Cost of Living Comparison Between Roatan and San Pedro Sula Cost of Living Comparison Between Roatan and San Pedro Sula

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Roatan 10% lower, San Pedro Sula 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.91 HNL 212
$7.35 HNL 197
7.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.62 HNL 1,091
$33.24 HNL 892
22.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.73 HNL 234
$9.39 HNL 252
-7.03%
Cappuccino
$4.44 HNL 119
$2.37 HNL 63.5
87.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 HNL 27.04
$1.06 HNL 28.54
-4.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 HNL 23.22
$0.78 HNL 20.84
10.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.51 HNL 67.5
$1.81 HNL 48.61
38.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.11 HNL 137
$3.61 HNL 97.0
41.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 HNL 38.68
$1.51 HNL 40.67
-4.64%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 HNL 86.6
$1.94 HNL 52.1
65.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.54 HNL 68.3
$1.56 HNL 41.86
62.82%
Eggs
$2.04 HNL 54.7
$2.33 HNL 62.6
-12.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.03 HNL 296
$8.88 HNL 238
24.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.44 HNL 173
$6.71 HNL 180
-4.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.46 HNL 469
$9.53 HNL 256
83.21%
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.64 HNL 97.7
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 HNL 29.12
$1.26 HNL 33.93
-14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.09 HNL 29.14
$3.35 HNL 90.0
-67.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 HNL 15.05
$1.67 HNL 44.74
-66.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 HNL 44.10
$2.42 HNL 65.0
-32.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 HNL 39.86
$2.40 HNL 64.3
-38.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 HNL 31.45
$1.41 HNL 37.89
-17.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.93 HNL 78.8
$1.60 HNL 42.94
83.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91 HNL 78.2
$3.01 HNL 80.9
-3.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.83 HNL 210
$12.80 HNL 344
-38.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 HNL 35.78
$0.79 HNL 21.28
68.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 HNL 70.1
$1.36 HNL 36.53
91.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.64 HNL 17.32
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$35.14 HNL 943
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 HNL 55.0
$2.86 HNL 76.8
-28.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.85 HNL 49.63
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.12 HNL 272
$11.28 HNL 303
-10.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 HNL 28.85
$0.92 HNL 24.76
16.30%
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)
$29.6K HNL 796.0K
$24.9K HNL 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)
-
$127 HNL 3,402
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.19 HNL 301
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$98.5 HNL 2,644
$43.44 HNL 1,167
126.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 HNL 1,580
$37.27 HNL 1,001
57.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.10 HNL 379
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.68 HNL 153
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$499 HNL 13.4K
$147 HNL 3,953
239.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,184 HNL 85.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.90 HNL 1,072
$75.2 HNL 2,019
-46.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.67 HNL 528
$40.26 HNL 1,081
-51.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.79 HNL 1,095
$79.7 HNL 2,139
-48.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.65 HNL 1,333
$74.9 HNL 2,010
-33.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 HNL 22.8K
$556 HNL 14.9K
52.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 HNL 14.8K
$426 HNL 11.4K
29.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,990 HNL 53.4K
$791 HNL 21.2K
151.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,229 HNL 33.0K
$729 HNL 19.6K
68.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,907 HNL 51.2K
$989 HNL 26.5K
92.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,338 HNL 35.9K
$440 HNL 11.8K
203.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$495 HNL 13.3K
$600 HNL 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.

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