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 $725 per month in La Ceiba vs $1,201 in San Pedro Sula, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,122 per month in La Ceiba vs $1,802 in San Pedro Sula, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,518 per month in La Ceiba vs $2,402 in San Pedro Sula, rent included.

La Ceiba is about 40% cheaper than San Pedro Sula, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula are more affordable than the global median – La Ceiba 47% lower, San Pedro Sula 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.06 HNL 109
$7.35 HNL 197
-44.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.85 HNL 801
$33.24 HNL 892
-10.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.96 HNL 187
$9.39 HNL 252
-25.88%
Cappuccino
-
$2.37 HNL 63.5
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 HNL 21.92
$1.06 HNL 28.54
-22.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.78 HNL 20.84
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 HNL 26.20
$1.81 HNL 48.61
-45.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 HNL 82.7
$3.61 HNL 97.0
-14.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 HNL 36.45
$1.51 HNL 40.67
-9.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 HNL 43.70
$1.94 HNL 52.1
-15.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 HNL 49.86
$1.56 HNL 41.86
19.23%
Eggs
$1.64 HNL 44.07
$2.33 HNL 62.6
-29.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.62 HNL 178
$8.88 HNL 238
-25.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.38 HNL 171
$6.71 HNL 180
-4.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.23 HNL 275
$9.53 HNL 256
7.35%
Apples (1kg)
$5.25 HNL 141
$3.64 HNL 97.7
44.23%
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.26 HNL 33.93
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$3.35 HNL 90.0
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.17 HNL 31.52
$1.67 HNL 44.74
-29.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 HNL 44.01
$2.42 HNL 65.0
-32.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 HNL 49.83
$2.40 HNL 64.3
-22.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 HNL 20.05
$1.41 HNL 37.89
-46.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 HNL 16.70
$1.60 HNL 42.94
-61.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.59 HNL 69.5
$3.01 HNL 80.9
-13.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.24 HNL 382
$12.80 HNL 344
11.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 HNL 32.08
$0.79 HNL 21.28
50.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 HNL 40.71
$1.36 HNL 36.53
11.76%
🚌 Getting Around
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 HNL 15.36
$0.64 HNL 17.32
-10.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 HNL 1,486
$35.14 HNL 943
57.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 HNL 29.37
$2.86 HNL 76.8
-61.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 HNL 51.0
$1.85 HNL 49.63
2.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.78 HNL 102
$11.28 HNL 303
-66.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 HNL 28.97
$0.92 HNL 24.76
17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$23.7K HNL 635.6K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.8K HNL 505.5K
$24.9K HNL 668.7K
-24.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 HNL 4,072
$127 HNL 3,402
19.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.96 HNL 912
$11.19 HNL 301
203.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.0 HNL 1,477
$43.44 HNL 1,167
26.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.09 HNL 835
$37.27 HNL 1,001
-16.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 HNL 611
$14.10 HNL 379
61.28%
Cinema Ticket
$3.44 HNL 92.5
$5.68 HNL 153
-39.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$265 HNL 7,120
$147 HNL 3,953
80.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,449 HNL 119.5K
$3,184 HNL 85.5K
39.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.97 HNL 456
$75.2 HNL 2,019
-77.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.97 HNL 295
$40.26 HNL 1,081
-72.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$33.07 HNL 888
$79.7 HNL 2,139
-58.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.62 HNL 1,306
$74.9 HNL 2,010
-35.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$92.3 HNL 2,479
$556 HNL 14.9K
-83.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$56.3 HNL 1,513
$426 HNL 11.4K
-86.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$147 HNL 3,944
$791 HNL 21.2K
-81.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$132 HNL 3,536
$729 HNL 19.6K
-81.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,118 HNL 30.0K
$989 HNL 26.5K
13.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$754 HNL 20.2K
$440 HNL 11.8K
71.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$556 HNL 14.9K
$600 HNL 16.1K
-7.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
12.33
-

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

Last update for La Ceiba: September 6, 2026

Last update for San Pedro Sula: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $92.3 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 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 $33.00 in San Pedro Sula. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $256 – 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: $725 in La Ceiba, $1,201 in San Pedro Sula – roughly 66% apart. San Pedro Sula costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in La Ceiba compared to San Pedro Sula?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,088 per month in La Ceiba and $1,802 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 $33.00 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 $725 in La Ceiba and $1,201 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 $725, than in San Pedro Sula at $1,201. 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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