Honduras basic food basket price reaches 16,700 lempiras, outpacing minimum wage

The consumer group Defco reported that the cost of a basic food basket for Honduran families has risen to 16,700 lempiras, an increase of 600‑700 lempiras since the start of the year. This level is well above the current minimum wage, which ranges between 12,000 and 14,000 lempiras depending on company size and sector, with official minimums for 2026 varying from 9,596 to 19,298 lempiras.

In April, private employers and labor unions agreed to raise the minimum wage by 6‑7% for 2026 and 6‑7.5% for 2027. Defco says its measurement covers more than 150 essential products, whereas the private sector and government typically use studies based on about 30 items. The group attributes the sharp price increase to external factors such as the war in the Middle East and a severe drought that has hit the country's agriculture, leaving thousands of families struggling to afford basic necessities.

Defco called for additional measures to alleviate the gap between wages and living costs, warning that the current adjustments are insufficient to keep pace with inflation.