---
title: "Living in San Pedro Sula as a digital nomad: cost, safety, visa, internet"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/san-pedro-sula
description: "Honduras's hot industrial hub and main international gateway"
dataset: 2026.11.2 (2026-11-09)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# San Pedro Sula, Honduras

San Pedro Sula scores 40.5/100 for digital nomads under balanced weights, ranking 1428 of 1501 cities. There is no open cost-of-living figure yet; expect no dedicated nomad visa, and a measured median download speed of 12.9 Mbps.

San Pedro Sula is Honduras's industrial centre, in the hot Sula valley near the Caribbean coast, with the country's busiest international airport and road links to the Copán ruins and the beaches of Omoa and Tela. Homicides have fallen sharply since the early 2010s, when it ranked among the world's most violent cities, but crime remains high and several governments advise reconsidering travel to Honduras.

Known for: Ramón Villeda Morales airport, Factory and textile economy, Gateway to Copán and the coast, High crime.

## Scores (balanced weights, 0–100)

| Factor | Score |
| --- | --- |
| Overall | 40.5 |
| Cost of living | — |
| Safety | 32 |
| Healthcare | 62 |
| Internet | 52 |
| Visa ease | 33 |
| Getting there & around | 11 |
| Climate | 33 |
| Air quality | 57 |
| Quality of life | 45 |

## The numbers behind the scores

| Metric | Value | Level | As of | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost, one person | — | country | 2026-09 | [^2] |
| Central 1-bedroom rent | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Outskirts 1-bedroom rent (basis of the monthly total) | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Homicide rate (per 100k) | 23.92 | country | 2024 | [^4] |
| Political stability (0–100) | 58 | country | 2025 | [^5] |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 64 | country | 2023 | [^6] |
| Life expectancy (years) | 72.3 | country | 2023 | [^7] |
| Median download (Mbps) | 12.9 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Median upload (Mbps) | 9.2 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Starlink residential service | Available | country | 2026-10 | [^9] |
| Nomad visa | none listed | country | 2026-07 | [^10] |
| Entry for US / EU / UK passports | 90 days / 90 days / visa required | country | 2026-02 | [^11] |
| Non-stop destinations (SAP) | 8 | city | 2026-10 | [^12] |
| Restaurants within 3 km of the centre (OpenStreetMap) | 112 | city | 2026-11 | [^16] |
| Walkability / transit (1–5) | 2 / 2 | editorial | 2026-09 | [^13] |
| Comfortable months | 4 of 12 | city | 2001–2020 | [^14] |
| Annual mean PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 24.4 | city | 2023 | [^15] |
| Human Development Index | 0.645 | country | 2023 | [^17] |
| English proficiency band | moderate | country | 2024 | [^18] |

## Tax on income from abroad

**Territorial: foreign investment income and pensions are untaxed, but work done in Honduras is local income.** Honduras follows the territorial principle (Código Tributario, Article 1), so foreign dividends, interest, rent and gains are not taxed, and pensions are excluded from income. Work you physically do in Honduras is Honduran-source even if paid from abroad, taxed at 0%–25% in 2026. Rentista and pensionado residents are exempt on the income their permit is based on. No wealth or inheritance tax.

| Question | Answer |
| --- | --- |
| How residents are taxed | territorial (local income only) |
| Remote work for foreign clients or employers | taxed (0%–25% progressive) |
| Investments and pensions from abroad | not taxed |
| Wealth | no wealth tax; no inheritance tax |
| Tax resident after | 90 days a year |
| Top income tax rate | 25.53% |

Residency: The Income Tax Regulation (Acuerdo 799 of 1969, Article 15) treats you as resident if you stay in Honduras more than three months in the calendar year, roughly 90 days, besides other cases set by law. The Income Tax Law itself (Decreto-Ley 25, Article 8(d)–(e)) defines a resident as someone who actually lives in the country and is not a mere transient, adds that a foreigner whose stay is limited by immigration law is not resident unless other facts show an intention to stay longer, and says a foreigner whose stay has extended far enough becomes resident in fact. The tax year is the calendar year (Article 27). A tourist stay is up to 90 days, extendable (Ley de Migración y Extranjería, Article 20), so a long tourist stay can cross the three-month line. Because the system is territorial, residency mainly decides which rates apply to Honduran income: residents use the progressive scale, while non-residents pay flat rates on gross Honduran-source income (Article 5).

