😐A single person spends $1,223 per month in San Pedro Sula vs $744 in La Ceiba, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,845 per month in San Pedro Sula vs $1,129 in La Ceiba, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,467 per month in San Pedro Sula vs $1,515 in La Ceiba, rent included.
😐San Pedro Sula costs about 64% 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 Sula11% lower, La Ceiba46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.65HNL 205
$3.96HNL 106
93.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.69HNL 904
$30.47HNL 818
10.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.34HNL 251
$7.20HNL 193
29.72%
Cappuccino
$2.42HNL 65.0
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08HNL 28.93
$0.76HNL 20.49
42.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78HNL 20.87
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.88HNL 50.5
$1.03HNL 27.57
82.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50HNL 93.8
$3.05HNL 81.8
14.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47HNL 39.31
$1.35HNL 36.28
8.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97HNL 52.8
$1.53HNL 41.18
28.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62HNL 43.42
$1.79HNL 47.97
-9.50%
Eggs
$2.30HNL 61.8
$1.64HNL 44.12
40.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.76HNL 235
$6.53HNL 175
34.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.80HNL 182
$6.34HNL 170
7.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.26HNL 248
$10.57HNL 284
-12.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62HNL 97.2
$5.14HNL 138
-29.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22HNL 32.76
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$3.30HNL 88.4
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64HNL 43.94
$1.22HNL 32.80
34.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.43HNL 65.2
$1.68HNL 44.95
44.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.29HNL 61.4
$1.87HNL 50.2
22.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46HNL 39.24
$0.80HNL 21.41
82.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68HNL 45.02
$0.67HNL 18.00
150.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91HNL 78.1
$2.55HNL 68.4
14.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.95HNL 348
$13.85HNL 372
-6.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80HNL 21.38
$1.15HNL 30.78
-30.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35HNL 36.17
$1.51HNL 40.64
-10.60%
🚌 Getting Around
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63HNL 16.91
$0.57HNL 15.36
10.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.42HNL 950
$56.6HNL 1,518
-37.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.83HNL 76.0
$1.15HNL 30.89
146.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82HNL 48.83
$1.91HNL 51.2
-4.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.20HNL 301
$3.70HNL 99.2
202.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99HNL 26.55
$1.06HNL 28.46
-6.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KHNL 625.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4KHNL 654.3K
$19.1KHNL 513.6K
27.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$128HNL 3,439
$149HNL 4,000
-14.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.18HNL 300
$33.88HNL 909
-67.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.78HNL 1,148
$56.4HNL 1,513
-24.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.57HNL 1,008
$31.30HNL 840
20.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.89HNL 373
$21.99HNL 590
-36.83%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77HNL 155
$3.41HNL 91.5
69.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$149HNL 4,009
$256HNL 6,861
-41.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,150HNL 84.5K
$4,383HNL 117.6K
-28.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.9HNL 1,984
$16.97HNL 455
335.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.87HNL 1,070
$11.06HNL 297
260.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9HNL 2,090
$33.54HNL 900
132.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.8HNL 2,034
$47.37HNL 1,271
60.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$552HNL 14.8K
$93.7HNL 2,514
489.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$415HNL 11.1K
$56.7HNL 1,522
632.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$795HNL 21.3K
$151HNL 4,060
425.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$713HNL 19.1K
$130HNL 3,480
450.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$995HNL 26.7K
$1,111HNL 29.8K
-10.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$430HNL 11.5K
$747HNL 20.0K
-42.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602HNL 16.1K
$562HNL 15.1K
7.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.33
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Pedro Sula: August 30, 2026
Last update for La Ceiba: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $552 in San Pedro Sula versus $93.7 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 7% 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 $34.00 in San Pedro Sula versus $30.00 in La Ceiba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $214 – 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: $1,223 in San Pedro Sula, $744 in La Ceiba – roughly 64% 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 $1,834 per month in San Pedro Sula and $1,116 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 $34.00 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 $1,223 in San Pedro Sula and $744 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 $744, than in San Pedro Sula at $1,223. 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