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