How Much Does It Cost To Vacation In Cuba

What to Know Before Traveling to Cuba – How much does it cost to vacation in Cuba? Cost of living in Cuba – In the past decade it has been more common to hear people ask “How much does it cost to vacation in Cuba?” as opposed to “How much does it cost to send a letter from Havana?”. To answer the question “How much does it cost to vacation in Cuba?” is not easy. The reason for this is there are several factors that determine how much does it cost to go on a trip or vacation in the different parts of the Island: reservations, flights, tours, travel insurance, accommodation, whether you want five-star hotels or something more economical, how many days you spend in the destination and so on.

When most people think of vacationing in Cuba, they assume it will be expensive. This is not really the case, though. Cuba isn’t the cheapest or most expensive country in the world. There are places where you’ll spend a lot and others where you spend little to nothing at all. In order to help you decide if it’s within your budget, and determine how much it will cost to vacation in Cuba, here is a breakdown of prices for food, accommodation, and other common categories for travelers. Many people dream of traveling to Cuba, but wonder how much it costs to vacation there. Traveling anywhere can be expensive, but here are some ways you can save money when visiting Cuba: Cultural Immersion: One way to lower your costs is by immersing yourself in

Right here on Touriangle you can rest easy to obtain all the relevant information you need on prices in Cuba for tourists 2022, how much does a hotel cost in Cuba, is Cuba safe to travel, and so much more. Take out time to visit our catalog for more information on related topics. You don’t want to miss this!

How Much Does It Cost To Vacation In Cuba

Cuba is a beautiful island located just south of the United States. Because of the history between the two countries, U.S. citizens are forbidden to visit Cuba without prior authorization from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and Cuban citizens must obtain a visa from one of five Cuban consular offices throughout the world to enter the US. The restrictions have frustrated many in both countries and placed limits on trade between them. However, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your own island getaway in paradise by vacationing in Cuba!

Want to vacation in Cuba? It’s an amazing place! But there’s a lot of confusing information about traveling to Cuba. We’ll give you a complete breakdown on how much it costs to vacation in Cuba for both US Citizens and Non-US Citizens so you can decide if it’s the right destination for your trip.

Is Cuba Expensive To Visit

The average price of a 7-day trip to Cuba is $833 for a solo traveler, $1,399 for a couple, and $936 for a family of 4. Cuba hotels range from $28 to $129 per night with an average of $45, while most vacation rentals will cost $40 to $210 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to Cuba (from all airports) are between $563 and $1,026 per person for economy flights and $1,768 to $3,222 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $20 to $41 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.

The Cheapest Times to Visit Cuba

On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to Cuba and stay in a Cuba hotel:

• January 8th to February 11th
• May 28th to June 17th
• July 30th to December 9th (except the week of November 19th)

The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Cuba is usually early to mid September.

Mow Much Is A Trip To Havana Cuba

Average Solo Traveler

The average cost for one person to visit Cuba for a week is$664-$1,531($95-$219 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $20 to $41 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights: $392 to $914 for economy

Lodging: $37 to $55 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room

or $22 to $26 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Average Couple’s Trip

The average cost for a couple to visit Cuba for a week is$1,189-$2,733($170-$390 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $39 to $82 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights: $784 to $1,829 for economy

Lodging: $37 to $55 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room

or $22 to $26 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Average Family Vacation

The average cost for 4 people to visit Cuba for a week is$2,305-$5,466($329-$781 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $78 to $165 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights: $1,567 to $3,657 for economy

Lodging: $75 to $109 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms

or $32 to $40 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Traveling Cheap to Cuba

How cheap can you make a vacation to Cuba? The cheapest trip to Cuba is about $88 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 29% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $20 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $24.

Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.

Budget Solo Traveler

The lowest cost for one person to visit Cuba for a week is$613-$1,475($88-$211 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $11 to $21 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights: $392 to $914 for economy

Lodging: $24 to $28 per night for one 1-star hotel room

or $41 to $69 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Budget Couple’s Trip

The lowest cost for a couple to visit Cuba for a week is$1,075-$2,544($154-$363 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $21 to $43 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights: $784 to $1,829 for economy

Lodging: $24 to $28 per night for one 1-star hotel room

or $41 to $69 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Budget Family Vacation

The lowest cost for 4 people to visit Cuba for a week is$2,149-$4,864($307-$695 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $42 to $85 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights: $1,567 to $3,657 for economy

Lodging: $48 to $56 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms

or $61 to $102 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Overall it is very easy to travel to Cuba cheaply.

