🙂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 Progreso58% lower, San Pedro Sula6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.87HNL 157
$7.80HNL 209
-24.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.96HNL 667
$30.22HNL 808
-17.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.76HNL 208
$8.57HNL 229
-9.45%
Cappuccino
$1.46HNL 39.03
$2.23HNL 59.6
-34.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00HNL 26.70
$1.34HNL 35.71
-25.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98HNL 26.18
$1.11HNL 29.62
-11.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17HNL 31.19
$1.89HNL 50.4
-38.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99HNL 53.1
$3.21HNL 85.7
-38.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33HNL 35.57
$1.54HNL 41.05
-13.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10HNL 56.1
$2.06HNL 55.0
1.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22HNL 32.66
$1.50HNL 40.06
-18.67%
Eggs
$2.10HNL 56.2
$2.62HNL 70.1
-19.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.28HNL 114
$9.27HNL 248
-53.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.69HNL 98.7
$6.19HNL 166
-40.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.77HNL 208
$11.20HNL 299
-30.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00HNL 80.4
$4.26HNL 114
-29.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46HNL 38.94
$1.56HNL 41.71
-6.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44HNL 38.46
$3.90HNL 104
-63.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59HNL 42.45
$2.11HNL 56.5
-24.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62HNL 43.19
$2.25HNL 60.1
-28.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36HNL 36.43
$2.52HNL 67.4
-46.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83HNL 22.28
$0.88HNL 23.58
-5.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71HNL 45.83
$1.62HNL 43.37
5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44HNL 65.3
$3.10HNL 83.0
-21.29%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.93HNL 346
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29HNL 34.46
$1.16HNL 30.96
11.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80HNL 48.27
$1.57HNL 42.11
14.65%
🚌 Getting Around
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.62HNL 16.65
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$37.19HNL 994
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.25HNL 114
$3.78HNL 101
12.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.49HNL 39.92
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.10HNL 190
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08HNL 28.81
$1.10HNL 29.44
-1.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5KHNL 521.1K
$21.3KHNL 568.8K
-8.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0KHNL 508.5K
$16.6KHNL 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)
$81.4HNL 2,176
$133HNL 3,546
-38.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.78HNL 235
$9.99HNL 267
-12.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.49HNL 1,083
$49.96HNL 1,336
-18.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$38.31HNL 1,025
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.78HNL 556
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.93HNL 159
$5.56HNL 149
6.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$246HNL 6,584
$145HNL 3,877
69.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$3,189HNL 85.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.70HNL 1,222
$51.8HNL 1,385
-11.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.35HNL 945
$37.69HNL 1,008
-6.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109HNL 2,923
$84.2HNL 2,253
29.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104HNL 2,791
$94.5HNL 2,527
10.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$561HNL 15.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$417HNL 11.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$890HNL 23.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$721HNL 19.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,003HNL 26.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$440HNL 11.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$614HNL 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.
El Progreso vs other spots: cost of living compared