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Cost of travel in Cuba
When you think of a holiday in the Caribbean, it's usually accompanied by a hefty price tag. Cuba however, is pretty affordable compared to some of the other islands. Although, a holiday to Cuba will cost you much more than travelling somewhere like southeast Asia. The currency can be a little confusing in Cuba as they have two. Convertibles (CUC$) is a currency mainly for tourists as which is used to pay for most things such as bottled water, tour guides, taxi drivers and any luxury items. The other Cuban currency is peso which is what most locals get paid in (moneda nacional MN$). This currency can be used to pay for small items such as intercity buses and food from markets and street stalls. 1 convertible equals about 25 pesos.
For a traveller looking to visit Cuba on the cheap, we suggest around $40 - $60 CUC per day (around $40 - $60 USD). For a mid-range budget, we suggest a daily amount of $70 - $120 CUC, and for a high-end holiday, budget for anything upwards of $130 CUC.
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Admission fees
The cost for entertainment and entry fees will vary greatly depending on what you do and where you are. For example, entry to museums generally cost between $1 - $5 although some are significantly more. (The Museo de la Revolucion in Havana costs around $8.) More expensive excursions such as riding a classic car through Havana can cost anything from $20 - $50.
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Food & Drink
Cuban food is fragrant, punchy and incredibly delicious so we urge you to taste as much as you can! It’s relatively cheap too. You can often pick up Cuban sandwiches, pizzas and small meals for as little as $1. Or you can get a more substantial meal like ‘ropa vieja’ for $5 - $7. A mid-range restaurant serving western cuisine will usually cost you around $15 - $20 for a standard meal. Good news is, alcohol is pretty cheap and you can often pick up classic Cuban cocktails for just $2!
Top Tip!
If you have American bank cards they may not work in the ATMs in Cuba, so make sure you bring enough cash for your holiday.
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Transport
There is no hard and fast rule about how much transport costs in Cuba. If you are on a bit of a tight budget, stick to public buses and trains as these by far the cheapest ways to travel. Although they are cheap, the bus and rail systems are not very reliable and a lot of the time are fully booked. We recommend booking your tickets in advance. Hiring a classic car taxi in Havana will cost a flat rate of around $8 - $10.
Tipping etiquette and costs
Tipping is a big part of the Cuban culture and you are likely to offend some people if you fail to leave one. Your waiters, servers, bartenders and drivers will be very thankful if you leave the tip in moneda nacional as this tends to be the currency which locals get paid in.
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Restaurants
It is standard to tip 10% of the total bill in any restaurant, no matter how fancy. If the service was particularly good, feel free to add on up to 15%.
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Guides
Depending on the location and duration of your tour it is customary to tip a couple of dollars for a few hours. If the tour is longer or private, add a few more dollars.
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Transport
Usually you will agree a price for the journey before you get in the taxi however if the ride is on the meter then it is customary to tip 10% on top of the final price.
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Hotels
It is expected for tourists to tip the hotel staff including room maids, bellboys and restaurant staff. $1 is standard.
Can you haggle in Cuba?
Haggling is widely accepted all over Cuba and in a lot of cases, expected. There are however a few scenarios where it is not acceptable to bargain over the price - these are restaurants, high-street shops, casas particulares and bus or train tickets. Everything else, will usually have a negotiable price.
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