Cost of Living Comparison Between Varadero and Bayamo Cost of Living Comparison Between Varadero and Bayamo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,345 in Varadero versus $1,448 in Bayamo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,764 in Varadero versus $1,984 in Bayamo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,183 in Varadero versus $2,519 in Bayamo.

Living in Varadero costs roughly 7% less than in Bayamo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Varadero is 2% below, Bayamo is 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 CUP 106

$3.21 CUP 77.1

37.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.65 CUP 472

$30.75 CUP 738

-36.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 CUP 166

$6.78 CUP 163

1.77%

Cappuccino

$1.55 CUP 37.31

$2.17 CUP 52.1

-28.57%

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

$2.00 CUP 48.11

$1.28 CUP 30.64

56.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 CUP 21.96

$1.06 CUP 25.56

-14.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 CUP 61.7

$1.96 CUP 46.97

31.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 CUP 83.7

$1.78 CUP 42.67

96.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.95 CUP 70.7

$2.51 CUP 60.2

17.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 CUP 36.15

$0.97 CUP 23.37

55.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 CUP 34.77

$2.44 CUP 58.5

-40.57%

Eggs

$2.15 CUP 51.5

$4.32 CUP 104

-50.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.83 CUP 140

$4.47 CUP 107

30.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 CUP 109

$6.31 CUP 152

-28.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.67 CUP 280

$9.40 CUP 226

24.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 CUP 81.7

$7.33 CUP 176

-53.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 CUP 24.13

$1.22 CUP 29.32

-17.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 CUP 37.64

$1.22 CUP 29.36

28.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 CUP 38.43

$1.28 CUP 30.71

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 CUP 51.5

$2.43 CUP 58.3

-11.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 CUP 93.4

$2.05 CUP 49.10

89.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 CUP 17.10

$1.01 CUP 24.32

-29.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 CUP 13.80

$1.51 CUP 36.25

-62.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.78 CUP 90.8

$3.98 CUP 95.5

-5.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.55 CUP 133

$10.13 CUP 243

-45.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CUP 21.37

$1.97 CUP 47.24

-54.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 CUP 50.4

$1.54 CUP 36.97

36.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 CUP 2.47

$0.18 CUP 4.39

-44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.38 CUP 369

$17.32 CUP 416

-11.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 CUP 47.48

$2.34 CUP 56.1

-15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 CUP 24.36

$0.72 CUP 17.19

41.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.04 CUP 481

$19.77 CUP 475

1.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 CUP 31.93

$1.28 CUP 30.79

3.91%

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

$70.0K CUP 1.7M

$58.4K CUP 1.4M

19.90%

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

$79.5K CUP 1.9M

$91.4K CUP 2.2M

-13.05%

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

$40.56 CUP 973

$29.51 CUP 708

37.44%

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

$39.41 CUP 946

$12.37 CUP 297

218.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$220 CUP 5,269

$250 CUP 5,997

-12.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.82 CUP 956

$39.91 CUP 958

-0.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.85 CUP 356

$5.15 CUP 124

188.35%

Cinema Ticket

$1.01 CUP 24.34

$1.03 CUP 24.65

-1.94%

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

$91.7 CUP 2,201

$94.6 CUP 2,270

-3.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K CUP 353.3K

$14.8K CUP 354.9K

-0.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.25 CUP 942

$25.07 CUP 602

56.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.25 CUP 726

$22.33 CUP 536

35.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 CUP 1,788

$68.9 CUP 1,653

8.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.9 CUP 2,038

$41.76 CUP 1,002

103.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 CUP 12.2K

$430 CUP 10.3K

18.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$568 CUP 13.6K

$669 CUP 16.1K

-15.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,186 CUP 28.5K

$588 CUP 14.1K

101.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 CUP 15.5K

$953 CUP 22.9K

-32.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$390 CUP 9,363

$390 CUP 9,352

0.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$356 CUP 8,555

$355 CUP 8,512

0.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$19.05 CUP 457

$20.38 CUP 489

-6.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

150.00%

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

Last update for Varadero: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bayamo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $508 in Varadero and $430 in Bayamo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bayamo pays 7% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Varadero vs $31.00 in Bayamo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $257 per month, with Varadero 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

Varadero vs Bayamo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Varadero is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Bayamo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $508 in Varadero versus $430 in Bayamo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Varadero – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $31.00 in Bayamo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,345 per month in Varadero versus $1,448 in Bayamo – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,345 in Varadero versus $1,448 in Bayamo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Varadero but tight or insufficient in Bayamo. The gap between the two cities makes Varadero 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 Varadero gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Bayamo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.