Cost of Living Comparison Between La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula Cost of Living Comparison Between La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Ceiba 48% lower, San Pedro Sula 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.94 HNL 105
$7.66 HNL 204
-48.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.93 HNL 797
$31.10 HNL 828
-3.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.18 HNL 191
$8.68 HNL 231
-17.28%
Cappuccino
-
$2.17 HNL 57.8
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.37 HNL 36.61
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.11 HNL 29.52
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.97 HNL 25.92
$1.94 HNL 51.6
-50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 HNL 78.0
$3.22 HNL 85.7
-9.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 HNL 37.54
$1.47 HNL 39.14
-4.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 HNL 44.42
$1.96 HNL 52.2
-14.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 HNL 37.83
$1.55 HNL 41.31
-8.39%
Eggs
$1.58 HNL 42.15
$2.51 HNL 66.8
-37.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.13 HNL 190
$8.92 HNL 238
-20.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.67 HNL 151
$5.95 HNL 159
-4.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 HNL 251
$10.98 HNL 293
-14.21%
Apples (1kg)
$4.08 HNL 109
$4.27 HNL 114
-4.45%
Banana (1kg)
$0.52 HNL 13.81
$1.58 HNL 42.01
-67.09%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$3.94 HNL 105
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 HNL 32.96
$2.02 HNL 53.7
-38.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 HNL 35.98
$2.27 HNL 60.5
-40.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 HNL 50.5
$2.51 HNL 66.8
-24.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 HNL 20.38
$0.82 HNL 21.92
-6.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 HNL 18.66
$1.62 HNL 43.21
-56.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41 HNL 64.1
$3.14 HNL 83.6
-23.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.37 HNL 383
$12.99 HNL 346
10.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 HNL 27.89
$1.11 HNL 29.46
-5.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 HNL 42.91
$1.62 HNL 43.03
-0.62%
🚌 Getting Around
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 HNL 16.05
$0.58 HNL 15.50
3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.0 HNL 1,543
$37.20 HNL 991
55.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.04 HNL 27.68
$3.75 HNL 99.8
-72.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 HNL 37.74
$1.43 HNL 37.98
-0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.90 HNL 104
$7.19 HNL 192
-45.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 HNL 29.70
$1.05 HNL 27.95
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.5K HNL 573.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K HNL 512.6K
$16.4K HNL 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)
$130 HNL 3,460
$135 HNL 3,588
-3.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.13 HNL 296
$10.17 HNL 271
9.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.3 HNL 1,339
$49.79 HNL 1,326
1.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.46 HNL 864
$39.17 HNL 1,043
-17.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.44 HNL 624
$20.81 HNL 554
12.64%
Cinema Ticket
$3.52 HNL 93.9
$5.41 HNL 144
-34.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$178 HNL 4,747
$144 HNL 3,843
23.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,938 HNL 104.9K
$3,288 HNL 87.6K
19.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.27 HNL 460
$50.5 HNL 1,343
-65.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.48 HNL 306
$37.13 HNL 989
-69.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$34.72 HNL 924
$83.6 HNL 2,225
-58.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.5 HNL 1,345
$93.6 HNL 2,492
-46.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$136 HNL 3,625
$556 HNL 14.8K
-75.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$82.3 HNL 2,191
$416 HNL 11.1K
-80.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$200 HNL 5,335
$925 HNL 24.6K
-78.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$127 HNL 3,394
$739 HNL 19.7K
-82.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,134 HNL 30.2K
$1,031 HNL 27.5K
9.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$748 HNL 19.9K
$430 HNL 11.4K
74.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$570 HNL 15.2K
$597 HNL 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.

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