5K
14.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 HNL 2,176
$133 HNL 3,546
-38.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.78 HNL 235
$9.99 HNL 267
-12.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.49 HNL 1,083
$49.96 HNL 1,336
-18.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$38.31 HNL 1,025
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.78 HNL 556
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.93 HNL 159
$5.56 HNL 149
6.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$246 HNL 6,584
$145 HNL 3,877
69.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,189 HNL 85.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.70 HNL 1,222
$51.8 HNL 1,385
-11.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.35 HNL 945
$37.69 HNL 1,008
-6.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 HNL 2,923
$84.2 HNL 2,253
29.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 HNL 2,791
$94.5 HNL 2,527
10.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$561 HNL 15.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$417 HNL 11.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$890 HNL 23.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$721 HNL 19.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,003 HNL 26.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$440 HNL 11.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$614 HNL 16.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
11.24
6.76%

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

Last update for El Progreso: July 19, 2026

Last update for San Pedro Sula: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in El Progreso vs $30.00 in San Pedro Sula for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $271 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 San Pedro Sula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Pedro Sula cheaper than El Progreso?
El Progreso is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 123% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $848 in El Progreso and $1,889 in San Pedro Sula 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.
How do food prices compare in El Progreso and in San Pedro Sula?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in San Pedro Sula. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in El Progreso and in San Pedro Sula?
All in, you'll spend $565 per month in El Progreso versus $1,259 in San Pedro Sula – a 123% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in El Progreso or in San Pedro Sula?
At $565 in El Progreso versus $1,259 in San Pedro Sula, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Progreso but tight or insufficient in San Pedro Sula. The gap between the two cities makes El Progreso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in El Progreso or in San Pedro Sula?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find El Progreso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 123% less than in San Pedro Sula. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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