Cost of Living Comparison Between Bayamo and Santiago de Cuba Cost of Living Comparison Between Bayamo and Santiago de Cuba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,495 in Bayamo versus $62.4 in Santiago de Cuba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,066 in Bayamo versus $105 in Santiago de Cuba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,638 in Bayamo versus $147 in Santiago de Cuba.

Living in Bayamo is roughly 2296% more expensive than Santiago de Cuba, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bayamo is 12% above, Santiago de Cuba is 95% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.22 CUP 77.3

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.1 CUP 1,202

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.76 CUP 162

Cappuccino

$3.18 CUP 76.3

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 CUP 30.52

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 CUP 26.66

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 CUP 48.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CUP 42.91

Milk (1 liter)

$2.93 CUP 70.3

$3.90 CUP 93.7

-24.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 CUP 23.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 CUP 70.5

Eggs

$3.55 CUP 85.3

$1.99 CUP 47.67

78.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.89 CUP 141

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 CUP 143

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.09 CUP 290

Apples (1kg)

$5.12 CUP 123

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CUP 28.38

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 CUP 36.86

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 CUP 36.68

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 CUP 47.51

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 CUP 70.9

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 CUP 23.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 CUP 26.80

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 CUP 93.8

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 CUP 239

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CUP 46.77

$2.47 CUP 59.4

-21.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CUP 47.51

$2.53 CUP 60.8

-21.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 CUP 5.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.35 CUP 824

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 CUP 54.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 CUP 9.17

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.73 CUP 473

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CUP 29.23

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$74.3K CUP 1.8M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$90.9K CUP 2.2M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$30.16 CUP 724

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.95 CUP 239

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$249 CUP 5,977

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.90 CUP 958

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.08 CUP 242

Cinema Ticket

$1.02 CUP 24.57

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$93.2 CUP 2,236

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K CUP 361.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.05 CUP 481

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 CUP 608

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.4 CUP 1,713

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 CUP 1,337

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$420 CUP 10.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 CUP 15.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 CUP 14.4K

$599 CUP 14.4K

0.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$962 CUP 23.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$389 CUP 9,344

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$347 CUP 8,326

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$20.22 CUP 485

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bayamo: April 25, 2026

Last update for Santiago de Cuba: April 28, 2026

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 Santiago de Cuba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago de Cuba is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 2296% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,243 in Bayamo and $93.6 in Santiago de Cuba to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 301% higher in Bayamo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,495 per month in Bayamo versus $62.4 in Santiago de Cuba – a 2296% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $62.4 in Santiago de Cuba versus $1,495 in Bayamo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santiago de Cuba but tight or insufficient in Bayamo. The gap between the two cities makes Santiago de Cuba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Santiago de Cuba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2296% less than in Bayamo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.