😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,491 in Bayamo versus $1,301 in Santa Lucia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,084 in Bayamo versus $1,832 in Santa Lucia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,677 in Bayamo versus $2,363 in Santa Lucia.
😐Living in Bayamo is roughly 15% more expensive than Santa Lucia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bayamo is 12% above, Santa Lucia is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bayamo
Santa Lucia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.19CUP 76.6
$9.84CUP 236
-67.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9CUP 1,221
$29.72CUP 713
71.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.84CUP 164
$7.12CUP 171
-3.93%
Cappuccino
$3.30CUP 79.2
$3.33CUP 80.0
-0.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23CUP 29.58
$1.09CUP 26.09
12.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09CUP 26.04
$0.91CUP 21.88
19.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96CUP 47.09
$1.96CUP 46.97
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72CUP 41.24
$3.08CUP 74.0
-44.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bayamo
Santa Lucia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.08CUP 74.0
$1.98CUP 47.61
55.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03CUP 24.66
$1.86CUP 44.71
-44.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.96CUP 71.1
$1.46CUP 34.92
102.74%
Eggs
$3.65CUP 87.5
$3.55CUP 85.3
2.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09CUP 146
$6.24CUP 150
-2.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.14CUP 147
$5.65CUP 135
8.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.22CUP 293
$11.15CUP 268
9.60%
Apples(1kg)
$4.90CUP 118
$2.72CUP 65.2
80.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18CUP 28.31
$1.51CUP 36.24
-21.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48CUP 35.45
$2.03CUP 48.63
-27.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46CUP 35.15
$2.18CUP 52.4
-33.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94CUP 46.67
$1.94CUP 46.63
-
Onion(1kg)
$3.05CUP 73.2
$1.78CUP 42.66
71.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02CUP 24.50
$0.98CUP 23.54
4.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07CUP 25.64
$1.02CUP 24.47
4.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.89CUP 93.3
$4.11CUP 98.6
-5.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.01CUP 240
$11.89CUP 285
-15.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05CUP 49.20
$1.61CUP 38.73
27.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96CUP 47.02
$2.33CUP 55.9
-15.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Bayamo
Santa Lucia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20CUP 4.69
$0.19CUP 4.56
5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.63CUP 855
$25.31CUP 607
40.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.30CUP 55.2
$3.23CUP 77.6
-28.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41CUP 9.86
$0.41CUP 9.85
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.65CUP 472
$15.12CUP 363
29.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22CUP 29.35
$1.03CUP 24.77
18.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$74.7KCUP 1.8M
$71.2KCUP 1.7M
4.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$89.0KCUP 2.1M
$79.8KCUP 1.9M
11.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bayamo
Santa Lucia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$30.33CUP 728
$35.59CUP 854
-14.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.16CUP 244
$15.02CUP 361
-32.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$254CUP 6,085
$253CUP 6,083
0.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bayamo
Santa Lucia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.06CUP 961
$39.95CUP 959
0.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.95CUP 239
$14.73CUP 354
-32.45%
Cinema Ticket
$0.97CUP 23.35
$0.99CUP 23.69
-2.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bayamo
Santa Lucia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$96.3CUP 2,311
$165CUP 3,963
-41.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2KCUP 364.2K
$4,000CUP 96.0K
279.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bayamo
Santa Lucia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.71CUP 473
$70.6CUP 1,695
-72.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.73CUP 593
$54.7CUP 1,312
-54.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.6CUP 1,670
$100CUP 2,410
-30.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.7CUP 1,336
$104CUP 2,496
-46.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bayamo
Santa Lucia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$419CUP 10.1K
$542CUP 13.0K
-22.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680CUP 16.3K
$348CUP 8,350
95.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597CUP 14.3K
$754CUP 18.1K
-20.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$963CUP 23.1K
$490CUP 11.8K
96.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$400CUP 9,603
$336CUP 8,075
18.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$355CUP 8,529
$370CUP 8,873
-3.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bayamo
Santa Lucia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$20.02CUP 480
$55.5CUP 1,331
-63.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
4.94
21.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bayamo: June 13, 2026
Last update for Santa Lucia: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $419 in Bayamo and $542 in Santa Lucia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Lucia pays 177% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Bayamo vs $30.00 in Santa Lucia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 vs $243 per month, with Santa Lucia cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bayamo vs Santa Lucia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Lucia cheaper than Bayamo?
Santa Lucia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bayamo or Santa Lucia?
On paper, Santa Lucia earns 177% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Bayamo and Santa Lucia?
Rent for a central apartment: $419 in Bayamo versus $542 in Santa Lucia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Bayamo or Santa Lucia?
Dining out is cheaper in Santa Lucia – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $51.0 in Bayamo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Bayamo vs Santa Lucia?
All in, you'll spend $1,491 per month in Bayamo versus $1,301 in Santa Lucia – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Bayamo or Santa Lucia?
At $1,301 in Santa Lucia versus $1,491 in Bayamo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Lucia but tight or insufficient in Bayamo. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Lucia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Bayamo or Santa Lucia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Santa Lucia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Bayamo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.