Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Havana and Mayari

For one person, living is cheaper in Havana: $860 a month against $1,517 in Mayari, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Havana
🇨🇺 Cuba
$860
/mo nomad
Mayari
🇨🇺 Cuba
$1,517
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Havana and in Mayari

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Havana and in Mayari actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $860 in Havana versus $1,517 in Mayari.

  • Havana $860
  • Mayari $1,517

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,388 in Havana versus $2,433 in Mayari.

  • Havana $1,388
  • Mayari $2,433

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,916 in Havana versus $3,349 in Mayari.

  • Havana $1,916
  • Mayari $3,349

Living in Havana costs roughly 43% less than in Mayari, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

The two cities straddle the global median: Havana is 36% below, Mayari is 12% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Havana
Mayari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.59 CUP 86.3
$5.92 CUP 142
-39.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.63 CUP 663
$20.37 CUP 489
35.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.88 CUP 117
$6.65 CUP 160
-26.62%
Cappuccino
$1.06 CUP 25.42
$1.28 CUP 30.63
-17.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 CUP 36.33
$2.23 CUP 53.5
-32.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 CUP 23.80
$1.22 CUP 29.29
-18.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.24 CUP 29.66
$2.46 CUP 59.0
-49.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 CUP 49.10
$3.01 CUP 72.4
-31.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Havana
Mayari
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.68 CUP 64.3
$3.00 CUP 71.9
-10.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 CUP 29.26
$0.84 CUP 20.13
45.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 CUP 42.35
$2.53 CUP 60.7
-30.43%
Eggs
$3.50 CUP 83.9
$3.16 CUP 75.8
10.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.52 CUP 108
$5.90 CUP 142
-23.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.66 CUP 112
$5.20 CUP 125
-10.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.56 CUP 205
$12.12 CUP 291
-29.37%
Apples (1kg)
$6.20 CUP 149
$5.14 CUP 123
20.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 CUP 24.55
$1.22 CUP 29.34
-16.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.83 CUP 92.0
$1.44 CUP 34.58
165.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 CUP 53.8
$1.41 CUP 33.77
58.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 CUP 70.2
$1.89 CUP 45.35
55.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 CUP 65.7
$2.78 CUP 66.7
-1.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 CUP 17.33
$1.01 CUP 24.36
-28.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 CUP 13.60
$1.12 CUP 26.94
-49.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.61 CUP 38.72
$3.57 CUP 85.7
-54.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.37 CUP 129
$10.05 CUP 241
-46.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 CUP 42.38
$1.71 CUP 41.10
3.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 CUP 49.30
$1.89 CUP 45.47
8.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Havana
Mayari
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 CUP 15.17
$0.23 CUP 5.45
173.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.13 CUP 531
$20.15 CUP 484
9.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 CUP 63.1
$2.22 CUP 53.3
18.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 CUP 7.98
$0.39 CUP 9.31
-15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.63 CUP 471
$19.87 CUP 477
-1.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 CUP 30.50
$1.22 CUP 29.18
4.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$60.4K CUP 1.5M
$70.6K CUP 1.7M
-14.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$59.1K CUP 1.4M
$79.9K CUP 1.9M
-26.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Havana
Mayari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.62 CUP 1,119
$35.60 CUP 854
30.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.24 CUP 942
$40.33 CUP 968
-2.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.3 CUP 2,144
$250 CUP 6,011
-64.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Havana
Mayari
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.35 CUP 392
$40.19 CUP 965
-59.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.84 CUP 308
$15.20 CUP 365
-15.53%
Cinema Ticket
$0.83 CUP 19.99
$1.03 CUP 24.69
-19.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Havana
Mayari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$156 CUP 3,752
$118 CUP 2,823
32.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K CUP 298.9K
$17.5K CUP 420.1K
-28.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Havana
Mayari
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2 CUP 1,253
$54.6 CUP 1,309
-4.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.71 CUP 1,001
$40.66 CUP 976
2.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 CUP 1,919
$45.83 CUP 1,100
74.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.6 CUP 1,623
$50.8 CUP 1,218
33.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Havana
Mayari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$246 CUP 5,911
$212 CUP 5,085
16.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$219 CUP 5,245
$674 CUP 16.2K
-67.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$872 CUP 20.9K
$378 CUP 9,070
130.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$508 CUP 12.2K
$1,736 CUP 41.7K
-70.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$314 CUP 7,545
$402 CUP 9,640
-21.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$407 CUP 9,762
$345 CUP 8,280
17.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Havana
Mayari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$29.60 CUP 710
$21.67 CUP 520
36.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.1
10
-9.00%

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

Last update for Havana: October 10, 2026

Last update for Mayari: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Havana
$234
Mayari
$248 6.2% $14
Accommodation & Living
Havana
$219
Mayari
$674 209% $456
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Havana
$175
Mayari
$326 86.3% $151
Clothing & Footwear
Havana
$109
Mayari
$86 20.6% $22
Eating Out
Havana
$76
Mayari
$115 50.2% $38
Getting Around
Havana
$29
Mayari
$25 12.9% $3.7
Sport & Entertainment
Havana
$18
Mayari
$42 135% $24

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Havana and $212 in Mayari. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Havana pays 37% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $28.00 in Havana vs $20.00 in Mayari. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $248, with Havana cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇺 Havana
🇨🇺 Mayari
🕒 Local time
11:47 11:47 AM
11:47 11:47 AM
Same time as Havana
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,141,993 Capital
29,259
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CUP – Cuban Peso Converter

Cuban Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 24 CUP (100 CUP = 4.17 USD). 1 EUR = 26.98 CUP (100 CUP = 3.71 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Havana Mayari 740 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Havana
  • Mayari

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Havana vs Mayari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Havana and in Mayari?
Havana and Mayari differ by about 77% in total monthly costs ($860 vs $1,517 including rent). Havana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Havana or Mayari?
Average pay runs 37% higher in Havana, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Havana and in Mayari?
Rent for a central apartment: $246 in Havana versus $212 in Mayari. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Havana – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $20.00 in Mayari. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Havana or Mayari?
All in, you'll spend $860 per month in Havana versus $1,517 in Mayari – a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $860 in Havana versus $1,517 in Mayari, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Havana but tight or insufficient in Mayari. The gap between the two cities makes Havana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Havana and Mayari?
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.
Where should expats move: Havana or Mayari?
Expats usually find Havana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Mayari. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Havana vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?