Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago de Cuba and Bayamo Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago de Cuba and Bayamo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $64.1 in Santiago de Cuba versus $1,472 in Bayamo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $105 in Santiago de Cuba versus $2,066 in Bayamo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $146 in Santiago de Cuba versus $2,660 in Bayamo.

Living in Santiago de Cuba costs roughly 96% less than in Bayamo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Santiago de Cuba is 95% below, Bayamo is 10% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 CUP 77.2

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.26 CUP 1,182

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 CUP 167

Cappuccino

$3.16 CUP 75.8

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 CUP 29.28

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 CUP 25.72

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 CUP 49.42

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CUP 41.26

Milk (1 liter)

$3.82 CUP 91.7

$3.03 CUP 72.8

26.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 CUP 24.70

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.98 CUP 71.5

Eggs

$2.07 CUP 49.74

$3.65 CUP 87.5

-43.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.83 CUP 140

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.99 CUP 144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.81 CUP 283

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 CUP 117

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CUP 28.32

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 CUP 36.75

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 CUP 35.36

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 CUP 47.67

Onion (1kg)

$3.07 CUP 73.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 CUP 24.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 CUP 25.78

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 CUP 94.9

Wine (Bottle)

$9.90 CUP 238

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 CUP 59.7

$2.02 CUP 48.60

23.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 CUP 59.7

$2.04 CUP 49.01

22.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 CUP 4.69

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.53 CUP 829

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 CUP 55.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 CUP 10.03

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.87 CUP 477

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 CUP 30.73

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$73.9K CUP 1.8M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$91.0K CUP 2.2M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$29.73 CUP 713

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.87 CUP 237

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$251 CUP 6,033

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.62 CUP 951

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.04 CUP 241

Cinema Ticket

$1.01 CUP 24.27

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$94.9 CUP 2,277

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K CUP 357.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.84 CUP 476

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.58 CUP 590

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.5 CUP 1,667

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.3 CUP 1,303

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$422 CUP 10.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$672 CUP 16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 CUP 14.2K

0.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$958 CUP 23.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$397 CUP 9,532

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$345 CUP 8,274

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$19.79 CUP 475

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Santiago de Cuba: June 6, 2026

Last update for Bayamo: June 7, 2026

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

Santiago de Cuba vs Bayamo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago de Cuba is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 2196% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $96.2 in Santiago de Cuba and $2,208 in Bayamo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 304% higher in Bayamo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $64.1 per month in Santiago de Cuba versus $1,472 in Bayamo – a 2196% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $64.1 in Santiago de Cuba versus $1,472 in Bayamo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santiago de Cuba but tight or insufficient in Bayamo. The gap between the two cities makes Santiago de Cuba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Santiago de Cuba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2196% less than in Bayamo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.