The Cost of a Luxury Cuba Trip

There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in Cuba.

Luxury Solo Traveler

The high-end price for one person to visit Cuba for a week is$1,690-$5,315($241-$759 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $39 to $83 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights: $979 to $2,280 for first class

Lodging: $73 to $129 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room

or $209 to $409 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Luxury Couple’s Trip

The high-end price for a couple to visit Cuba for a week is$2,949-$8,184($421-$1,169 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $79 to $167 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights: $1,958 to $4,561 for first class

Lodging: $73 to $129 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room

or $209 to $409 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Luxury Family Vacation

The high-end price for 4 people to visit Cuba for a week is$5,892-$15,119($842-$2,160 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $158 to $333 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights: $3,916 to $9,122 for first class

Lodging: $145 to $257 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms

or $316 to $611 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Cuba Hotel Prices

The cost of staying in Cuba is much lower than the average city. On average vacation rentals are less expensive than hotels. Luxury hotels are more expensive in Cuba due to hotel employees. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.

Cuba Lodging Cost by Star Status

The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.

Key

Hotel Price

Prices are based on Cuba hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.

Vacation Rental Prices

The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.

Flight Costs to Cuba

Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $1,026 average in late December to a low of $563 in early to mid September. Median flight price is $566. These prices are based on millions of flights. For Cuba our data includes thousands of originating airports, and hundreds of airlines. The area has more variance in price compared with other locations.

Average Flight Cost by Day of Week

The cheapest day to fly in is typically Tuesday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Tuesday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In Cuba, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $463, so you can easily save about 82% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.

Daily Expenses Budget

Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around Cuba can easily cost $158 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $11 per person. Private tours can cost $317 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.

Prices In Cuba For Tourists 2022

A typical seven days trip to Cuba costs anywhere from 1,200 to 3,000 USD, including flights, accommodation, and insurance.

Plan to pay at least 500 USD for your flight ticket, but it can be as high as 1,700 USD, especially if departing from the US. On the other hand, accommodations in Cuba can be as cheap as 10 USD/night if staying in “casas particulares”.

Also, your trip to Cuba’s cost can go lower or higher depending on your travel season. Cuba’s dry season is more popular than the wet season, so expect higher prices during peak months.

Let’s get into more pricing details for flights and accommodations in Cuba.

Costs of flights to Cuba

Two major events have significantly increased the costs of flying to Cuba in the last few years:

• US restrictions on air travel to Cuba. Currently, US airlines are permitted to fly into the Havana Airport only.
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flights to Cuba are expensive, and you can expect to pay at least 400 USD for a ticket when flying to Cuba from Canada or the US. If you are traveling from the US to Cuba, flights can go as high as 1,700 USD.

Many flight search engines like Expedia, Orbit, and Kayak don’t carry flights to Cuba from the US. Instead, use Skyscanner or book your flights directly through your airline of choice.

Accommodation costs in Cuba

Popular options for accommodations in Cuba include hotels, resorts, and private houses (known as “casas particulares” or “hostales”).

Renting a room in a casa particular is not only the most affordable option but also the most authentic and culturally immersive. Many casas also include a home-cooked breakfast each morning! You can compare listing prices on Skyscanner too.

Casas particulares: most casas particulares cost between 20 to 300 USD/night. Most people pay between 20 to 50 USD a night on average.

Hotels and resorts: most start at 100 USD/night and go as high as 800 USD/night.

As you can see from the prices listed above, accommodations are a huge factor in your trip to Cuba cost.

Travel insurance

Besides the Cuba Tourist Card, all travelers are required to show proof of travel insurance in Cuba. Specifically, your insurance needs to cover medical expenses. Companies like RoamRight can get you covered for about 55 USD per week per person.

How Much Money Do You Need in Cuba?

Generally, you can expect to spend 40 – 120 USD/day, excluding flight tickets and accommodations.

However, the final price tag of your trip to Cuba will depend on the kind of trip you want. For example, loading your itinerary with guided tours and expensive restaurants will be pricier than eating at down-to-earth “paladares” and free walking tours.

Another factor that will impact your budget is where you stay. Big cities like Havana are costlier than more rural areas and smaller towns.

Finally, you need to consider that prices in Cuba for tourists are generally higher. For example, in a restaurant, they might keep aside a menu for tourists with prices 20% higher. Likewise, private transfers will try to charge 30 to 40% above the normal rate for a local.

