Cost of Living Comparison Between Mayari and Havana Cost of Living Comparison Between Mayari and Havana

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,496 in Mayari versus $976 in Havana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,897 in Mayari versus $1,540 in Havana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,298 in Mayari versus $2,104 in Havana.

Living in Mayari is roughly 53% more expensive than in Havana, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mayari is 12% above, Havana is 27% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mayari
Havana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.07 CUP 146
$3.71 CUP 89.0
63.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.63 CUP 471
$29.50 CUP 708
-33.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.44 CUP 155
$6.67 CUP 160
-3.45%
Cappuccino
$1.33 CUP 31.96
$1.18 CUP 28.38
12.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 CUP 51.3
$2.26 CUP 54.1
-5.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 CUP 29.19
$1.46 CUP 35.04
-16.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.51 CUP 60.2
$2.05 CUP 49.10
22.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 CUP 70.1
$2.56 CUP 61.3
14.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mayari
Havana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.89 CUP 69.3
$3.27 CUP 78.5
-11.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 CUP 18.87
$1.05 CUP 25.16
-24.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.54 CUP 61.0
$2.41 CUP 57.9
5.39%
Eggs
$3.06 CUP 73.4
$3.64 CUP 87.4
-15.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.89 CUP 141
$5.05 CUP 121
16.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.36 CUP 129
$5.31 CUP 127
0.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.86 CUP 285
$9.49 CUP 228
24.97%
Apples (1kg)
$4.87 CUP 117
$4.89 CUP 117
-0.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 CUP 28.16
$1.36 CUP 32.72
-13.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 CUP 34.54
$2.54 CUP 61.0
-43.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 CUP 35.72
$1.72 CUP 41.33
-13.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 CUP 45.07
$2.83 CUP 67.9
-33.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 CUP 69.8
$2.90 CUP 69.6
0.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 CUP 24.53
$0.98 CUP 23.55
4.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 CUP 27.11
$1.13 CUP 27.18
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.54 CUP 85.0
$4.08 CUP 97.9
-13.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.89 CUP 237
$4.04 CUP 97.0
144.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 CUP 42.70
$2.02 CUP 48.41
-11.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 CUP 47.29
$2.00 CUP 47.96
-1.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Mayari
Havana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 CUP 4.69
$1.27 CUP 30.46
-84.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.22 CUP 485
$25.17 CUP 604
-19.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.32 CUP 55.6
$3.15 CUP 75.5
-26.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 CUP 9.26
$0.51 CUP 12.34
-23.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.72 CUP 473
$14.87 CUP 357
32.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 CUP 29.65
$1.22 CUP 29.36
1.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$70.0K CUP 1.7M
$58.8K CUP 1.4M
18.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$79.5K CUP 1.9M
$67.6K CUP 1.6M
17.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mayari
Havana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.37 CUP 849
$37.01 CUP 888
-4.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.17 CUP 964
$40.52 CUP 972
-0.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$251 CUP 6,021
$76.1 CUP 1,827
229.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mayari
Havana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.34 CUP 968
$41.10 CUP 986
-1.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78 CUP 355
$6.06 CUP 145
143.89%
Cinema Ticket
$1.02 CUP 24.43
$0.82 CUP 19.68
24.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mayari
Havana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$117 CUP 2,815
$111 CUP 2,666
5.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K CUP 419.3K
$10.0K CUP 240.3K
74.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mayari
Havana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 CUP 1,327
$39.17 CUP 940
41.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.62 CUP 975
$33.79 CUP 811
20.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.47 CUP 1,091
$75.8 CUP 1,818
-39.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.8 CUP 1,220
$84.3 CUP 2,023
-39.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mayari
Havana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$210 CUP 5,034
$365 CUP 8,750
-42.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 CUP 16.3K
$287 CUP 6,893
136.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$386 CUP 9,253
$1,040 CUP 25.0K
-62.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$694 CUP 16.7K
$601 CUP 14.4K
15.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$403 CUP 9,660
$327 CUP 7,853
23.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$349 CUP 8,368
$405 CUP 9,718
-13.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mayari
Havana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$21.74 CUP 522
$31.89 CUP 765
-31.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
7.43
34.59%

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

Last update for Mayari: July 12, 2026

Last update for Havana: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $210 in Mayari and $365 in Havana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Havana pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Mayari vs $30.00 in Havana. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $243, with Havana cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mayari vs Havana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mayari and in Havana?
Mayari and Havana differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($1,496 vs $976 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, salaries run 47% lower in Havana. 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 Mayari and in Havana?
Rent for a central apartment: $210 in Mayari versus $365 in Havana. 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 $20.00 in Mayari. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mayari or Havana?
All in, you'll spend $1,496 per month in Mayari versus $976 in Havana – a 53% 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 $976 in Havana versus $1,496 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 Mayari and Havana?
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: Mayari or Havana?
Expats usually find Havana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Mayari. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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