Cost Of Living For a Student in Honduras 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: HNL
Average monthly spending for students in Honduras
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Honduras?
Students in Honduras spend around 37,000 HNL per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 5,600 HNL or as high as 240,000 HNL. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Honduras
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
| 500 HNL | 750 HNL | 3,000 HNL |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
| 380 HNL | 500 HNL | 1,000 HNL |
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 190,000 HNL | 380,000 HNL | 500,000 HNL |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 500 HNL | 750 HNL | 1,500 HNL |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 220 HNL | 1,500 HNL | 9,800 HNL |
Internet and cable
| 380 HNL | 750 HNL | 1,000 HNL |
Mobile phone charges
| 300 HNL | 500 HNL | 1,500 HNL |
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
| 600 HNL | 750 HNL | 1,500 HNL |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
| 420 HNL | 580 HNL | 1,900 HNL |
Woman shoes
| 390 HNL | 540 HNL | 1,300 HNL |
Men's shoes
Men suit
| 380 HNL | 470 HNL | 2,500 HNL |
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 6,300 HNL | 9,400 HNL | 25,000 HNL |
1-bedroom apartment
| 9,400 HNL | 15,000 HNL | 38,000 HNL |
2-bedroom apartment
| 13,000 HNL | 19,000 HNL | 50,000 HNL |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 1.3M HNL | 1.9M HNL | 3.8M HNL |
1-bedroom apartment
| 1.5M HNL | 2.5M HNL | 9.4M HNL |
| $61,000 | $100,000 | $380,000 |
2-bedroom apartment
| 2.5M HNL | 7.5M HNL | 15M HNL |
| $100,000 | $300,000 | $610,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 7,500 HNL | 9,400 HNL | 13,000 HNL |
Double Bed
| 5,000 HNL | 7,500 HNL | 9,400 HNL |
Single Bed
| 4,400 HNL | 5,800 HNL | 7,500 HNL |
Living Room
| 8,300 HNL | 11,000 HNL | 38,000 HNL |
Dining Table
| 3,800 HNL | 5,000 HNL | 9,400 HNL |
Sofa or Couch
| 5,000 HNL | 6,800 HNL | 15,000 HNL |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 5,000 HNL | 7,500 HNL | 15,000 HNL |
Fridge or Freezer
| 4,400 HNL | 6,800 HNL | 9,400 HNL |
Washing Machine
| 5,800 HNL | 8,300 HNL | 15,000 HNL |
Stove or Cooker
| 5,400 HNL | 6,800 HNL | 9,400 HNL |
Mobile Phone
| 6,300 HNL | 7,500 HNL | 11,000 HNL |
Laptop or Computer
| 6,800 HNL | 8,300 HNL | 15,000 HNL |
How do students spend their money in Honduras?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost19%
19% of total expenses on average (14% to 25%)
| LOW | $54 1,300 HNL |
| AVERAGE | $360 8,800 HNL |
| HIGH | $2,400 59,000 HNL |
| Per Month |
Students in Honduras typically spend from 14% to 25% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 19% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 8,800 HNL with expenditure ranging from 1,300 HNL to 59,000 HNL. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $9 220 HNL |
| AVERAGE | $60 1,500 HNL |
| HIGH | $400 9,800 HNL |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Honduras ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 1,500 HNL with 220 HNL and 9,800 HNL being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel5%
5% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $16 390 HNL |
| AVERAGE | $100 2,600 HNL |
| HIGH | $690 17,000 HNL |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 390 HNL to 17,000 HNL in a month on commuting with 2,600 HNL being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost22%
22% of total expenses on average (16% to 26%)
| LOW | $45 1,100 HNL |
| AVERAGE | $300 7,300 HNL |
| HIGH | $2,000 49,000 HNL |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Honduras is 7,300 HNL. The cost of groceries can range between 1,100 HNL to 49,000 HNL. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare8%
8% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $14 330 HNL |
| AVERAGE | $89 2,200 HNL |
| HIGH | $600 15,000 HNL |
| Per Month |
Students in Honduras allocate 5% to 11% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 330 HNL to 15,000 HNL with 2,200 HNL being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $11 280 HNL |
| AVERAGE | $74 1,800 HNL |
| HIGH | $500 12,000 HNL |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 280 HNL to 12,000 HNL with 1,800 HNL being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $43 1,100 HNL |
| AVERAGE | $280 7,000 HNL |
| HIGH | $1,900 47,000 HNL |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 7,000 HNL per month with 1,100 HNL being the minimum spent amount and 47,000 HNL being the maximum.