Let’s break down these numbers.

First Things First: Understanding the Cuban Currency

The Cuban currency system can be tricky for first-time visitors. In all honesty, you can’t estimate a realistic cost of a trip to Cuba without understanding how to use the Cuban Peso.

Let’s get a few facts straight.

The Cuban Peso (CUP) is the primary currency

The island had two official currencies until January 2021: the Cuban Peso (CUP) and the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC). The CUC was just eliminated in 2021, and the CUP remained the only official currency on the island. So, ignore anything you have read about the CUC because it does not circulate in Cuba anymore.

Euros will get you more

Today, the Euro is one of the two highest-value currencies in Cuba. If you bring it, you will get more value for your money. They are also accepted almost everywhere in Cuba.

You can bring US dollars too. But they come with two limitations you should consider:

• State-owned tourism facilities won’t take your USDs. Therefore, you must sell them first.
• There is an exchange fee of 8% for US dollars, compared to 2% for other foreign currencies.

Still, US dollars are widely sought after on the island.

For example, the image below shows the Euro and the USD value in the black market. This gives you an indication of how much the Euro is worth in Cuba.

For currency prices at official exchange offices (CADECA), visit CADECA’s website for updated exchange rates.

You can’t bring Cuban Pesos

You can bring many things to Cuba, but you cannot bring Cuban Pesos. It’s not possible to exchange Cuban currency before you touch down in Cuba.

To stock up on Cuban currency, you can exchange your foreign money at official currency exchange centers called CADECAs (Casas de Cambio). You can find CADECA offices in Cuban airports, resorts, hotels, shopping centers, and banks.

ransportation costs in Cuba

Cuba’s transportation options include taxis, classic American cars or “almendrones”, buses, rental cars, and domestic flights.

Taxis and city buses are great options for traveling short distances. You can cover longer distances by charter buses and domestic flights. Although more expensive, renting a car is also an option.

Private taxis: 1.50-3 USD/kilometer.

Taxi from the airport to your accommodation: 35 USD.

“Colectivos” or “almendrones” with fixed routes: 1-2 USD.

Viazul charter bus for interprovincial trips: from 6 USD to 51 USD depending on the province you are going to. For example, the Havana to Varadero route in Viazul costs about 10 USD.

Rental car: starts at 69 USD per day.

Trains: 3-7 USD

Domestic flights: ticket prices can cost from 90 USD on the low-end to 140 USD on the higher-end.

Private transfers: prices vary depending on where you are headed. For example, here is what you can expect to pay for these popular transfers:

• Havana to Varadero: 120 USD
• Havana to Viñales: 140 USD
• Havana to Trinidad: 215 USD
• Havana to Cienfuegos: 180 USD

Food and drinks costs in Cuba

The cost of food and drink in Cuba varies quite a bit depending on where you choose to eat.

Breakfast at your casa is often as low as 7-12 USD, while a meal at a sit-down restaurant is anywhere from 10-20+ USD.

Snacks from street vendors can cost you from 3 to 5 USD.

On average, the prices of popular drinks in Cuba are as follows:

• 1.5 liter bottle of water: 3 USD (Pro tip – bring a water bottle with filter)
• Coffe: 1.50 USD
• Beer: 4 USD
• Piña Colada: 6-7 USD
• Daiquiri: 5 USD
• Mojito: 5 USD
• Cuba Libre: 4 USD
• Coconut water: 3 USD

Here is what you can expect to pay for traditional dishes in Cuba:

• Ropa vieja (boiled and shredded meat): 8 USD
• Arroz y frijoles negros (rice and black beans): 4 USD
• Arroz congri: 4 USD
• Arroz imperial (imperial rice): 10 USD
• Sandwich cubano (Cuban sandwich): 6 USD
• Pan con lechon (roasted pork sandwich): 6 USD
• Masas de cerdo fritas (fried pork chops): 7-9 USD
• Bistec de cerdo (pork steak): 7-9 USD
• Arroz con leche (rice pudding dessert): 4 USD

Entertainment costs in Cuba

Entertainment costs will, of course, vary depending on what exactly you have in mind. Here are average prices for a couple of popular activities:

• City tour of Havana in a classic car: 40-60 USD.
• Bike tour of Havana: 15 USD.
• Tickets to a baseball game: 3 USD /each.
• Admission to museums: from 2 to 10 USD/person.
• Show at Cabaret Tropicana: starts at 80 USD/person.
• Horse riding in Viñales: 5 USD/hour.
• Multi-city excursions: 175+ USD.
• Scuba diving in Maria la Gorda: 60 USD+ for a single immersion.