Remote work: The territorial principle does not exempt work done from Honduras. The Income Tax Regulation (Article 9) says income from work is Honduran-source when the service is performed or the work is done in Honduras, and the law taxes non-residents on Honduran-source income from services rendered in the country, whoever pays and from wherever (Ley del Impuesto sobre la Renta, Article 4). So a salary from a foreign employer or fees from foreign clients for work you do while living in Honduras are taxable. Residents pay the 2026 scale: nothing up to L228,324.32 a year, 15% to L348,154.10, 20% to L809,660.75 and 25% above (Acuerdo SAR-01-2026), after deducting up to L40,000 a year for medical and education costs without receipts (L80,000 over age 65) and, for freelancers, the proven costs of their profession (Article 13). No Honduran payer withholds the tax, so you register with SAR, file a sworn return between 1 January and 30 April for the previous year (Article 28) and, if you are not salaried, make quarterly advance payments by 30 June, 30 September and 31 December (Article 34). Before you become resident, Honduran-source pay of a non-resident is taxed at 25% of gross (Article 5(3)), but that rule relies on withholding by Honduran payers and this profile found no SAR guidance on how it applies to a visitor paid from abroad. The law also reaches a resident's foreign-source income on its face (see passive income). Social security (IHSS) contributions and tax treaties were not verified here.

Investments: The Código Tributario of 2016 states that Honduras follows the principle of territorial income (Article 1(2)), and under the Income Tax Regulation capital income is Honduran-source only when the capital is located in Honduras, and share gains only for companies incorporated under Honduran law (Article 9). Dividends and interest from foreign payers, rent from property abroad and gains on foreign assets are therefore outside the tax. Pensions and retirement benefits are not part of gross income wherever they come from (Ley del Impuesto sobre la Renta, Article 10(h)). The catch: Article 2 of the Income Tax Law, still in SAR's 2025 consolidated text, and Articles 7 and 11 of the 1969 Regulation say residents are taxed whether the source is inside or outside the country. This profile follows the later territorial rule in the Code but found no SAR ruling that resolves the conflict. Honduran investments are taxed: dividends at a final 10% withheld by the company (Article 25) and capital gains at a single 10% instead of the progressive scale (Article 10). Rent from property in Honduras goes on the progressive scale. The rate on Honduran bank interest for residents was not verified here, and the law has no specific rule for crypto-asset gains.

On the nomad visa: Honduras has no digital nomad visa. Visitors can stay up to 90 days, extendable under the immigration regulation (Ley de Migración y Extranjería, Article 20), and that stay has no tax status of its own: work done from Honduras is Honduran-source, and more than three months in a calendar year makes you resident. People living on foreign income usually apply for rentista residence (at least US$2,500 a month) or pensionado residence (a pension of at least US$1,500 a month), which exempt the income behind the permit but bar paid work (see regimes).

Schemes for newcomers:

- **Residente rentista or residente pensionado (Ley de Migración y Extranjería, Decreto 208-2003)** (no fixed end): Exemption from income tax on the rents or pensions received under the residence permit (Article 27), plus a one-time duty-free import of household goods (Article 25) and a vehicle free of import duties and sales tax (Article 26). Duties exempted must be paid if the status is given up or cancelled (Article 28). Whether later laws limiting tax exemptions narrowed these benefits was not verified. Who qualifies: Foreigners granted residence as a rentista, proving stable income of at least US$2,500 a month from abroad or from investments in Honduras's financial system (Article 23), or as a pensionado, proving a permanent pension from abroad of at least US$1,500 a month (Article 24). Both are barred from paid work, though they may invest in approved projects and must then pay the taxes on that activity.

