Budget needed to travel to Cuba: prices and costs

Cuba is a very popular tourist destination among travelers from all over the world. However, traveling to Cuba can be very expensive if you don’t plan your travel budget well. Since we know you don’t want to waste your money, here are some tips and suggestions to help you put together the budget you need to travel to Cuba.

Traveling to Cuba is a unique experience: paradisiacal beaches, colonial cities full of history and a vibrant culture that makes any traveler fall in love. However, before packing your suitcase, the big question arises: How much money do I need for my trip to Cuba?

As we know you don’t want to waste your money, we will tell you what the most common expenses are, how to pay on the island and an estimate of how much a 7-day stay in Cuba can cost.

How to design your budget for travel to Cuba

Budgeting is a highly recommended activity for those who are planning a trip. This is the only way to plan expenses in advance and to have a more or less accurate idea of the costs.

Of course, budgeting is also a very useful activity to prioritize and decide how much money you want to spend on different aspects of the trip. For example, you may want to prioritize spending more on accommodation to have a more comfortable experience, or on tourist activities that are important to you.

In short, you have the last word as long as you define your priorities. To help you a little, here are some tips to help you organize your budget.

1. Research prices:

Before you start planning your budget, research the prices of the main aspects of your trip, such as airlines operating to your destination, accommodation, local transportation, food and tourist activities. You can rely on the internet (travel blogs, YouTube, social networks, etc.). Remember, too, that our online assistants are always available to help you organize the trip of your dreams.

Here are some examples that may serve as a reference:

• The price of international flights from Europe or Latin America to Cuba can range from 600 to 2000 USD round trip, depending on the season and the class you fly in.
• Getting around by cab in Cuba can cost you between 10 and 30 USD for short distances. Longer distances you can always reach an agreement with the driver.
• On the other hand, the tourist buses (Viazul) are more economical, with prices from 5 to 15 USD per route.

2. Establish a daily budget:

Once you have an idea of average prices, set a daily budget for each thing you plan to do in a day (meals, transportation, tourist activities).

The budget for accommodation in Cuba can vary significantly depending on whether you choose to stay in a hotel or in a casa particular. In general, hotels are more expensive than local houses, so if you are looking for an economical option, the latter are usually a better choice.

The cost of accommodation in a private rental can vary from 35€ to 150€ per night (the property), depending on the location, the size, the quality of the accommodation, if you want to include breakfast, etc.

On the other hand, if you prefer to stay in a hotel, prices can vary from around 50€ per person per night in basic hotels to more than 200€ per night in luxury hotels. Also, keep in mind that hotel prices may fluctuate depending on the season or the regime you choose (All Inclusive, Continental Plan, etc.).

Food expenses may vary according to the length of your trip, the frequency of meals you are used to, the type of establishment you choose to eat in, the city you are in, etc. In general, you can find economical and quality options in Cuba, but it is necessary to take into account the variability of the costs of this particular aspect.

The price of breakfasts, lunches and dinners can also vary considerably depending on the place where you choose to do it. In private homes and small paladares the owners can offer breakfasts between 4 € and 10 €; and lunches and dinners from 10 € to 35 € per person. Meanwhile, in hotels and tourist restaurants, prices can be higher. In other types of restaurants (the so-called paladares) prices can be somewhat more affordable.

Our recommendation is to estimate an approximate budget of between €35 and €50 per day for meals, taking into account that this amount will cover the three key moments of the day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Know beforehand about the traditional Cuban food and the places where to eat in Cuba could also help you in making your daily budget.

Budgeting for activities and entertainment may be the biggest challenge of all, especially if you are not familiar with the destination or don’t have a clear idea of what you want to do. In any case, we will try to be of some help.

The prices of tourist activities vary, logically, depending on the place you wish to visit or the type of activity. Here are some examples.

The entrance fee to museums and places of historical interest in Cuba ranges between 8 and 10 dollars. A walking tour of Old Havana can cost between €10 and €15 per person, entrance to a music and dance show in Havana can cost between €3 and €10 per person, while entrance to a nightclub can cost between €5 and up to €50 per person. Although access to the beaches in Cuba is 100% free, services such as renting chairs or umbrellas can cost around €5 per day.

How can you pay in Cuba?

One of the most important points in the budget for a trip to Cuba is to understand the payment system. The Cuban peso (CUP) and the U.S. dollar (USD) circulate officially in the country, but informally, the Cuban peso (CUP) and the U.S. dollar (USD) circulate informally.

The official currency is the Cuban peso (CUP), but many tourist services are paid in USD or Euros. You can pay in other currencies such as Euros, British Pounds, etc. It is important that you get information about the exchange rates of these currencies in Cuba.

Another form of payment can be through international cards. However, not all of them work. Those issued by U.S. banks are not accepted. It is best to carry cash in euros or dollars and exchange it at official exchange houses (CADECA). In hotels and tourist restaurants, some Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted.

How much can a 7-day stay in Cuba cost?

If you choose all-inclusive hotels, the budget can go up to 800 – 1,200 USD per week. In any case, the most important thing is to bring cash in euros or dollars, plan ahead and leave room for improvisation. This way, your trip to Cuba will be an unforgettable experience and budget travel to Cuba will not be a problem.