🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,201 in San Pedro Sula versus $1,240 in Roatan.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,802 in San Pedro Sula versus $2,030 in Roatan.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,402 in San Pedro Sula versus $2,820 in Roatan.
🌍Living in San Pedro Sula costs roughly 3% less than in Roatan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: San Pedro Sula13% lower, Roatan10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Pedro Sula
Roatan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35HNL 197
$7.91HNL 212
-7.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.24HNL 892
$40.62HNL 1,091
-18.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.39HNL 252
$8.73HNL 234
7.56%
Cappuccino
$2.37HNL 63.5
$4.44HNL 119
-46.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06HNL 28.54
$1.01HNL 27.04
4.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78HNL 20.84
$0.86HNL 23.22
-9.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81HNL 48.61
$2.51HNL 67.5
-27.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61HNL 97.0
$5.11HNL 137
-29.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Pedro Sula
Roatan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51HNL 40.67
$1.44HNL 38.68
4.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.94HNL 52.1
$3.22HNL 86.6
-39.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56HNL 41.86
$2.54HNL 68.3
-38.58%
Eggs
$2.33HNL 62.6
$2.04HNL 54.7
14.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.88HNL 238
$11.03HNL 296
-19.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.71HNL 180
$6.44HNL 173
4.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.53HNL 256
$17.46HNL 469
-45.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64HNL 97.7
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.26HNL 33.93
$1.08HNL 29.12
16.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.35HNL 90.0
$1.09HNL 29.14
207.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.67HNL 44.74
$0.56HNL 15.05
198.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.42HNL 65.0
$1.64HNL 44.10
47.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.40HNL 64.3
$1.48HNL 39.86
62.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41HNL 37.89
$1.17HNL 31.45
20.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60HNL 42.94
$2.93HNL 78.8
-45.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01HNL 80.9
$2.91HNL 78.2
3.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.80HNL 344
$7.83HNL 210
63.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79HNL 21.28
$1.33HNL 35.78
-40.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36HNL 36.53
$2.61HNL 70.1
-47.89%
🚌 Getting Around
San Pedro Sula
Roatan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64HNL 17.32
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.14HNL 943
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.86HNL 76.8
$2.05HNL 55.0
39.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85HNL 49.63
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.28HNL 303
$10.12HNL 272
11.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92HNL 24.76
$1.07HNL 28.85
-14.02%
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)
$24.9KHNL 668.7K
$29.6KHNL 796.0K
-15.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Pedro Sula
Roatan
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)
$43.44HNL 1,167
$98.5HNL 2,644
-55.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Pedro Sula
Roatan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.27HNL 1,001
$58.9HNL 1,580
-36.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.10HNL 379
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.68HNL 153
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Pedro Sula
Roatan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$147HNL 3,953
$499HNL 13.4K
-70.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,184HNL 85.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Pedro Sula
Roatan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2HNL 2,019
$39.90HNL 1,072
88.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.26HNL 1,081
$19.67HNL 528
104.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7HNL 2,139
$40.79HNL 1,095
95.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9HNL 2,010
$49.65HNL 1,333
50.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Pedro Sula
Roatan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$556HNL 14.9K
$848HNL 22.8K
-34.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$426HNL 11.4K
$552HNL 14.8K
-22.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$791HNL 21.2K
$1,990HNL 53.4K
-60.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$729HNL 19.6K
$1,229HNL 33.0K
-40.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$989HNL 26.5K
$1,907HNL 51.2K
-48.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$440HNL 11.8K
$1,338HNL 35.9K
-67.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Pedro Sula
Roatan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$600HNL 16.1K
$495HNL 13.3K
21.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.33
18
-31.50%
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 Roatan: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $556 in San Pedro Sula and $848 in Roatan. 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: $33.00 in San Pedro Sula vs $41.00 in Roatan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $272 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
San Pedro Sula vs Roatan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roatan cheaper than San Pedro Sula?
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: San Pedro Sula or Roatan?
Average pay runs 21% higher in San Pedro Sula, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between San Pedro Sula and Roatan?
Rent for a central apartment: $556 in San Pedro Sula versus $848 in Roatan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $147 in San Pedro Sula versus $499 in Roatan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in San Pedro Sula or in Roatan?
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 San Pedro Sula or in Roatan?
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 San Pedro Sula or Roatan 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, San Pedro Sula or Roatan?
Safety-wise, San Pedro Sula and Roatan 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.
San Pedro Sula vs other spots: cost of living compared