🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,276 in Santa Lucia versus $1,472 in Bayamo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,795 in Santa Lucia versus $2,066 in Bayamo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,315 in Santa Lucia versus $2,660 in Bayamo.
🙂Living in Santa Lucia costs roughly 13% less than in Bayamo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Santa Lucia is 5% below, Bayamo is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Lucia
Bayamo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.82CUP 236
$3.21CUP 77.2
205.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.44CUP 730
$49.26CUP 1,182
-38.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.79CUP 163
$6.95CUP 167
-2.30%
Cappuccino
$3.33CUP 79.9
$3.16CUP 75.8
5.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12CUP 26.83
$1.22CUP 29.28
-8.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87CUP 20.99
$1.07CUP 25.72
-18.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.94CUP 46.65
$2.06CUP 49.42
-5.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02CUP 72.6
$1.72CUP 41.26
75.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Lucia
Bayamo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91CUP 45.95
$3.03CUP 72.8
-36.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.87CUP 44.99
$1.03CUP 24.70
81.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51CUP 36.34
$2.98CUP 71.5
-49.33%
Eggs
$3.77CUP 90.4
$3.65CUP 87.5
3.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.26CUP 150
$5.83CUP 140
7.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.73CUP 137
$5.99CUP 144
-4.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09CUP 266
$11.81CUP 283
-6.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75CUP 66.1
$4.88CUP 117
-43.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59CUP 38.11
$1.18CUP 28.32
34.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07CUP 49.60
$1.53CUP 36.75
35.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27CUP 54.5
$1.47CUP 35.36
54.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99CUP 47.64
$1.99CUP 47.67
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.76CUP 42.25
$3.07CUP 73.7
-42.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98CUP 23.48
$1.02CUP 24.60
-3.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01CUP 24.26
$1.07CUP 25.78
-5.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06CUP 97.4
$3.95CUP 94.9
2.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.98CUP 288
$9.90CUP 238
21.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69CUP 40.57
$2.02CUP 48.60
-16.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37CUP 56.9
$2.04CUP 49.01
16.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Lucia
Bayamo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21CUP 5.15
$0.20CUP 4.69
5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.97CUP 599
$34.53CUP 829
-27.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.29CUP 79.0
$2.33CUP 55.8
41.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42CUP 10.06
$0.42CUP 10.03
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.28CUP 367
$19.87CUP 477
-23.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08CUP 25.91
$1.28CUP 30.73
-15.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$69.6KCUP 1.7M
$73.9KCUP 1.8M
-5.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$81.4KCUP 2.0M
$91.0KCUP 2.2M
-10.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Lucia
Bayamo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.90CUP 838
$29.73CUP 713
17.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.90CUP 358
$9.87CUP 237
50.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$250CUP 6,009
$251CUP 6,033
-0.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Lucia
Bayamo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.68CUP 952
$39.62CUP 951
0.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.83CUP 356
$10.04CUP 241
47.71%
Cinema Ticket
$1.03CUP 24.67
$1.01CUP 24.27
1.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Lucia
Bayamo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163CUP 3,909
$94.9CUP 2,277
71.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,920CUP 94.1K
$14.9KCUP 357.4K
-73.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Lucia
Bayamo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9CUP 1,677
$19.84CUP 476
252.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.0CUP 1,296
$24.58CUP 590
119.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1CUP 2,378
$69.5CUP 1,667
42.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103CUP 2,470
$54.3CUP 1,303
89.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Lucia
Bayamo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$552CUP 13.2K
$422CUP 10.1K
30.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349CUP 8,370
$672CUP 16.1K
-48.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$760CUP 18.2K
$592CUP 14.2K
28.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$499CUP 12.0K
$958CUP 23.0K
-47.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$339CUP 8,139
$397CUP 9,532
-14.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$381CUP 9,132
$345CUP 8,274
10.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Lucia
Bayamo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$56.0CUP 1,345
$19.79CUP 475
183.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.94
6
-17.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Lucia: June 8, 2026
Last update for Bayamo: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $552 in Santa Lucia and $422 in Bayamo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Lucia pays 183% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $30.00 in Santa Lucia vs $49.00 in Bayamo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $245 vs $258 per month, with Santa Lucia 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
Santa Lucia vs Bayamo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bayamo cheaper than Santa Lucia?
Santa Lucia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Santa Lucia or Bayamo?
Santa Lucia pays 183% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Santa Lucia and Bayamo?
Rent for a central apartment: $552 in Santa Lucia versus $422 in Bayamo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Santa Lucia or Bayamo?
Dining out is cheaper in Santa Lucia – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $49.00 in Bayamo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Santa Lucia vs Bayamo?
All in, you'll spend $1,276 per month in Santa Lucia versus $1,472 in Bayamo – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Santa Lucia or Bayamo?
At $1,276 in Santa Lucia versus $1,472 in Bayamo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Lucia but tight or insufficient in Bayamo. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Lucia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Santa Lucia or Bayamo?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Santa Lucia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Bayamo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Santa Lucia vs other spots: cost of living compared