🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $567 in El Progreso versus $1,237 in San Pedro Sula.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $893 in El Progreso versus $1,873 in San Pedro Sula.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,219 in El Progreso versus $2,509 in San Pedro Sula.
🙂Living in El Progreso costs roughly 54% less than in San Pedro Sula, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: El Progreso58% lower, San Pedro Sula8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.72HNL 153
$7.85HNL 209
-27.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.78HNL 661
$30.70HNL 818
-19.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.88HNL 210
$8.57HNL 229
-8.05%
Cappuccino
$1.47HNL 39.24
$2.21HNL 58.8
-33.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01HNL 26.89
$1.34HNL 35.68
-24.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03HNL 27.38
$1.11HNL 29.58
-7.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16HNL 31.05
$1.87HNL 49.73
-37.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99HNL 53.0
$3.36HNL 89.5
-40.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29HNL 34.35
$1.47HNL 39.27
-12.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08HNL 55.5
$1.96HNL 52.2
6.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22HNL 32.63
$1.56HNL 41.64
-21.79%
Eggs
$2.04HNL 54.4
$2.59HNL 69.0
-21.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.45HNL 119
$9.18HNL 245
-51.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.89HNL 104
$5.96HNL 159
-34.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.84HNL 209
$10.97HNL 292
-28.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97HNL 79.3
$4.32HNL 115
-31.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44HNL 38.34
$1.58HNL 42.12
-8.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45HNL 38.66
$3.78HNL 101
-61.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52HNL 40.51
$2.11HNL 56.2
-27.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60HNL 42.66
$2.18HNL 58.1
-26.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35HNL 35.88
$2.53HNL 67.5
-46.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89HNL 23.69
$0.90HNL 23.90
-1.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67HNL 44.45
$1.65HNL 43.86
1.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.47HNL 65.9
$3.14HNL 83.8
-21.34%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$13.01HNL 347
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33HNL 35.58
$1.16HNL 30.87
14.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80HNL 48.01
$1.62HNL 43.27
11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.63HNL 16.91
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$35.97HNL 959
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.35HNL 116
$3.74HNL 99.8
16.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.49HNL 39.70
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.03HNL 187
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08HNL 28.79
$1.05HNL 28.01
2.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5KHNL 520.2K
$21.4KHNL 570.1K
-8.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4KHNL 518.0K
$16.6KHNL 442.5K
17.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.7HNL 2,150
$135HNL 3,588
-40.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.07HNL 242
$9.70HNL 258
-6.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.37HNL 1,103
$48.73HNL 1,299
-15.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$37.79HNL 1,007
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.81HNL 555
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.73HNL 153
$5.38HNL 143
6.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$245HNL 6,538
$147HNL 3,929
66.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$3,244HNL 86.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56HNL 1,214
$51.6HNL 1,374
-11.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.67HNL 951
$37.58HNL 1,002
-5.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111HNL 2,952
$81.7HNL 2,178
35.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103HNL 2,750
$92.8HNL 2,474
11.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$569HNL 15.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$422HNL 11.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$891HNL 23.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$721HNL 19.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,000HNL 26.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$437HNL 11.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Progreso
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605HNL 16.1K
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for San Pedro Sula: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in El Progreso vs $31.00 in San Pedro Sula for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $268 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 118% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $850 in El Progreso and $1,856 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 San Pedro Sula?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% 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 vs San Pedro Sula?
All in, you'll spend $567 per month in El Progreso versus $1,237 in San Pedro Sula – a 118% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for El Progreso or San Pedro Sula?
At $567 in El Progreso versus $1,237 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 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 118% 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