Internet costs in Cuba

Internet in Cuba is very unreliable, but you’ve got a couple of options to get WiFi in Cuba:

• Using a NAUTA card: 0.50 USD/hour.
• Using a Cubacel Tur card: 25 USD/2.50 GB.
• (International roaming) AT&T: $3.00/minute for calls; $0.50/text; $2.05/MB for data.
• (International roaming) T-Mobile: $2.00/minute for calls; $0.50/text; $2.00/MB for data.

Tipping in Cuba

In Cuba, tipping is widespread, and you’re encouraged to tip people who have performed a service for you–especially if they did an awesome job! Who should you tip in Cuba:

• Hotel maids: 1-3 USD/night.
• Hotel bellboys: 1-5 USD at check-in and again at check-out.
• Restaurant waiters and bartenders: 10% gratuity.
• Tour guides: 5-10 USD.
• Street musicians: 1 USD.
• Parking valets: 1 USD.
• Bathroom attendants: 0.25-0.50 USD.

Money-Saving Tips

There are a few things you can do to reduce your final trip to Cuba cost. For more practical advice for your trip to Cuba.

Stay in a casa particular

Casas particulares are the most affordable accommodations in Cuba. There are over 14,000 on the island to choose from!

Casas are run by Cuban families who offer great suggestions about exciting things to do and see in the area. Plus, they cook lovely home-cooked meals.

The price of renting a room in a casa can be as low as 10 USD/night and as high as 800 USD/night at luxurious casas. You can also snag breakfast for 7-12 USD most of the time.

Remember that it’s illegal to crash at someone’s place for free, even if they invite you!

Eat at paladares and cafeterias

Paladares (private restaurants) and cafeterias are restaurants where you can get authentic Cuban cuisine at an affordable price.

Thanks to Cuba’s relaxing restrictions on private businesses, there are now over 2,000 paladares to choose from. Paladares offer a wealth of menu options and great service at a reasonable price. Meals typically cost between 10-25 USD.

Take a look at some of Havana’s best paladares in the Lonely Planet Pocket Guide of Havana.

Share urban taxis

Shared taxis–also called “colectivos” or “almendrones”–are taxis that travel along a fixed route. They stand out because they look just like vintage American cars from the 1950s!

Flag them down by standing along the route and raising your hand. The driver will stop and let you hop aboard if there’s room in the taxi. The standard cost to ride is 1 USD.

Book tours directly from local guides

Tours are an excellent way to learn about authentic Cuba from a knowledgeable guide. For example, Havana has so many things to do that you should definitely consider hiring a seasoned local guide.

However, hiring inexperienced or authorized “tour guides” is a waste of money and could also be dangerous. Although Cuba is generally a safe country, there is no need to put yourself at risk.

Instead, book all your tours through well-respected local guides available in marketplaces like Tour Republic. You can book experiences all over the country, ranging from museum tours to urban cuisine and horseback riding.

Haggling and bargaining

Almost anything you pay for in Cuba can be haggled or bargained. Exceptions are certain restaurants, casas particulares, and the Viazul bus.

You should absolutely haggle with taxi drivers (unless you’re comfortable paying full price, of course!). Talk to your casa host so they can fill you in on a fair price for the area.

Get a Cuban Phrasebook and learn some expressions for a better chance of success.

Cheapest time to travel to Cuba

The rainy season (June to October) is typically the cheapest time to travel to Cuba. If you are a budget-savvy traveler thinking of backpacking Cuba, you will save some bucks if you fly to Cuba during the rainy season, especially in September. However, consider that this season comes with bugs and mosquitoes in Cuba, so bring a strong mosquito repellent.

Is Cuba Expensive To Visit

We can’t say that Cuba is the cheapest travel destination. Flights can get incredibly expensive, especially from the US. The price of high-end hotels is similar to those in other expensive destinations.

However, Cuba is generally affordable, especially if you book all-inclusive vacation packages from countries other than the US. It can get even cheap if you stay in casas particulares, eat at paladares, and share taxis.

But in all honesty, if you are traveling as a tourist, you may want to tour around in private cars, stay at least a day at a beach resort, and eat delicious traditional food other than rice and beans. Consider these things when estimating your trip to Cuba cost.

We put much effort into getting updated prices in Cuba for tourists. If you liked this post, please share it with your friends traveling to Cuba! Otherwise, leave your comments and suggestions below.