🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $144 in El Progreso versus $1,201 in San Pedro Sula.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $289 in El Progreso versus $1,802 in San Pedro Sula.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $434 in El Progreso versus $2,402 in San Pedro Sula.
🌍Living in El Progreso costs roughly 88% less than in San Pedro Sula, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: El Progreso90% lower, San Pedro Sula13% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.85HNL 130
$7.35HNL 197
-34.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.23HNL 678
$33.24HNL 892
-24.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.15HNL 219
$9.39HNL 252
-13.21%
Cappuccino
$1.47HNL 39.42
$2.37HNL 63.5
-37.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81HNL 21.75
$1.06HNL 28.54
-23.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97HNL 26.13
$0.78HNL 20.84
24.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.52HNL 40.85
$1.81HNL 48.61
-16.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96HNL 52.6
$3.61HNL 97.0
-45.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34HNL 35.88
$1.51HNL 40.67
-11.26%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.94HNL 52.1
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14HNL 30.67
$1.56HNL 41.86
-26.92%
Eggs
$1.62HNL 43.40
$2.33HNL 62.6
-30.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$8.88HNL 238
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$6.71HNL 180
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$9.53HNL 256
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.64HNL 97.7
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.44HNL 38.64
$1.26HNL 33.93
14.29%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$3.35HNL 90.0
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.67HNL 44.74
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.42HNL 65.0
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.65HNL 44.20
$2.40HNL 64.3
-31.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.41HNL 37.89
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.60HNL 42.94
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.67HNL 71.6
$3.01HNL 80.9
-11.30%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.80HNL 344
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30HNL 34.78
$0.79HNL 21.28
64.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41HNL 37.79
$1.36HNL 36.53
3.68%
🚌 Getting Around
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.64HNL 17.32
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$35.14HNL 943
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.86HNL 76.8
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.85HNL 49.63
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$11.28HNL 303
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$0.92HNL 24.76
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$23.7KHNL 635.6K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.9KHNL 668.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$127HNL 3,402
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.19HNL 301
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$43.44HNL 1,167
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$37.27HNL 1,001
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.10HNL 379
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.68HNL 153
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$147HNL 3,953
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$3,184HNL 85.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$75.2HNL 2,019
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.26HNL 1,081
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$79.7HNL 2,139
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$74.9HNL 2,010
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$556HNL 14.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$426HNL 11.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$791HNL 21.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$729HNL 19.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$989HNL 26.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$440HNL 11.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$600HNL 16.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
12.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Progreso: September 5, 2026
Last update for San Pedro Sula: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in El Progreso vs $33.00 in San Pedro Sula for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $46.00 vs $256 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 Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 736% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $216 in El Progreso and $1,802 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 460% higher in San Pedro Sula. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in El Progreso or in San Pedro Sula?
Dining out is cheaper in El Progreso – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $33.00 in San Pedro Sula. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in El Progreso or in San Pedro Sula?
At $144 in El Progreso versus $1,201 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 736% 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