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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Cayo Coco versus $1,345 in Varadero.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,691 in Cayo Coco versus $1,764 in Varadero.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,177 in Cayo Coco versus $2,183 in Varadero.

Living in Cayo Coco costs roughly 10% less than in Varadero, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cayo Coco 13% lower, Varadero 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.86 CUP 117

$4.40 CUP 106

10.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.97 CUP 359

$19.65 CUP 472

-23.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.85 CUP 164

$6.90 CUP 166

-0.72%

Cappuccino

$1.02 CUP 24.51

$1.55 CUP 37.31

-34.19%

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

$2.02 CUP 48.57

$2.00 CUP 48.11

1.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 CUP 23.62

$0.91 CUP 21.96

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 CUP 47.01

$2.57 CUP 61.7

-23.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 CUP 70.7

$3.49 CUP 83.7

-15.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.91 CUP 69.9

$2.95 CUP 70.7

-1.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 CUP 24.42

$1.51 CUP 36.15

-32.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 CUP 49.09

$1.45 CUP 34.77

41.38%

Eggs

$3.69 CUP 88.6

$2.15 CUP 51.5

71.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.83 CUP 140

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 CUP 123

$4.54 CUP 109

13.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.15 CUP 243

$11.67 CUP 280

-13.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.90 CUP 118

$3.41 CUP 81.7

43.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 CUP 24.72

$1.01 CUP 24.13

1.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 CUP 24.61

$1.57 CUP 37.64

-34.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 CUP 23.63

$1.60 CUP 38.43

-38.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 CUP 23.61

$2.14 CUP 51.5

-54.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 CUP 72.8

$3.89 CUP 93.4

-22.11%

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

$0.57 CUP 13.80

71.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 CUP 73.8

$3.78 CUP 90.8

-18.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 CUP 236

$5.55 CUP 133

77.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 CUP 48.83

$0.89 CUP 21.37

128.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 CUP 47.09

$2.10 CUP 50.4

-6.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 CUP 2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.29 CUP 487

$15.38 CUP 369

31.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 CUP 24.51

$1.98 CUP 47.48

-48.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 CUP 24.27

$1.02 CUP 24.36

-0.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.34 CUP 488

$20.04 CUP 481

1.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 CUP 23.46

$1.33 CUP 31.93

-26.32%

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

$69.4K CUP 1.7M

$70.0K CUP 1.7M

-0.99%

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

$78.7K CUP 1.9M

$79.5K CUP 1.9M

-1.05%

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

$40.14 CUP 963

$40.56 CUP 973

-1.04%

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

$39.72 CUP 953

$39.41 CUP 946

0.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$219 CUP 5,268

$220 CUP 5,269

-0.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.25 CUP 942

$39.82 CUP 956

-1.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.19 CUP 245

$14.85 CUP 356

-31.38%

Cinema Ticket

$1.03 CUP 24.66

$1.01 CUP 24.34

1.98%

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

$91.3 CUP 2,192

$91.7 CUP 2,201

-0.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K CUP 356.9K

$14.7K CUP 353.3K

1.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.44 CUP 970

$39.25 CUP 942

3.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.62 CUP 711

$30.25 CUP 726

-2.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 CUP 1,765

$74.5 CUP 1,788

-1.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 CUP 1,925

$84.9 CUP 2,038

-5.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$407 CUP 9,762

$508 CUP 12.2K

-19.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 CUP 10.1K

$568 CUP 13.6K

-26.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 CUP 25.2K

$1,186 CUP 28.5K

-11.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$614 CUP 14.7K

$646 CUP 15.5K

-4.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$304 CUP 7,297

$390 CUP 9,363

-22.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$345 CUP 8,286

$356 CUP 8,555

-3.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$20.09 CUP 482

$19.05 CUP 457

5.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-33.33%

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

Last update for Cayo Coco: September 7, 2026

Last update for Varadero: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $407 in Cayo Coco and $508 in Varadero. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cayo Coco pays 5% 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 $20.00 in Varadero. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $215, with Varadero 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 Varadero: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cayo Coco wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Varadero. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cayo Coco the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Cayo Coco, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $407 in Cayo Coco versus $508 in Varadero. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Cayo Coco runs roughly 32% less than in Varadero. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $91.3 in Cayo Coco versus $91.7 in Varadero. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,205 in Cayo Coco versus $1,345 in Varadero, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cayo Coco but tight or insufficient in Varadero. The gap between the two cities makes Cayo Coco 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 Cayo Coco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Varadero. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.