🙂A single person spends $696 per month in La Ceiba vs $1,215 in San Pedro Sula, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,071 per month in La Ceiba vs $1,842 in San Pedro Sula, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,445 per month in La Ceiba vs $2,469 in San Pedro Sula, rent included.
🙂La Ceiba is about 43% cheaper than San Pedro Sula, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula are more affordable than the global median – La Ceiba48% lower, San Pedro Sula9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.94HNL 105
$7.66HNL 204
-48.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.93HNL 797
$31.10HNL 828
-3.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.18HNL 191
$8.68HNL 231
-17.28%
Cappuccino
-
$2.17HNL 57.8
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.37HNL 36.61
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.11HNL 29.52
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.97HNL 25.92
$1.94HNL 51.6
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93HNL 78.0
$3.22HNL 85.7
-9.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41HNL 37.54
$1.47HNL 39.14
-4.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67HNL 44.42
$1.96HNL 52.2
-14.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42HNL 37.83
$1.55HNL 41.31
-8.39%
Eggs
$1.58HNL 42.15
$2.51HNL 66.8
-37.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.13HNL 190
$8.92HNL 238
-20.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.67HNL 151
$5.95HNL 159
-4.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42HNL 251
$10.98HNL 293
-14.21%
Apples(1kg)
$4.08HNL 109
$4.27HNL 114
-4.45%
Banana(1kg)
$0.52HNL 13.81
$1.58HNL 42.01
-67.09%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$3.94HNL 105
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24HNL 32.96
$2.02HNL 53.7
-38.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35HNL 35.98
$2.27HNL 60.5
-40.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90HNL 50.5
$2.51HNL 66.8
-24.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77HNL 20.38
$0.82HNL 21.92
-6.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70HNL 18.66
$1.62HNL 43.21
-56.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41HNL 64.1
$3.14HNL 83.6
-23.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.37HNL 383
$12.99HNL 346
10.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05HNL 27.89
$1.11HNL 29.46
-5.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61HNL 42.91
$1.62HNL 43.03
-0.62%
🚌 Getting Around
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60HNL 16.05
$0.58HNL 15.50
3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.0HNL 1,543
$37.20HNL 991
55.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.04HNL 27.68
$3.75HNL 99.8
-72.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.42HNL 37.74
$1.43HNL 37.98
-0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.90HNL 104
$7.19HNL 192
-45.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12HNL 29.70
$1.05HNL 27.95
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.5KHNL 573.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3KHNL 512.6K
$16.4KHNL 435.4K
17.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130HNL 3,460
$135HNL 3,588
-3.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.13HNL 296
$10.17HNL 271
9.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.3HNL 1,339
$49.79HNL 1,326
1.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.46HNL 864
$39.17HNL 1,043
-17.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.44HNL 624
$20.81HNL 554
12.64%
Cinema Ticket
$3.52HNL 93.9
$5.41HNL 144
-34.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$178HNL 4,747
$144HNL 3,843
23.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,938HNL 104.9K
$3,288HNL 87.6K
19.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.27HNL 460
$50.5HNL 1,343
-65.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.48HNL 306
$37.13HNL 989
-69.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$34.72HNL 924
$83.6HNL 2,225
-58.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.5HNL 1,345
$93.6HNL 2,492
-46.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$136HNL 3,625
$556HNL 14.8K
-75.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$82.3HNL 2,191
$416HNL 11.1K
-80.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$200HNL 5,335
$925HNL 24.6K
-78.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$127HNL 3,394
$739HNL 19.7K
-82.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,134HNL 30.2K
$1,031HNL 27.5K
9.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$748HNL 19.9K
$430HNL 11.4K
74.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$570HNL 15.2K
$597HNL 15.9K
-4.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.5
11.24
2.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for La Ceiba: June 1, 2026
Last update for San Pedro Sula: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $136 in La Ceiba versus $556 in San Pedro Sula. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 5% higher in San Pedro Sula, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in La Ceiba versus $31.00 in San Pedro Sula. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $266 – making La Ceiba the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 San Pedro Sula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $696 in La Ceiba, $1,215 in San Pedro Sula – roughly 75% apart. San Pedro Sula costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in La Ceiba compared to San Pedro Sula?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,044 per month in La Ceiba and $1,823 in San Pedro Sula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula?
Rent is clearly cheaper in La Ceiba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in La Ceiba and $31.00 in San Pedro Sula. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: La Ceiba or San Pedro Sula?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $696 in La Ceiba and $1,215 in San Pedro Sula. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in La Ceiba, where all-in costs run around $696, than in San Pedro Sula at $1,215. In La Ceiba it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Pedro Sula it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: La Ceiba or San Pedro Sula?
Families tend to lean toward La Ceiba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula?
If budget matters most, go with La Ceiba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Pedro Sula makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.