Discover Cuba, the vibrant Caribbean island where colonial architecture meets revolutionary history and pristine beaches. Experience colorful Havana's classic cars, salsa rhythms, and world-class cigars in this unique destination frozen in time.
Local currency: Cuban Peso (CUP).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Cuba.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $12-20 (dormitory)
- Budget
- $25-40 (casa particular)
- Midrange
- $60-100 (nice casa or mid hotel)
- Luxury
- $200-500+ (5-star hotel)
Food
- Street
- $1-3 (peso vendors)
- Local
- $8-15 (paladar lunch)
- Midrange
- $20-40 (evening paladar)
- Fine
- $50-80+ (La Guarida, El Cocinero)
Transport
- Bus
- $0.50-1 (local guagua)
- Taxi
- $5-15 (city taxi)
- Airport
- $25-35 (Havana airport taxi)
- Daytrip
- $12-25 (Viazul bus to Viñales/Trinidad)
Activities
- Museum
- $3-8 (Havana museums)
- Sites
- $5-10 (fortress entry)
- Tour
- $30-60 (guided day tour)
- Excursion
- $60-120 (day trip with guide)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Cuba costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$245-350/week (casas, peso food, buses)
Midrange traveller
$560-910/week (nice casas, paladares, shared taxis)
Luxury traveller
$1750-3150+/week (5-star hotels, fine dining, private transfers)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Stay in casas particulares (Cuban B&Bs) over hotels — better value, more authentic, and hosts provide invaluable local advice
Eat at peso restaurants (look for Cuban Peso pricing) where a full meal costs $1-3 — identical food to tourist paladares at a fraction of the price
Buy rum and cigars at state supermarkets rather than tourist shops — same products, significantly lower prices
Use Viazul buses between cities rather than private taxis — saves $30-80 per journey
Carry exact change for peso transactions — change is often scarce and overcharging is common with large bills
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Malecón Promenade
Havana's 8km seafront promenade is the world's longest outdoor sofa — free to walk anytime with spontaneous music, locals socializing, and spectacular sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico.
Old Havana Street Walking
Exploring the UNESCO World Heritage streets and plazas of Old Havana costs nothing. Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral, and Plaza de San Francisco are free to wander.
Callejón de Hamel
Havana's famous Afro-Cuban art alley is free to visit anytime. Sunday rumba performances starting at noon are free and open to all spectators.
Revolution Square
The massive Plaza de la Revolución with its iconic Che Guevara mural is free to visit anytime. The square and exterior José Martí Memorial can be photographed without entry fees.
Varadero Beach
Cuba's famous 22km beach is free and public. State beaches along Varadero's strip charge nothing for access — only sunbed and umbrella rental costs extra.
Fusterlandia (Jaimanitas)
José Fuster's extraordinary mosaic-covered neighborhood is free to walk through. The artist's home and gallery charge a small fee but the neighborhood itself is open to all visitors.
Havana Cemetery (Necropolis Cristóbal Colón)
One of the most elaborate cemeteries in the Americas with extraordinary neoclassical mausoleums dating to the 1870s. Free to explore; guided tours available for a small fee.
Trinidad Cobblestone Streets
Walking Trinidad's UNESCO World Heritage colonial streets is free — the museum entry fees are optional but the streetscapes themselves are the main attraction.