If you’re sitting in a café in Tegucigalpa or checking your bank balance from Miami, the value of 1 US dollar in lempiras is probably the most important number on your screen. Right now, as we move through January 2026, the exchange rate is hovering around 26.43 HNL. It’s a number that feels a lot different than it did just a couple of years ago. Honestly, the days of seeing 24 lempiras to the dollar feel like a distant memory for most Hondurans.
Money is weird. One day your dollar buys a nice lunch, and the next, it barely covers the drink. In Honduras, this isn't just about "market fluctuations." It's about a complex dance between the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH), the massive flow of remittances from family members abroad, and the price of a cup of coffee on the global stage.
The Reality of 1 US Dollar in Lempiras Today
So, what’s the actual deal with the rate? As of mid-January 2026, the official rate is sitting at approximately 26.43 lempiras for every 1 US dollar. But you’ve got to be careful. If you go to a bank like Banco Atlántida or Ficohsa, the rate you see on the board—the "sell" rate—is likely a bit higher, maybe closer to 26.60 HNL.
The "buy" rate, which is what they give you when you bring dollars in, will be lower. It's the classic spread. Banks have to make their cut, right?
Why is the Lempira sliding?
Honduras uses what experts call a "crawling band" system. Basically, the Central Bank doesn't let the currency crash or rocket up overnight. They manage it. They want it to slide just enough to keep Honduran exports, like textiles and coffee, cheap for the rest of the world, but not so much that everyone's grocery bill becomes unaffordable.
In 2025, we saw a steady depreciation. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been working closely with the administration of President Xiomara Castro, pushing for more "flexibility" in the exchange rate. What does "flexibility" mean in plain English? Usually, it means the lempira gets a little weaker against the dollar.
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What’s Driving the Price?
It’s not just one thing. If you’re trying to predict where 1 US dollar in lempiras will go next, you have to look at a few different moving parts.
1. The Remittance Engine
Remittances are the backbone of the Honduran economy. We’re talking about over 25% of the entire country’s GDP. When billions of dollars flow into the country from the US, it actually helps keep the lempira from falling too fast. There’s a lot of "supply" of dollars. If that flow ever slowed down—say, due to changes in US migration policy—the lempira would likely take a massive hit.
2. Coffee and Bananas
When the global price of coffee goes up, Honduras gets a boost. More dollars come in from trade, which strengthens the national currency. In late 2025, coffee prices stayed relatively high, which provided a nice cushion for the BCH.
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3. The IMF Program
Honduras has a massive agreement with the IMF (around $830 million). Part of that deal involves keeping "Net International Reserves" at a healthy level. To do that, the Central Bank sometimes has to tighten the supply of dollars in the local market. You’ve probably heard people in San Pedro Sula complaining that it’s hard to buy dollars at the bank. That’s because of the foreign exchange auction system (SENDI).
The "Subasta" System
Since 2023, the BCH went back to a system where they auction off dollars. Instead of just walking into a bank and buying whatever you want, banks have to bid for them. This sometimes creates a "shortage" feeling, even if the reserves are technically okay. If you’re a business owner needing $50,000 to pay a supplier in China, you might not get it all at once.
Inflation and Your Wallet
Inflation in Honduras closed 2025 at about 4.98%. That’s within the target range, but for the average person, everything feels more expensive. Why? Because Honduras imports a lot. Fuel, electronics, and even some basic grains come from outside. When the rate for 1 US dollar in lempiras goes from 25 to 26, the price of gas at the Puma or Texaco station goes up almost immediately.
- 2024 Average: ~24.80 HNL
- 2025 Average: ~25.75 HNL
- Jan 2026 Current: ~26.43 HNL
You can see the trend. It’s a slow, steady climb. Economists at places like the World Bank expect this to continue. They project GDP growth to stay around 3.5% for 2026, which is "stable" but not exactly "booming."
Practical Advice for Handling Your Money
If you’re dealing with dollars and lempiras regularly, you need a strategy. Don't just wing it.
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- Watch the "Venta" vs "Compra": Always check the Central Bank's daily bulletin. Banks can be aggressive with their spreads.
- Time your exchanges: If you’re receiving a remittance, don't necessarily feel rushed to change it all to lempiras the second it hits. The trend for the dollar is generally upward.
- Use credit cards wisely: If you have a US-based card with no foreign transaction fees, you often get a better "wholesale" exchange rate than the local cash house will give you.
- Check the ATM fees: Scotiabank and BAC often have different fees for international cards. It adds up.
Looking Ahead at 2026
The big wild card this year is the upcoming election cycle. Politics always makes the markets nervous. If investors get jittery about the 2026 outlook, they might start moving more money into dollars for safety, which would put even more pressure on the lempira.
However, the BCH has been pretty firm about its data-driven approach. They’ve raised interest rates (the policy rate is currently at 5.75%) to try and keep the currency attractive. It's a balancing act. Too high, and they kill economic growth; too low, and the lempira enters a tailspin.
Honestly, the best thing you can do is stay informed. The value of 1 US dollar in lempiras isn't just a number—it’s a reflection of everything happening from the coffee farms in Marcala to the halls of Congress in D.C.
Next Steps for You:
If you need to exchange a large amount, check the official BCH auction results for the day to ensure you're getting a fair rate. For those sending money home, compare the "total cost" (fee + exchange rate) of services like Remitly or Western Union, as the exchange rate margin often hides the true cost of the transfer.