For one person, living is cheaper in India: $400 a month against $1,277 in Cuba, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in India and in Cuba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $400 in India versus $1,277 in Cuba.
India $400
Cuba $1,277
Estimated couple costs with rent: $638 in India versus $1,745 in Cuba.
India $638
Cuba $1,745
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $877 in India versus $2,212 in Cuba.
India $877
Cuba $2,212
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Cuba: monthly costs span $185 to $1,549, compared to $244–$811 in India. City choice carries more weight in Cuba.
🌍
Living in India costs about 69% less than in Cuba on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: India 70% lower, Cuba 6% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
India
Cuba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.16₹204
$5.55CUP 133
-61.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.70₹1,010
$24.58CUP 590
-56.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.64₹344
$6.61CUP 159
-44.93%
Cappuccino
$1.75₹165
$1.65CUP 39.71
6.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₹39.67
$1.76CUP 42.27
-76.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.18
$1.12CUP 26.77
-86.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87₹176
$2.02CUP 48.57
-7.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13₹296
$2.41CUP 57.9
29.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Cuba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.65₹61.2
$2.82CUP 67.7
-76.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46₹43.21
$1.20CUP 28.79
-61.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.64₹60.6
$2.01CUP 48.17
-68.16%
Eggs
$0.95₹89.6
$3.30CUP 79.2
-71.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.87₹460
$5.81CUP 139
-16.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.82₹266
$5.29CUP 127
-46.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.04CUP 265
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.92₹182
$4.15CUP 99.7
-53.73%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63₹59.9
$1.12CUP 26.86
-43.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99₹93.3
$1.81CUP 43.45
-45.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48₹45.16
$1.93CUP 46.35
-75.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33₹31.41
$1.96CUP 47.03
-83.16%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₹40.02
$2.53CUP 60.7
-83.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46₹43.58
$0.98CUP 23.56
-53.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹29.38
$0.95CUP 22.71
-67.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.17₹488
$3.19CUP 76.6
62.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.56₹714
$9.67CUP 232
-21.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65₹156
$1.72CUP 41.30
-4.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66₹252
$2.21CUP 53.0
20.36%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.24₹495
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Cuba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₹22.65
$0.21CUP 5.16
14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.23₹777
$19.72CUP 473
-58.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96₹90.6
$2.24CUP 53.7
-57.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₹23.61
$0.38CUP 9.15
-34.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.54₹145
$20.11CUP 483
-92.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13₹107
$1.23CUP 29.62
-8.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.1K₹1.0M
$68.9KCUP 1.7M
-83.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₹1.9M
$74.3KCUP 1.8M
-72.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Cuba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.08₹3,598
$37.50CUP 900
1.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.53₹333
$35.07CUP 842
-89.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.95₹656
$229CUP 5,501
-96.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Cuba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.43₹1,458
$38.43CUP 922
-59.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.09₹670
$12.74CUP 306
-44.35%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13₹296
$0.98CUP 23.56
219.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Cuba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.1₹5,484
$116CUP 2,785
-49.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,158₹298.4K
$13.4KCUP 322.4K
-76.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Cuba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.69₹2,143
$46.50CUP 1,116
-51.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.44₹2,309
$35.13CUP 843
-30.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$40.02₹3,781
$72.4CUP 1,738
-44.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.67₹2,803
$72.6CUP 1,743
-59.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Cuba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$145₹13.7K
$327CUP 7,840
-55.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.8₹9,147
$456CUP 10.9K
-78.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$339₹32.0K
$858CUP 20.6K
-60.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231₹21.8K
$603CUP 14.5K
-61.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,142₹107.9K
$352CUP 8,441
224.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633₹59.8K
$344CUP 8,267
83.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Cuba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$407₹38.4K
$35.85CUP 860
1034.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.94
9.38
-4.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: November 1, 2026
Last update for Cuba: November 1, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$102 25.5%
Cuba
$241 18.9% ↑ 137%$139
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$97 24.2%
Cuba
$456 35.7% ↑ 371%$359
🍽Eating Out
India
$67 16.8%
Cuba
$111 8.7% ↑ 64.7%$43
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$53 13.1%
Cuba
$102 8% ↑ 94%$49
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$49 12.1%
Cuba
$302 23.6% ↑ 522%$253
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$22 5.4%
Cuba
$40 3.2% ↑ 86.1%$19
🚌Getting Around
India
$11 2.9%
Cuba
$25 1.9% ↑ 117%$13
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$219 25%
Cuba
$564 25.5% ↑ 157%$344
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$231 26.4%
Cuba
$603 27.3% ↑ 161%$372
🍽Eating Out
India
$183 20.9%
Cuba
$339 15.3% ↑ 84.5%$155
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$117 13.3%
Cuba
$227 10.3% ↑ 94.1%$110
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$52 5.9%
Cuba
$337 15.2% ↑ 547%$285
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$50 5.8%
Cuba
$94 4.2% ↑ 85.2%$43
🚌Getting Around
India
$23 2.7%
Cuba
$50 2.3% ↑ 114%$27
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $121 in India, $381 in Cuba. Capital cities: $278 in Delhi vs $249 in Havana.
💰National salary averages: $405 in India, $37 in Cuba. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 215% higher in Cuba.
⭐Dining out costs 155% more in Cuba.
⭐Public transport is 188% more expensive in Cuba.
⭐Salaries are about 11 times higher in India, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
India vs Cuba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Cuba compare to the cost in India?
At $1,277 per month in Cuba and $400 in India, India comes out about 69% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in Cuba vs India?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is rent more expensive in Cuba or in India?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $381 in Cuba and $121 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Which country is better for expats: Cuba or India?
It depends on what you’re after: India wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.