Cost of Living Comparison Between Havana and Vila Real Cost of Living Comparison Between Havana and Vila Real

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $964 in Havana versus $1,281 in Vila Real.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,538 in Havana versus $1,856 in Vila Real.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,112 in Havana versus $2,431 in Vila Real.

Living in Havana costs roughly 25% less than in Vila Real, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Havana 28% lower, Vila Real 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Havana
Vila Real
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.71 CUP 89.0
$9.41 €8.10
-60.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.74 CUP 714
$29.37 €25.27
1.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.47 CUP 155
$8.20 €7.05
-21.10%
Cappuccino
$1.24 CUP 29.75
$1.13 €0.97
9.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 CUP 53.4
$1.72 €1.48
29.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 CUP 36.56
$1.18 €1.02
28.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.01 CUP 48.25
$2.36 €2.03
-14.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 CUP 59.1
$1.66 €1.42
48.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Havana
Vila Real
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.36 CUP 80.7
$1.00 €0.86
236.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.07 CUP 25.70
$1.45 €1.25
-26.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 CUP 56.4
$1.26 €1.08
86.51%
Eggs
$3.56 CUP 85.5
$2.72 €2.34
30.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.93 CUP 118
$10.69 €9.20
-53.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.29 CUP 127
$8.06 €6.94
-34.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.56 CUP 229
$13.89 €11.95
-31.17%
Apples (1kg)
$5.03 CUP 121
$1.75 €1.51
187.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 CUP 33.13
$1.38 €1.19
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.42 CUP 58.2
$1.59 €1.37
52.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.69 CUP 40.54
$2.57 €2.21
-34.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 CUP 67.4
$1.37 €1.18
105.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 CUP 66.5
$1.79 €1.54
54.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 CUP 24.57
$1.53 €1.31
-33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 CUP 27.35
$0.43 €0.37
165.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 CUP 93.6
$6.05 €5.20
-35.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.97 CUP 95.3
$4.51 €3.88
-11.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 CUP 50.2
$1.10 €0.95
90.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 CUP 46.22
$2.09 €1.80
-7.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Havana
Vila Real
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 CUP 30.74
$1.30 €1.11
-1.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.77 CUP 595
$25.23 €21.70
-1.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 CUP 75.0
$4.50 €3.87
-30.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 CUP 11.53
$1.21 €1.04
-60.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.13 CUP 363
$14.56 €12.53
3.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 CUP 30.30
$1.92 €1.65
-34.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$60.5K CUP 1.5M
$32.9K €28.3K
83.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$66.9K CUP 1.6M
$39.6K €34.1K
68.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Havana
Vila Real
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.68 CUP 904
$134 €115
-71.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.35 CUP 968
$17.15 €14.75
135.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.3 CUP 1,782
$42.70 €36.73
73.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Havana
Vila Real
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.12 CUP 963
$33.59 €28.90
19.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.12 CUP 147
$10.37 €8.92
-40.98%
Cinema Ticket
$0.88 CUP 21.16
$8.42 €7.24
-89.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Havana
Vila Real
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$114 CUP 2,741
$454 €391
-74.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K CUP 242.3K
$8,344 €7,178
21.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Havana
Vila Real
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.14 CUP 963
$75.0 €64.5
-46.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.68 CUP 808
$31.96 €27.49
5.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.1 CUP 1,802
$93.8 €80.7
-19.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.5 CUP 2,027
$79.6 €68.4
6.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Havana
Vila Real
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$371 CUP 8,905
$684 €589
-45.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$291 CUP 6,982
$495 €426
-41.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 CUP 24.3K
$1,022 €879
-0.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$596 CUP 14.3K
$790 €679
-24.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$335 CUP 8,037
$1,807 €1,555
-81.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$406 CUP 9,742
$1,371 €1,179
-70.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Havana
Vila Real
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$33.02 CUP 792
$1,126 €968
-97.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.43
5.43
36.83%

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

Last update for Havana: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vila Real: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $371 in Havana and $684 in Vila Real. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vila Real pays 3310% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Havana vs $29.00 in Vila Real for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $228 per month, with Vila Real 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
Havana vs Vila Real: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Havana and Vila Real?
Havana and Vila Real differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($964 vs $1,281 including rent). Havana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Vila Real earns 3310% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Havana and Vila Real?
Rent for a central apartment: $371 in Havana versus $684 in Vila Real. 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 $30.00 versus $29.00 in Vila Real. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Havana or Vila Real?
All in, you'll spend $964 per month in Havana versus $1,281 in Vila Real – a 33% 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 $964 in Havana versus $1,281 in Vila Real, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Havana but tight or insufficient in Vila Real. 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 Vila Real?
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.
Is Havana or Vila Real safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Havana and Vila Real are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Havana or Vila Real?
Expats usually find Havana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Vila Real. 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