Other Expenses18%
18% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $34 840 HNL |
| AVERAGE | $220 5,500 HNL |
| HIGH | $1,500 37,000 HNL |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Honduras
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Honduras?
Around 62% of surveyed students think that living in Honduras is affordable with proper budgeting while 38% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Honduras
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options59%
Few low-cost options41%
Based on the survey, 59% of the students living in Honduras have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 41% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Honduras
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Honduras
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 6,300 HNL | 9,400 HNL | 25,000 HNL |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 9,400 HNL | 15,000 HNL | 38,000 HNL |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 13,000 HNL | 19,000 HNL | 50,000 HNL |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 15,000 HNL | 25,000 HNL | 68,000 HNL |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 30,000 HNL | 75,000 HNL | 150,000 HNL |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 25,000 HNL | 38,000 HNL | 110,000 HNL |
House monthly rent cost
| 30,000 HNL | 75,000 HNL | 150,000 HNL |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 38,000 HNL | 94,000 HNL | 150,000 HNL |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Honduras ranges between 6,300 HNL and 25,000 HNL, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 9,400 HNL to 38,000 HNL. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 13,000 HNL and 50,000 HNL per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 15,000 HNL to 68,000 HNL. The average rent of a townhouse in Honduras is around 38,000 HNL while house rental costs can be as high as 75,000 HNL per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 38,000 HNL to 150,000 HNL per month.
Apartment and house prices in Honduras
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 1.3M HNL | 1.9M HNL | 3.8M HNL |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 1.5M HNL | 2.5M HNL | 9.4M HNL |
| $61,000 | $100,000 | $380,000 |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 2.5M HNL | 7.5M HNL | 15M HNL |
| $100,000 | $300,000 | $610,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
Townhouse price
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Honduras can range from 1.3M HNL to 3.8M HNL depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1.5M HNL to 9.4M HNL. A villa can cost you 83M HNL on average with prices ranging from 15M HNL to 130M HNL.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Honduras will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 35 | x101 monthly income | 201 |
Property prices in Honduras can be x101 to x201 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x101 multiples of the average monthly salary in Honduras.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Honduras is around 30%. This means that people pay 30% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 20% to 40% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
28% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
| 110 HNL | 1,500 HNL | 15,000 HNL |
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy57%
We asked student guardians and parents in Honduras whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 43% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 57% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 35% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 65% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance35%
Easily manages finances65%
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes61%
No39%
Based on the survey, 39% of the students living in Honduras said that they don't have an emergency fund while 61% said that they do.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Honduras
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Honduras
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Honduras is approximatly 150 HNL with meal cost ranging from 75 HNL to 250 HNL. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 250 HNL and 750 HNL with 380 HNL being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Honduras.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 500 HNL | 750 HNL | 3,000 HNL |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 500 HNL to 3,000 HNL with the average cost being 750 HNL for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Honduras.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Honduras is around 100 HNL. Price ranges between 63 HNL and 150 HNL depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Honduras is 60 HNL. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 75 HNL and the minimum being 50 HNL depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 50 HNL on average with 38 HNL and 75 HNL being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Honduras is between 85 HNL and 160 HNL depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 110 HNL.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 150 HNL. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Honduras costs around 55 HNL on average with prices rangeing between 40 HNL and 78 HNL depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 15 HNL to 38 HNL. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 35 HNL on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 1,100 HNL to 49,000 HNL with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Honduras
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Honduras
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 220 HNL | 1,500 HNL | 9,800 HNL |
Internet and cable cost
| 380 HNL | 750 HNL | 1,000 HNL |
Mobile phone bill and charges
| 300 HNL | 500 HNL | 1,500 HNL |
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 1,500 HNL. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 380 HNL to 1,000 HNL with 750 HNL being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 500 HNL but can range between 300 HNL and 1,500 HNL depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Honduras is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.