Official sources: [Ley del Impuesto sobre la Renta, Decreto-Ley 25 (consolidated text up to Acuerdo SAR-07-2025)](https://www.sar.gob.hn/download/texto-consolidado-decreto-ley-numero-25-ley-del-impuesto-sobre-la-renta/) (Servicio de Administración de Rentas (SAR), read 2026-10-27); [Acuerdo SAR-01-2026, escala de tasas progresivas del Impuesto sobre la Renta 2026 (La Gaceta No. 37,051, 23 January 2026)](https://www.tsc.gob.hn/web/leyes/Acuerdo-SAR-01-2026.pdf) (Tribunal Superior de Cuentas (official copy of La Gaceta), read 2026-10-27); [Código Tributario, Decreto 170-2016 (updated text up to Decreto 180-2020)](https://www.sar.gob.hn/download/texto-actualizado-codigo-tributario-decreto-170-2016-hasta-el-decreto-180-2020-preparado-por-el-departamento-de-asesoria-y-procuracion-legal-de-la-dnj/) (Servicio de Administración de Rentas (SAR), read 2026-10-27); [Reglamento de la Ley del Impuesto sobre la Renta, Acuerdo 799 of 19 November 1969](https://honduras.eregulations.org/media/HondurasRreglamentoLISR.pdf) (Secretaría de Estado en los Despachos de Economía y Hacienda, Honduras (Acuerdo 799), read 2026-10-27); [Ley de Migración y Extranjería, Decreto 208-2003 (La Gaceta No. 30,331, 3 March 2004)](https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/hon203167.pdf) (La Gaceta, Diario Oficial de la República de Honduras (Decreto 208-2003), read 2026-10-27); [Ley de Municipalidades, Decreto 134-90 (with reforms)](https://www.tsc.gob.hn/web/leyes/Ley_de_Municipalidades.pdf) (Tribunal Superior de Cuentas, read 2026-10-27); [Código de Familia, Decreto 76-84 (annotated text)](https://www.tsc.gob.hn/web/leyes/codigo_de_familia.pdf) (Tribunal Superior de Cuentas, read 2026-10-27).

Not yet reviewed by a person. General information, not tax advice. US citizens are taxed by the US wherever they live.

## Climate (2001–2020 normals)

| Month | Mean °C | Rain mm | Humidity % | Comfortable |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jan | 22.1 | 111 | 87 | no |
| Feb | 23.1 | 83 | 83 | yes |
| Mar | 24.1 | 64 | 79 | yes |
| Apr | 26 | 44 | 75 | yes |
| May | 26.6 | 105 | 78 | yes |
| Jun | 26.2 | 170 | 84 | no |
| Jul | 25.8 | 158 | 85 | no |
| Aug | 25.8 | 153 | 86 | no |
| Sep | 25.7 | 179 | 87 | no |
| Oct | 24.8 | 187 | 88 | no |
| Nov | 23.3 | 174 | 88 | no |
| Dec | 22.6 | 118 | 87 | no |

## Airports and nonstop flights

| Airport | IATA | Nonstop destinations | International | From US airports |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport | SAP | 8 | 5 | 1 |

Unique destinations across all airports: 8, of which 5 international (Wikipedia, 2026-10).

## Similar cities

- [La Ceiba](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/la-ceiba) (42.3) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/la-ceiba-vs-san-pedro-sula)
- [Maracaibo](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/maracaibo) (41.4) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/maracaibo-vs-san-pedro-sula)
- [Managua](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/managua) (50.3) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/managua-vs-san-pedro-sula)
- [Guatemala City](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/guatemala-city) (49.5) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/guatemala-city-vs-san-pedro-sula)
- [Utila](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/utila) (45.4) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/san-pedro-sula-vs-utila)

## FAQ

### How much does it cost to live in San Pedro Sula as a digital nomad?

We do not have a reliable monthly cost figure for San Pedro Sula yet.

