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: $1,622 in Varadero versus $1,469 in Bayamo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,010 in Varadero versus $2,054 in Bayamo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,399 in Varadero versus $2,640 in Bayamo.

Living in Varadero is roughly 10% more expensive than in Bayamo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Varadero 21% above, Bayamo 10% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Varadero
Bayamo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.86 CUP 141
$3.19 CUP 76.4
83.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.14 CUP 1,155
$50.9 CUP 1,222
-5.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 CUP 211
$6.99 CUP 168
26.04%
Cappuccino
$0.98 CUP 23.41
$3.32 CUP 79.8
-70.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 CUP 47.68
$1.27 CUP 30.46
56.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 CUP 23.73
$1.13 CUP 27.09
-12.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.68 CUP 88.3
$1.97 CUP 47.30
86.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 CUP 61.0
$1.79 CUP 42.95
41.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varadero
Bayamo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.99 CUP 71.7
$3.02 CUP 72.4
-0.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 CUP 29.83
$0.99 CUP 23.71
25.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 CUP 36.03
$3.06 CUP 73.4
-50.98%
Eggs
$2.41 CUP 57.8
$3.52 CUP 84.5
-31.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.17 CUP 148
$6.04 CUP 145
2.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.10 CUP 122
$6.16 CUP 148
-17.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.93 CUP 286
$11.96 CUP 287
-0.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.98 CUP 120
$5.08 CUP 122
-1.97%
Banana (1kg)
$0.57 CUP 13.79
$1.23 CUP 29.64
-53.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 CUP 23.46
$1.54 CUP 36.88
-36.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 CUP 27.28
$1.46 CUP 35.11
-21.92%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 CUP 22.05
$1.97 CUP 47.35
-53.30%
Onion (1kg)
$5.48 CUP 132
$2.95 CUP 70.9
85.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 CUP 9.19
$1.03 CUP 24.62
-63.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 CUP 13.75
$1.12 CUP 26.97
-49.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.61 CUP 86.5
$4.02 CUP 96.6
-10.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.66 CUP 136
$10.08 CUP 242
-43.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 CUP 20.92
$1.98 CUP 47.56
-56.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 CUP 18.60
$1.97 CUP 47.26
-60.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Varadero
Bayamo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.22 CUP 5.19
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.93 CUP 478
$35.20 CUP 845
-43.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.06 CUP 49.39
$2.24 CUP 53.8
-8.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.97 CUP 23.39
$0.42 CUP 10.05
130.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.18 CUP 484
$20.14 CUP 483
0.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 CUP 31.95
$1.23 CUP 29.43
8.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$68.7K CUP 1.6M
$74.2K CUP 1.8M
-7.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$78.4K CUP 1.9M
$90.2K CUP 2.2M
-13.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varadero
Bayamo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.57 CUP 950
$29.43 CUP 706
34.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.46 CUP 947
$10.08 CUP 242
291.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$219 CUP 5,245
$255 CUP 6,110
-14.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varadero
Bayamo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.75 CUP 954
$40.74 CUP 978
-2.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.08 CUP 362
$9.91 CUP 238
52.17%
Cinema Ticket
$0.99 CUP 23.68
$1.01 CUP 24.26
-1.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varadero
Bayamo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.8 CUP 2,178
$96.5 CUP 2,316
-5.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K CUP 361.5K
$15.3K CUP 366.7K
-1.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varadero
Bayamo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.74 CUP 954
$20.36 CUP 489
95.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.60 CUP 734
$25.23 CUP 605
21.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.0 CUP 1,776
$69.5 CUP 1,669
6.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.2 CUP 2,069
$55.9 CUP 1,342
54.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varadero
Bayamo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 CUP 9,766
$422 CUP 10.1K
-3.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$796 CUP 19.1K
$669 CUP 16.1K
19.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,200 CUP 28.8K
$585 CUP 14.0K
105.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$640 CUP 15.3K
$968 CUP 23.2K
-33.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$389 CUP 9,342
$393 CUP 9,421
-0.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$355 CUP 8,529
$348 CUP 8,356
2.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varadero
Bayamo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$19.38 CUP 465
$19.80 CUP 475
-2.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
6
150.00%

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

Last update for Varadero: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bayamo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $407 in Varadero and $422 in Bayamo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bayamo pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Varadero vs $51.0 in Bayamo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $261 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
Is Bayamo cheaper than Varadero?
Bayamo is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Varadero or Bayamo?
On paper, salaries run 2% 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.
What is the rent difference between Varadero and Bayamo?
Rent for a central apartment: $407 in Varadero versus $422 in Bayamo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Varadero or in Bayamo?
Dining out is cheaper in Bayamo – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $48.00 in Varadero. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Varadero and in Bayamo?
All in, you'll spend $1,622 per month in Varadero versus $1,469 in Bayamo – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Varadero or in Bayamo?
At $1,469 in Bayamo versus $1,622 in Varadero, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bayamo but tight or insufficient in Varadero. The gap between the two cities makes Bayamo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Varadero or in 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 Bayamo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Varadero. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Varadero vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities