Is Cuba Expensive? Our Cuba Budget Travel Guide
How much money do you need when traveling around Cuba?
Once a difficult country to visit, Cuba is now very much open and easy for tourists to head to and explore. Here we can stroll along the timeless streets of Havana, visit tobacco plantations in Viñales as well as enjoy some truly spectacular beaches along the southern coast.
In this guide we’ll look at the typical costs you can expect when traveling Cuba, such as for accommodation, food and getting around.
As well as recommending some of the best tours you can head on, we’ll also answer your most burning questions in our FAQ section.
Is Cuba Expensive for Tourists?
Quick Answer: Cuba isn’t a particularly expensive nor cheap destination to visit, and things generally cost the same here as they would in countries like Mexico and Ecuador.
When backpacking around Cuba, we recommend setting a daily budget of roughly $25 a day. This will be plenty, where you can stay in a nice hostel, eat tasty local meals as well as be covered for your transport to get around a town or city (or to head to an inexpensive attraction).
If you’re looking for an upgrade in your experience (such as staying in a private room, eating at nicer establishments etc), then you’ll want to budget around $35-40 per day when in Cuba.
Things to know before traveling to Cuba
- Explore Beyond Havana – Don’t get us wrong; not only is the Cuban capital safe and full of charm, not to mention one of the coolest cities you can visit in the Caribbean. But it has to be said that Cuba also has other low-key cities worth visiting. This includes Santa Clara for its historical museums and sites, as well as Maria La Gorda for some exceptional snorkeling and diving conditions.
- Cuba Is Very Safe – Whilst you’ll still need to follow our general safety tips (such as no phone in your hand when in the street as well as dressing down), you’ll find Cuba is pretty safe. In fact, it tends to rank as one of the safest nations in all of Latin America!
- Buses Will Be Your Best Friend – Of the different options available to get around Cuba, the local buses are best. Companies like Viazul connect all of the major cities and sites up well, and are also set at reasonable prices. You can also use shared taxis too which won’t break the bank (especially useful for shorter trips – we’ll cover this option more later in this guide).
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How much does a trip to Cuba cost?
Budget travelers and backpackers can expect to spend roughly $25 a day in Cuba, whilst those who want an upgrade in experience (such as private rooms, eating in nicer establishments) can budget for around $35-40 a day.
This budget only covers accommodation, food and a few extras (like beers, a walking tour or entrance etc). Other costs such as flights and day tours will need to be planned with a different budget in mind.
Cost of Accommodation in Cuba
Important Note: Whilst Cuba is slowly opening its doors, unfortunately certain things can be a hassle to organize before. Accommodation is one of these, where very little apartments and hostels are found on sites like Booking.com when you look closely.
However once you’re actually inside Cuba, it’s really easy since locals will be able to recommend some great places in each town or city (they work together like this to help with marketing). You can expect to spend between $5-8 for a dorm bed, although some can be much more too.
When I (George) headed to Cuba a few years ago, I stayed in the Mango Habana Vieja Hostel within Havana, which is still open. I’d recommend booking your first 2/3 nights here whilst you adjust and learn how to do things smoothly here in Cuba.
Or, check out this list hostels scattered around the island that you can choose from.
Cost of Food in Cuba
Cuba has a really diverse cuisine, which is great since pretty much everyone will find something that they like here. This includes the national dish of Ropa Vieja (beef with beans and spices) and Medianoche (a sandwich stuffed with pulled pork, cheese and pickles).
Those who are looking to keep their costs down can eat locally in traditional cafes and Cuban restaurants. A dish in these joints will cost around $4-7, although please note that they tend to be more expensive in popular areas such as within Varadero and the Old Havana.
If you’re looking for a more luxurious meal, then you’ll also find all kinds of high-scale restaurants and fine-dining options. You’ll be paying quite a bit more though, where a dinner at these nicer venues will cost anywhere from $15-30 per person.
Cost of Transportation in Cuba
As we mentioned earlier, buses are the most practical and cost-efficient way of getting around Cuba safely. Viazul is one of the best providers, and covers many of destinations in Cuba that are popular with backpackers and travelers.
This means they also have multiple departures daily to destinations like Havana, Trinidad, Santiago and Viñales. For an example of the cost, a one-way bus ride from Havana to Trinidad (which takes 8 hours) has a cost of $25.
You can also find domestic flights between certain destinations which will be the quickest method, however also the most expensive. Another way of getting around is by hailing a shared taxi (which your accommodation provider can help sort for you).
They’re much more flexible with departure times, which means you can leave for a new destination pretty much whenever one fills up with enough passengers.
Cost of Tours & Attractions in Cuba
There are plenty of unique and memorable experiences to be had when in Cuba. This includes diving off the Caribbean coast, exploring the mausoleum of Che Guevara as well as hiking through the rich tobacco plantains around Viñales.
Similar with the accommodation, you can’t pre-book any tours online, as major sites like GetYourGuide and Viator don’t yet cover Cuba. However again it’s really simple to book local tours once inside Cuba, and your accommodation owner can easily point you in the right direction.
To give you an example of tour costs in Cuba, you can expect to spend roughly $60 for a 2-hour private ride around Havana in one of their classic old convertibles. Of course you can always find cheaper too if you’re willing to put in the effort and make local connections.
Cuba FAQs
Here are some popular questions our readers ask when it comes to visiting Cuba:
Is Cuba Expensive for Tourists?
And that’s all for our guide on how expensive Cuba is.
This incredible island is a must-visit when traveling around Latin America, where we can explore a completely different culture along with unique sites and postcard-perfect beaches.
We’ll also find that Cuba isn’t so expensive, so can easily be added as an extra trip once you’ve finished traveling through Mexico.
In this guide we’ve looked at how much money you’ll need when traveling around Cuba. This guide focuses more on the minimum needed for low-budget travelers, so of course if you feel like upgrading then by all means go for it!
Be sure to read our Backpacking Cuba Itinerary for more ideas on how to plan your trip around this beautiful Caribbean island.
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