Cost of Living Comparison Between San Pedro Sula and El Progreso Cost of Living Comparison Between San Pedro Sula and El Progreso

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,201 in San Pedro Sula versus $144 in El Progreso.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,802 in San Pedro Sula versus $289 in El Progreso.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,402 in San Pedro Sula versus $434 in El Progreso.

Living in San Pedro Sula is roughly 736% more expensive than in El Progreso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Pedro Sula 13% lower, El Progreso 90% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 HNL 197

$4.85 HNL 130

51.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.24 HNL 892

$25.23 HNL 678

31.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.39 HNL 252

$8.15 HNL 219

15.21%

Cappuccino

$2.37 HNL 63.5

$1.47 HNL 39.42

61.22%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 HNL 28.54

$0.81 HNL 21.75

30.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 HNL 20.84

$0.97 HNL 26.13

-19.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 HNL 48.61

$1.52 HNL 40.85

19.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 HNL 97.0

$1.96 HNL 52.6

84.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 HNL 40.67

$1.34 HNL 35.88

12.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.94 HNL 52.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 HNL 41.86

$1.14 HNL 30.67

36.84%

Eggs

$2.33 HNL 62.6

$1.62 HNL 43.40

43.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.88 HNL 238

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.71 HNL 180

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.53 HNL 256

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 HNL 97.7

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 HNL 33.93

$1.44 HNL 38.64

-12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.35 HNL 90.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.67 HNL 44.74

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 HNL 65.0

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 HNL 64.3

$1.65 HNL 44.20

45.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 HNL 37.89

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 HNL 42.94

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 HNL 80.9

$2.67 HNL 71.6

12.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.80 HNL 344

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 HNL 21.28

$1.30 HNL 34.78

-39.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 HNL 36.53

$1.41 HNL 37.79

-3.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 HNL 17.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.14 HNL 943

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 HNL 76.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 HNL 49.63

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.28 HNL 303

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 HNL 24.76

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)

$24.9K HNL 668.7K

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)

$43.44 HNL 1,167

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.27 HNL 1,001

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.10 HNL 379

Cinema Ticket

$5.68 HNL 153

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$147 HNL 3,953

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,184 HNL 85.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.2 HNL 2,019

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.26 HNL 1,081

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 HNL 2,139

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.9 HNL 2,010

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 HNL 14.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$426 HNL 11.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 HNL 21.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$729 HNL 19.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$989 HNL 26.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$440 HNL 11.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$600 HNL 16.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.33

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

Last update for San Pedro Sula: September 7, 2026

Last update for El Progreso: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in San Pedro Sula vs $25.00 in El Progreso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $46.00 per month, with El Progreso 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

San Pedro Sula vs El Progreso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Progreso is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 736% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,802 in San Pedro Sula and $216 in El Progreso to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 460% higher in San Pedro Sula. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in El Progreso – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $33.00 in San Pedro Sula. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $144 in El Progreso versus $1,201 in San Pedro Sula, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Progreso but tight or insufficient in San Pedro Sula. The gap between the two cities makes El Progreso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find El Progreso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 736% less than in San Pedro Sula. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.