### Is San Pedro Sula safe for digital nomads?

San Pedro Sula scores 32/100 on safety. Honduras records 23.92 homicides per 100,000 people per year (WHO, 2024) and a political-stability score of 58/100 (World Bank WGI). Both figures are national, so neighbourhood-level risk can differ.

### Does Honduras have a digital nomad visa?

No dedicated digital nomad visa was listed for Honduras as of 2026-07. Visitors from the US can stay 90 days visa-free.

### How fast is the internet in San Pedro Sula?

Measured median download speed in San Pedro Sula was 12.9 Mbps (upload 9.2 Mbps) across 7,600 M-Lab tests in 2024. Measured speeds run below advertised plan speeds everywhere, so compare cities rather than reading the number as a plan.

### Is Starlink available in San Pedro Sula?

Yes. Starlink's availability map lists residential service as available in Honduras (checked 2026-10), so a dish can serve as a backup line in San Pedro Sula. Check the exact address on starlink.com before ordering, since capacity varies by area.

### Which airports serve San Pedro Sula and how many nonstop flights are there?

San Pedro Sula is served by Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) with 8 nonstop destinations, of which 5 are international. 1 US airports have a nonstop link. Source: Wikipedia, 2026-10.

### When is the best time of year to be in San Pedro Sula?

The most comfortable months are Feb, Mar, Apr, May. Mean temperatures range from 72°F (22°C) in Jan to 80°F (27°C) in May (NASA POWER 2001–2020 climatology).

### San Pedro Sula or La Ceiba: which is better for digital nomads?

La Ceiba is the city with the closest factor profile to San Pedro Sula in this dataset. Which one wins depends on your weights; the comparison page puts every factor side by side with the numbers behind them.

## Plan a trip

[Plan a trip to San Pedro Sula](https://dashboard.navoy.io/trip/new?utm_source=nostos&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=plan_trip&utm_content=san-pedro-sula&destination=San+Pedro+Sula%2C+Honduras) on Navoy, the AI travel planner behind Nostos.

## Sources

[^1]: City population (latest census or official estimate), Wikipedia (citing national statistics offices). CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^2]: 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level), WhereNext. CC BY 4.0. https://getwherenext.com/data/cost-of-living-2026 (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^3]: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows), WhereToEmigrate. CC BY 4.0. https://github.com/0brien18/global-emigration-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^4]: Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, dataUNODC. UNODC data, free to reuse with attribution. https://data.unodc.org/datareport/hom-victim (retrieved 2026-10-12)
[^5]: Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100), World Bank. CC BY 4.0. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/worldwide-governance-indicators (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^6]: UHC service coverage index, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/uhc-index-of-service-coverage (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^7]: Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/life-expectancy-at-birth-(years) (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^8]: M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024), Measurement Lab. CC0 1.0. https://statistics.measurementlab.net/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^9]: Starlink availability map, SpaceX (Starlink). Factual status cited from starlink.com. https://www.starlink.com/map (retrieved 2026-10-07)
[^10]: Digital Nomad Visas 2026, WhereToEmigrate. CC BY 4.0. https://github.com/0brien18/global-emigration-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^11]: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), Ilya Ilyankou (compiled from passportindex.org). MIT. https://github.com/ilyankou/passport-index-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^12]: Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables), Wikipedia contributors; countries via Wikidata. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-24)
[^13]: Walkability and transit ratings (editorial), Navoy. CC BY 4.0. https://nostos.navoy.io/methodology (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^14]: NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means), NASA Langley Research Center. Public domain (US Government). https://power.larc.nasa.gov/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^15]: SatPM2.5 satellite-derived annual PM2.5 (V6.GL.02.04), Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis. CC BY 4.0. https://sites.wustl.edu/acag/surface-pm2-5/ (retrieved 2026-10-07)
[^16]: OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API), OpenStreetMap contributors. ODbL 1.0. https://overpass-api.de/ (retrieved 2026-10-02)
[^17]: Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023), United Nations Development Programme. CC BY 3.0 IGO. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/documentation-and-downloads (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^18]: EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band), EF Education First. Proprietary; band cited as a fact with attribution. https://www.ef.com/epi/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)

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