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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $64.1 in Santiago de Cuba versus $1,541 in Mayari.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $105 in Santiago de Cuba versus $1,934 in Mayari.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $146 in Santiago de Cuba versus $2,327 in Mayari.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Santiago de Cuba is 95% below, Mayari is 15% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.85 CUP 140

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.67 CUP 472

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.59 CUP 158

Cappuccino

$1.29 CUP 30.92

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

$2.17 CUP 52.2

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 CUP 29.25

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 CUP 59.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 CUP 71.7

Milk (1 liter)

$3.82 CUP 91.7

$2.98 CUP 71.6

28.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 CUP 18.85

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 CUP 58.5

Eggs

$2.07 CUP 49.74

$3.04 CUP 72.9

-31.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.88 CUP 141

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 CUP 128

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.85 CUP 284

Apples (1kg)

$5.10 CUP 123

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 CUP 29.40

Oranges (1kg)

$1.37 CUP 32.84

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 CUP 34.39

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 CUP 44.94

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CUP 68.0

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 CUP 24.31

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 CUP 25.66

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.58 CUP 86.0

Wine (Bottle)

$10.12 CUP 243

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 CUP 59.7

$1.71 CUP 40.99

45.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 CUP 59.7

$1.90 CUP 45.52

31.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 CUP 5.40

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.07 CUP 482

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.30 CUP 55.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 CUP 9.34

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.91 CUP 478

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 CUP 30.40

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

$68.6K CUP 1.6M

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

$80.7K CUP 1.9M

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

$34.59 CUP 830

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

$39.78 CUP 955

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$248 CUP 5,959

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.91 CUP 958

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.17 CUP 364

Cinema Ticket

$1.02 CUP 24.54

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

$116 CUP 2,788

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K CUP 428.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 CUP 1,330

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 CUP 959

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.34 CUP 1,064

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.19 CUP 1,181

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$215 CUP 5,151

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$682 CUP 16.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 CUP 14.2K

$382 CUP 9,165

55.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$681 CUP 16.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$390 CUP 9,365

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$357 CUP 8,556

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$21.99 CUP 528

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 Mayari: June 6, 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 Mayari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago de Cuba wins on cost – living expenses run 2303% lower than in Mayari. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santiago de Cuba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $96.2 in Santiago de Cuba and $2,312 in Mayari 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 285% higher in Mayari. 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 $1,541 in Mayari – a 2303% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $64.1 in Santiago de Cuba versus $1,541 in Mayari, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santiago de Cuba but tight or insufficient in Mayari. 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 2303% less than in Mayari. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.