In planning mode - how much budget should I keep in mind for Honduras - any experiences?
I stayed in La Ceiba and Utila and noticed the contrast. On the mainland, I paid $3 for meals and $2 for buses. On Utila, the same meal was $12 and boat rides were $5. Tips were small, 10%. My daily spend averaged $40, with cheaper days inland and pricier ones on the islands. Honduras can be very budget-friendly if you stay off the tourist trail, but the Caribbean side is a different price level.
Meals: $2-5 local, $12 in tourist restaurants. Transport: $2-4 buses, $5 taxis. Tips: 10%. Safe daily budget: $30-35 for meals, local transport, and tips. The islands push costs higher - $50 daily minimum in Roatán. For the mainland, you can live cheaply without effort. A month-long stay can be under $1,000 if you skip island tours.
I spent $45 daily in Honduras and had no problem. Local meals were $5-6, tourist restaurants $12-15, and taxis $3-5. Tips were 10%. I also added occasional tours, like snorkeling in Utila ($25). At $45 per day, I could eat well, take taxis when needed, and enjoy beachside cafés. Compared to Costa Rica, Honduras felt cheap but still offered good food and fun activities.
Honduras is cheap if you avoid tourist-only zones. Street food like baleadas cost $1-2, and sit-down meals in comedores are $3-5. Chicken buses between towns are $2-4, and city taxis $2-5. Tips aren’t heavy, usually 10%. A daily budget of $20-25 covers meals, buses, and tips easily. Roatán and Utila are pricier, where meals are $10-15, so island days cost more. On the mainland though, Honduras is very budget-friendly for long-term stays.