Cost of Living Comparison Between La Ceiba and El Progreso Cost of Living Comparison Between La Ceiba and El Progreso

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $693 in La Ceiba versus $565 in El Progreso.

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

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

Living in La Ceiba is roughly 23% more expensive than in El Progreso, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.02 HNL 108

$5.87 HNL 157

-31.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.47 HNL 788

$24.96 HNL 667

18.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.11 HNL 190

$7.76 HNL 208

-8.38%

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)

$1.02 HNL 27.32

$1.17 HNL 31.19

-12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 HNL 79.4

$1.99 HNL 53.1

49.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 HNL 38.52

$1.33 HNL 35.57

8.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.65 HNL 44.11

$2.10 HNL 56.1

-21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 HNL 36.37

$1.22 HNL 32.66

11.48%

Eggs

$1.52 HNL 40.69

$2.10 HNL 56.2

-27.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.88 HNL 184

$4.28 HNL 114

60.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 HNL 152

$3.69 HNL 98.7

53.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.94 HNL 239

$7.77 HNL 208

15.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 HNL 107

$3.00 HNL 80.4

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 HNL 13.64

$1.46 HNL 38.94

-65.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 HNL 38.46

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 HNL 34.34

$1.59 HNL 42.45

-19.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 HNL 35.98

$1.62 HNL 43.19

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 HNL 51.5

$1.36 HNL 36.43

41.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 HNL 20.17

$0.83 HNL 22.28

-9.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 HNL 19.09

$1.71 HNL 45.83

-58.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 HNL 64.8

$2.44 HNL 65.3

-0.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.02 HNL 375

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 HNL 27.80

$1.29 HNL 34.46

-19.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 HNL 42.90

$1.80 HNL 48.27

-11.11%

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)

$1.07 HNL 28.68

$4.25 HNL 114

-74.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 HNL 39.68

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.95 HNL 106

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 HNL 28.90

$1.08 HNL 28.81

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)

$19.4K HNL 519.1K

$19.0K HNL 508.5K

2.09%

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

$128 HNL 3,418

$81.4 HNL 2,176

57.11%

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

$11.32 HNL 303

$8.78 HNL 235

28.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.82 HNL 1,332

$40.49 HNL 1,083

23.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.18 HNL 861

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.75 HNL 608

Cinema Ticket

$3.37 HNL 90.1

$5.93 HNL 159

-43.17%

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

$175 HNL 4,682

$246 HNL 6,584

-28.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,885 HNL 103.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.99 HNL 454

$45.70 HNL 1,222

-62.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.69 HNL 313

$35.35 HNL 945

-66.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.87 HNL 933

$109 HNL 2,923

-68.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.44 HNL 1,322

$104 HNL 2,791

-52.63%

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

-4.17%

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

Last update for La Ceiba: July 21, 2026

Last update for El Progreso: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $29.00 in La Ceiba vs $25.00 in El Progreso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $181 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

La Ceiba vs El Progreso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Progreso is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,039 in La Ceiba and $848 in El Progreso 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 $693 per month in La Ceiba versus $565 in El Progreso – 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.