Cost of Living Comparison Between Cayo Coco and Cienfuegos Cost of Living Comparison Between Cayo Coco and Cienfuegos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Cayo Coco versus $1,184 in Cienfuegos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,691 in Cayo Coco versus $1,710 in Cienfuegos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,177 in Cayo Coco versus $2,235 in Cienfuegos.

Living in Cayo Coco is roughly 2% more expensive than in Cienfuegos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cayo Coco 13% lower, Cienfuegos 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.86 CUP 117

$9.81 CUP 235

-50.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.97 CUP 359

$31.31 CUP 751

-52.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.85 CUP 164

$6.09 CUP 146

12.48%

Cappuccino

$1.02 CUP 24.51

$2.34 CUP 56.1

-56.41%

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

$2.02 CUP 48.57

$5.01 CUP 120

-59.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 CUP 23.62

$1.05 CUP 25.20

-6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 CUP 47.01

$0.98 CUP 23.48

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 CUP 70.7

Milk (1 liter)

$2.91 CUP 69.9

$1.95 CUP 46.77

49.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 CUP 24.42

$0.72 CUP 17.39

41.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 CUP 49.09

$1.53 CUP 36.83

33.99%

Eggs

$3.69 CUP 88.6

$3.77 CUP 90.5

-2.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.83 CUP 140

$3.96 CUP 95.1

47.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 CUP 123

$3.55 CUP 85.3

44.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.15 CUP 243

$6.98 CUP 167

45.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.90 CUP 118

$4.49 CUP 108

9.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 CUP 24.72

$1.16 CUP 27.83

-11.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 CUP 24.61

$1.36 CUP 32.70

-24.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 CUP 23.63

$1.66 CUP 39.79

-40.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 CUP 23.61

$1.60 CUP 38.29

-38.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 CUP 72.8

$1.97 CUP 47.16

53.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 CUP 23.59

$0.71 CUP 17.10

38.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 CUP 23.57

$0.77 CUP 18.57

27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 CUP 73.8

$2.42 CUP 58.0

27.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 CUP 236

$6.76 CUP 162

45.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 CUP 48.83

$1.87 CUP 44.80

8.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 CUP 47.09

$1.93 CUP 46.22

1.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 CUP 8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.29 CUP 487

$19.82 CUP 476

2.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 CUP 24.51

$1.02 CUP 24.40

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 CUP 24.27

$0.52 CUP 12.56

94.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.34 CUP 488

$13.76 CUP 330

47.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 CUP 23.46

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

$69.4K CUP 1.7M

$49.5K CUP 1.2M

39.99%

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

$78.7K CUP 1.9M

$63.0K CUP 1.5M

24.96%

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

$40.14 CUP 963

$34.40 CUP 826

16.69%

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

$39.72 CUP 953

$39.28 CUP 943

1.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$219 CUP 5,268

$254 CUP 6,102

-13.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.25 CUP 942

$39.71 CUP 953

-1.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.19 CUP 245

$9.86 CUP 237

3.35%

Cinema Ticket

$1.03 CUP 24.66

$1.02 CUP 24.55

0.98%

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

$91.3 CUP 2,192

$109 CUP 2,620

-16.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K CUP 356.9K

$10.1K CUP 241.7K

47.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.44 CUP 970

$35.07 CUP 842

15.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.62 CUP 711

$27.02 CUP 648

9.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 CUP 1,765

$57.8 CUP 1,388

27.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 CUP 1,925

$53.4 CUP 1,282

50.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$407 CUP 9,762

$354 CUP 8,500

14.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 CUP 10.1K

$363 CUP 8,722

15.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 CUP 25.2K

$1,022 CUP 24.5K

2.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$614 CUP 14.7K

$605 CUP 14.5K

1.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$304 CUP 7,297

$343 CUP 8,225

-11.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$345 CUP 8,286

$242 CUP 5,804

42.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$20.09 CUP 482

$37.81 CUP 908

-46.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

49.93%

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

Last update for Cayo Coco: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cienfuegos: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $407 in Cayo Coco and $354 in Cienfuegos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cienfuegos pays 88% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Cayo Coco vs $31.00 in Cienfuegos. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $189, with Cienfuegos cheaper for home cooking.

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

Cayo Coco vs Cienfuegos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cienfuegos wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Cayo Coco. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cienfuegos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 88% lower in Cienfuegos. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $407 in Cayo Coco versus $354 in Cienfuegos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Cienfuegos runs roughly 2% less than in Cayo Coco. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $91.3 in Cayo Coco versus $109 in Cienfuegos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,184 in Cienfuegos versus $1,205 in Cayo Coco, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cienfuegos but tight or insufficient in Cayo Coco. The gap between the two cities makes Cienfuegos 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 Cienfuegos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Cayo Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.