😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,240 in Roatan versus $1,201 in San Pedro Sula.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,030 in Roatan versus $1,802 in San Pedro Sula.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,820 in Roatan versus $2,402 in San Pedro Sula.
🌍Living in Roatan is roughly 3% more expensive than in San Pedro Sula, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Roatan10% lower, San Pedro Sula13% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.91HNL 212
$7.35HNL 197
7.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.62HNL 1,091
$33.24HNL 892
22.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.73HNL 234
$9.39HNL 252
-7.03%
Cappuccino
$4.44HNL 119
$2.37HNL 63.5
87.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01HNL 27.04
$1.06HNL 28.54
-4.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86HNL 23.22
$0.78HNL 20.84
10.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51HNL 67.5
$1.81HNL 48.61
38.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.11HNL 137
$3.61HNL 97.0
41.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44HNL 38.68
$1.51HNL 40.67
-4.64%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22HNL 86.6
$1.94HNL 52.1
65.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.54HNL 68.3
$1.56HNL 41.86
62.82%
Eggs
$2.04HNL 54.7
$2.33HNL 62.6
-12.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.03HNL 296
$8.88HNL 238
24.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.44HNL 173
$6.71HNL 180
-4.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.46HNL 469
$9.53HNL 256
83.21%
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.64HNL 97.7
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.08HNL 29.12
$1.26HNL 33.93
-14.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.09HNL 29.14
$3.35HNL 90.0
-67.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56HNL 15.05
$1.67HNL 44.74
-66.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64HNL 44.10
$2.42HNL 65.0
-32.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48HNL 39.86
$2.40HNL 64.3
-38.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17HNL 31.45
$1.41HNL 37.89
-17.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.93HNL 78.8
$1.60HNL 42.94
83.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91HNL 78.2
$3.01HNL 80.9
-3.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.83HNL 210
$12.80HNL 344
-38.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33HNL 35.78
$0.79HNL 21.28
68.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61HNL 70.1
$1.36HNL 36.53
91.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.64HNL 17.32
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$35.14HNL 943
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05HNL 55.0
$2.86HNL 76.8
-28.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.85HNL 49.63
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.12HNL 272
$11.28HNL 303
-10.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07HNL 28.85
$0.92HNL 24.76
16.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$23.7KHNL 635.6K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KHNL 796.0K
$24.9KHNL 668.7K
19.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$127HNL 3,402
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.19HNL 301
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$98.5HNL 2,644
$43.44HNL 1,167
126.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.9HNL 1,580
$37.27HNL 1,001
57.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.10HNL 379
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.68HNL 153
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$499HNL 13.4K
$147HNL 3,953
239.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$3,184HNL 85.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.90HNL 1,072
$75.2HNL 2,019
-46.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.67HNL 528
$40.26HNL 1,081
-51.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$40.79HNL 1,095
$79.7HNL 2,139
-48.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.65HNL 1,333
$74.9HNL 2,010
-33.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848HNL 22.8K
$556HNL 14.9K
52.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$552HNL 14.8K
$426HNL 11.4K
29.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,990HNL 53.4K
$791HNL 21.2K
151.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,229HNL 33.0K
$729HNL 19.6K
68.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,907HNL 51.2K
$989HNL 26.5K
92.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,338HNL 35.9K
$440HNL 11.8K
203.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$495HNL 13.3K
$600HNL 16.1K
-17.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18
12.33
45.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roatan: September 7, 2026
Last update for San Pedro Sula: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $848 in Roatan and $556 in San Pedro Sula. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰San Pedro Sula pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Roatan vs $33.00 in San Pedro Sula for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $256 per month, with San Pedro Sula 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
Roatan vs San Pedro Sula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Pedro Sula cheaper than Roatan?
San Pedro Sula is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Roatan or San Pedro Sula?
On paper, salaries run 21% lower in San Pedro Sula. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Roatan and San Pedro Sula?
Rent for a central apartment: $848 in Roatan versus $556 in San Pedro Sula. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $499 in Roatan versus $147 in San Pedro Sula. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Roatan or in San Pedro Sula?
Dining out is cheaper in San Pedro Sula – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $41.00 in Roatan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Roatan or in San Pedro Sula?
At $1,201 in San Pedro Sula versus $1,240 in Roatan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Pedro Sula but tight or insufficient in Roatan. The gap between the two cities makes San Pedro Sula the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Roatan or San Pedro Sula more family-friendly?
For families, San Pedro Sula is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Roatan, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Roatan or San Pedro Sula?
Safety-wise, Roatan and San Pedro Sula are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find San Pedro Sula gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Roatan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.