Cuba (CU)
Cuba is a unique socialist island nation of 11 million people in the Caribbean — a country of vintage American cars, world-famous cigars, Havana salsa, colonial architecture, and extraordinary natural beauty.
Capital: Havana
Region: Americas
Language: Spanish
Currency: CUP ($)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 20)
Emergency: 106
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Cost of Living
Real prices in Cuba — 2026 data in USD.
20
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Very affordable compared to major global cities. Your money goes a long way here.
Food & Groceries
Pan cubano (local bread roll, subsidised CUP price) $0.05–0.25
Rice (1kg, agro market) $0.30–0.80
Black beans (1kg) $0.40–1.00
Chicken (1kg, agro market) $1.50–3.50
Eggs (12, agro market) $1.50–3.00
Havana Club rum (3yr, 750ml, MLC store) $8–12
Cohiba / Montecristo cigars (box of 25, official LCDH) $200–600
Monthly groceries for 1 person (agro + MLC mix) $100–300
Dining Out
Street food (bocadito / empanada) $0.25–1.00
State restaurant menú del día $1–3
Paladar (private restaurant) main course $8–25
Café cubano (espresso) $0.10–0.50
Mojito at tourist bar (iconic Cuban cocktail) $3–7
Dinner for 2 at a good paladar $30–80
Rent
Room in casa particular, Havana (long-stay) $150–400/month
1-bed apartment, Havana (foreigner market) $300–800/month
2-bed apartment, Havana tourist area $500–1,200/month
Room in casa particular, provincial city $80–200/month
House rental, Havana (diplomatic quality) $1,500–5,000/month
Electricity / water (subsidised, frequent outages) $20–100/month equivalent
Transport
City bus (guagua, Havana flat fare) $0.02 (5 CUP)
Almendron (shared classic car taxi, Havana route) $0.25–1.00
Tourist taxi (Transtur, per ride in Havana) $5–25
Airport taxi (Havana airport–city centre) $25–30
VIAZUL bus Havana–Trinidad $25
VIAZUL bus Havana–Santiago de Cuba $51
Car hire (per day + insurance) $50–120
Health & Insurance
Servimed / Cira García clinic (Havana, GP visit) $25–60
Blood test panel (Servimed) $30–80
Pharmacy prescription (MLC pharmacy, basic) $5–40
International health insurance (annual) $800–3,000
Medical evacuation cover (annual policy) $300–600
Utilities
Electricity (CUP-subsidised, monthly) $5–25 USD equivalent
ETECSA Nauta WiFi card (1 hour) $0.15–0.30
CUBACEL mobile data (600MB package) $1.25
CUBACEL monthly mobile plan (USD zone) $15–40
Power bank / UPS (essential for outages, once-off) $25–60
Childcare
State school (educación primaria / secundaria) Free (heavily subsidised system)
Expat community nursery / playgroup, Havana $200–500/month
International / diplomat school (very limited) $8,000–20,000/year
Private tutoring (English / academic subjects) $20–60/hour
Leisure
Gym membership (Havana) $10–25/month
Cinema (cine cubano) $0.10–0.30
Live salsa / son concert at Casa de la Música $5–20
Havana jazz festival / cultural event $5–15
Museum of Fine Arts / Bellas Artes entry $5–10
Varadero beach day (transport + entry) $30–60/person
Haircut (barber) $0.50–2.00
Haircut (women's salon) $5–20
Cost of Living
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