😐A single person spends $1,239 per month in San Pedro Sula vs $687 in La Ceiba, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,872 per month in San Pedro Sula vs $1,062 in La Ceiba, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,506 per month in San Pedro Sula vs $1,437 in La Ceiba, rent included.
😐San Pedro Sula costs about 80% more than La Ceiba, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba are more affordable than the global median – San Pedro Sula7% lower, La Ceiba49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.73HNL 207
$4.11HNL 110
88.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.80HNL 823
$29.86HNL 798
3.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.59HNL 230
$7.19HNL 192
19.47%
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)
$1.96HNL 52.4
$0.98HNL 26.24
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33HNL 88.9
$3.03HNL 80.9
9.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49HNL 39.73
$1.39HNL 37.23
7.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98HNL 52.9
$1.65HNL 44.06
20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51HNL 40.27
$1.37HNL 36.64
10.22%
Eggs
$2.53HNL 67.7
$1.57HNL 42.04
61.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.12HNL 244
$6.80HNL 182
34.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.04HNL 162
$5.67HNL 152
6.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.25HNL 301
$9.12HNL 244
23.36%
Apples(1kg)
$4.27HNL 114
$4.10HNL 109
4.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57HNL 41.90
$0.49HNL 13.10
220.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72HNL 99.4
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.01HNL 53.8
$1.28HNL 34.14
57.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.25HNL 60.3
$1.36HNL 36.24
65.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.61HNL 69.9
$1.92HNL 51.2
35.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85HNL 22.70
$0.80HNL 21.29
6.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62HNL 43.43
$0.65HNL 17.41
149.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00HNL 80.2
$2.47HNL 66.0
21.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.11HNL 351
$13.89HNL 371
-5.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15HNL 30.72
$1.04HNL 27.78
10.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55HNL 41.48
$1.54HNL 41.16
0.65%
🚌 Getting Around
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63HNL 16.91
$0.61HNL 16.24
3.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.58HNL 978
$57.7HNL 1,542
-36.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.66HNL 97.7
$1.07HNL 28.72
242.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.42HNL 37.97
$1.49HNL 39.86
-4.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.93HNL 185
$3.76HNL 101
84.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06HNL 28.32
$1.13HNL 30.18
-6.19%
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)
$16.6KHNL 443.9K
$19.3KHNL 515.5K
-13.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$133HNL 3,557
$131HNL 3,508
1.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.04HNL 268
$11.29HNL 302
-11.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.96HNL 1,336
$49.27HNL 1,317
1.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.74HNL 1,036
$33.23HNL 888
16.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.93HNL 560
$22.62HNL 605
-7.47%
Cinema Ticket
$5.59HNL 149
$3.41HNL 91.2
63.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$145HNL 3,864
$180HNL 4,815
-19.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,188HNL 85.2K
$3,867HNL 103.4K
-17.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1HNL 1,394
$17.52HNL 468
197.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.66HNL 1,007
$11.30HNL 302
233.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5HNL 2,258
$34.79HNL 930
142.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.0HNL 2,513
$50.5HNL 1,351
85.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$552HNL 14.8K
$135HNL 3,606
309.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$417HNL 11.2K
$81.6HNL 2,183
411.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$890HNL 23.8K
$199HNL 5,310
347.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$720HNL 19.2K
$128HNL 3,426
461.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$999HNL 26.7K
$1,101HNL 29.4K
-9.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$431HNL 11.5K
$755HNL 20.2K
-42.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$594HNL 15.9K
$552HNL 14.8K
7.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.24
11.5
-2.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Pedro Sula: July 11, 2026
Last update for La Ceiba: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $552 in San Pedro Sula versus $135 in La Ceiba. 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 $31.00 in San Pedro Sula versus $30.00 in La Ceiba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $203 – 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
San Pedro Sula vs La Ceiba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in San Pedro Sula and in La Ceiba compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,239 in San Pedro Sula, $687 in La Ceiba – roughly 80% apart. San Pedro Sula costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in San Pedro Sula compared to La Ceiba?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,858 per month in San Pedro Sula and $1,030 in La Ceiba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba?
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 $31.00 in San Pedro Sula and $30.00 in La Ceiba. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: San Pedro Sula or La Ceiba?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,239 in San Pedro Sula and $687 in La Ceiba. 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: San Pedro Sula or La Ceiba?
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 San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba?
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.
San Pedro Sula vs other spots: cost of living compared