🙂A single person spends $687 per month in La Ceiba vs $1,239 in San Pedro Sula, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,062 per month in La Ceiba vs $1,872 in San Pedro Sula, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,437 per month in La Ceiba vs $2,506 in San Pedro Sula, rent included.
🙂La Ceiba is about 45% 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 Ceiba49% lower, San Pedro Sula7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11HNL 110
$7.73HNL 207
-46.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.86HNL 798
$30.80HNL 824
-3.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.19HNL 192
$8.59HNL 230
-16.30%
Cappuccino
-
$2.15HNL 57.4
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.34HNL 35.70
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.06HNL 28.33
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.98HNL 26.24
$1.96HNL 52.4
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03HNL 80.9
$3.33HNL 88.9
-9.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39HNL 37.23
$1.49HNL 39.73
-6.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.65HNL 44.06
$1.98HNL 52.9
-16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.37HNL 36.64
$1.51HNL 40.27
-9.27%
Eggs
$1.57HNL 42.04
$2.53HNL 67.7
-37.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.80HNL 182
$9.12HNL 244
-25.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.67HNL 152
$6.04HNL 162
-6.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.12HNL 244
$11.25HNL 301
-18.93%
Apples(1kg)
$4.10HNL 109
$4.27HNL 114
-3.98%
Banana(1kg)
$0.49HNL 13.10
$1.57HNL 41.90
-68.79%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$3.72HNL 99.4
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.28HNL 34.14
$2.01HNL 53.8
-36.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36HNL 36.24
$2.25HNL 60.3
-39.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.92HNL 51.2
$2.61HNL 69.9
-26.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80HNL 21.29
$0.85HNL 22.70
-5.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65HNL 17.41
$1.62HNL 43.43
-59.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.47HNL 66.0
$3.00HNL 80.2
-17.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.89HNL 371
$13.11HNL 351
5.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04HNL 27.78
$1.15HNL 30.73
-9.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54HNL 41.16
$1.55HNL 41.48
-0.65%
🚌 Getting Around
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61HNL 16.24
$0.63HNL 16.91
-3.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.7HNL 1,542
$36.58HNL 978
57.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07HNL 28.72
$3.66HNL 97.7
-70.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49HNL 39.87
$1.42HNL 37.97
4.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.76HNL 101
$6.93HNL 185
-45.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13HNL 30.18
$1.06HNL 28.32
6.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.4KHNL 573.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3KHNL 515.5K
$16.6KHNL 443.9K
16.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131HNL 3,508
$133HNL 3,557
-1.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29HNL 302
$10.04HNL 268
12.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.27HNL 1,317
$49.96HNL 1,336
-1.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.23HNL 888
$38.74HNL 1,036
-14.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.62HNL 605
$20.93HNL 560
8.07%
Cinema Ticket
$3.41HNL 91.2
$5.59HNL 149
-39.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$180HNL 4,815
$145HNL 3,864
24.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,867HNL 103.4K
$3,188HNL 85.2K
21.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.52HNL 468
$52.1HNL 1,394
-66.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.30HNL 302
$37.66HNL 1,007
-69.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$34.79HNL 930
$84.5HNL 2,258
-58.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.5HNL 1,351
$94.0HNL 2,513
-46.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$135HNL 3,606
$552HNL 14.8K
-75.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$81.6HNL 2,183
$417HNL 11.2K
-80.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199HNL 5,310
$890HNL 23.8K
-77.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$128HNL 3,426
$720HNL 19.2K
-82.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,101HNL 29.4K
$999HNL 26.7K
10.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$755HNL 20.2K
$431HNL 11.5K
74.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$552HNL 14.8K
$594HNL 15.9K
-7.04%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for San Pedro Sula: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $135 in La Ceiba versus $552 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 8% 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: $203 vs $268 – 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 in San Pedro Sula compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $687 in La Ceiba, $1,239 in San Pedro Sula – roughly 80% 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 $1,030 per month in La Ceiba and $1,858 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 $687 in La Ceiba and $1,239 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 $687, than in San Pedro Sula at $1,239. 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.