Cost of Living Comparison Between Varadero and Mayari Cost of Living Comparison Between Varadero and Mayari

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,345 in Varadero versus $1,531 in Mayari.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,764 in Varadero versus $2,417 in Mayari.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,183 in Varadero versus $3,303 in Mayari.

Living in Varadero costs roughly 12% less than in Mayari, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Varadero is 2% below, Mayari is 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 CUP 106

$6.16 CUP 148

-28.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.65 CUP 472

$19.82 CUP 476

-0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 CUP 166

$6.54 CUP 157

5.50%

Cappuccino

$1.55 CUP 37.31

$1.28 CUP 30.69

21.09%

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

$2.00 CUP 48.11

$2.24 CUP 53.7

-10.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 CUP 21.96

$1.22 CUP 29.38

-25.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 CUP 61.7

$2.43 CUP 58.3

5.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 CUP 83.7

$3.07 CUP 73.6

13.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.95 CUP 70.7

$2.91 CUP 69.9

1.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 CUP 36.15

$0.78 CUP 18.84

93.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 CUP 34.77

$2.44 CUP 58.6

-40.57%

Eggs

$2.15 CUP 51.5

$3.16 CUP 75.9

-31.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.83 CUP 140

$5.78 CUP 139

0.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 CUP 109

$5.40 CUP 130

-15.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.67 CUP 280

$11.85 CUP 284

-1.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 CUP 81.7

$4.86 CUP 117

-29.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 CUP 24.13

$1.23 CUP 29.42

-17.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 CUP 37.64

$1.36 CUP 32.64

15.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 CUP 38.43

$1.42 CUP 34.19

12.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 CUP 51.5

$1.92 CUP 46.12

11.46%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 CUP 93.4

$2.78 CUP 66.8

39.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 CUP 17.10

$0.97 CUP 23.35

-26.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 CUP 13.80

$1.12 CUP 26.78

-49.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.78 CUP 90.8

$3.49 CUP 83.7

8.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.55 CUP 133

$9.85 CUP 236

-43.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CUP 21.37

$1.73 CUP 41.64

-48.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 CUP 50.4

$2.00 CUP 47.94

5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 CUP 2.47

$0.17 CUP 4.13

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.38 CUP 369

$20.17 CUP 484

-23.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 CUP 47.48

$2.31 CUP 55.5

-14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 CUP 24.36

$0.39 CUP 9.35

161.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.04 CUP 481

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 CUP 31.93

$1.24 CUP 29.71

7.26%

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

$70.0K CUP 1.7M

$68.8K CUP 1.7M

1.86%

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

$79.5K CUP 1.9M

$80.9K CUP 1.9M

-1.75%

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

$40.56 CUP 973

$35.59 CUP 854

13.96%

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

$39.41 CUP 946

$39.23 CUP 942

0.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$220 CUP 5,269

$255 CUP 6,118

-13.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.82 CUP 956

$39.31 CUP 943

1.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.85 CUP 356

$15.20 CUP 365

-2.30%

Cinema Ticket

$1.01 CUP 24.34

$1.01 CUP 24.29

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

$91.7 CUP 2,201

$119 CUP 2,862

-23.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K CUP 353.3K

$17.4K CUP 417.5K

-15.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.25 CUP 942

$55.5 CUP 1,333

-29.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.25 CUP 726

$40.36 CUP 969

-25.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 CUP 1,788

$45.06 CUP 1,081

65.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.9 CUP 2,038

$50.8 CUP 1,218

67.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 CUP 12.2K

$211 CUP 5,053

141.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$568 CUP 13.6K

$675 CUP 16.2K

-15.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,186 CUP 28.5K

$379 CUP 9,099

212.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 CUP 15.5K

$1,763 CUP 42.3K

-63.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$390 CUP 9,363

$402 CUP 9,638

-2.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$356 CUP 8,555

$356 CUP 8,548

0.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$19.05 CUP 457

$21.95 CUP 527

-13.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

50.00%

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

Last update for Varadero: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mayari: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $508 in Varadero and $211 in Mayari. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mayari pays 15% 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 $20.00 in Mayari for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $244 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 Mayari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Varadero wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Mayari. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Varadero the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Mayari. 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 $211 in Mayari. 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 $20.00 in Mayari. 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 $1,531 in Mayari – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,345 in Varadero versus $1,531 in Mayari, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Varadero but tight or insufficient in Mayari. 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 14% less than in Mayari. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.