Cost Of Living For a Student in Havana 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: CUP
Average monthly spending for students in Havana
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Havana?
Students in Havana spend around 12,000 CUP per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1,800 CUP or as high as 79,000 CUP. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Havana
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 54,000 CUP | 110,000 CUP | 140,000 CUP |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 2,000 CUP | 3,000 CUP | 8,000 CUP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 3,000 CUP | 4,800 CUP | 12,000 CUP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 4,000 CUP | 6,000 CUP | 16,000 CUP |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 400,000 CUP | 600,000 CUP | 1.2M CUP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 480,000 CUP | 800,000 CUP | 3M CUP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 800,000 CUP | 2.4M CUP | 4.8M CUP |
| $33,000 | $100,000 | $200,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 2,200 CUP | 2,700 CUP | 3,600 CUP |
Double Bed
| 1,400 CUP | 2,200 CUP | 2,700 CUP |
Single Bed
| 1,300 CUP | 1,700 CUP | 2,200 CUP |
Living Room
| 2,400 CUP | 3,100 CUP | 11,000 CUP |
Dining Table
| 1,100 CUP | 1,400 CUP | 2,700 CUP |
Sofa or Couch
| 1,400 CUP | 2,000 CUP | 4,300 CUP |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 1,400 CUP | 2,200 CUP | 4,300 CUP |
Fridge or Freezer
| 1,300 CUP | 2,000 CUP | 2,700 CUP |
Washing Machine
| 1,700 CUP | 2,400 CUP | 4,300 CUP |
Stove or Cooker
| 1,500 CUP | 2,000 CUP | 2,700 CUP |
Mobile Phone
| 1,800 CUP | 2,200 CUP | 3,100 CUP |
Laptop or Computer
| 2,000 CUP | 2,400 CUP | 4,300 CUP |
How do students spend their money in Havana?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost18%
18% of total expenses on average (13% to 24%)
| LOW | $18 430 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $120 2,800 CUP |
| HIGH | $790 19,000 CUP |
| Per Month |
Students in Havana typically spend from 13% to 24% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 18% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 2,800 CUP with expenditure ranging from 430 CUP to 19,000 CUP. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $3 72 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $20 470 CUP |
| HIGH | $130 3,200 CUP |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Havana ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 470 CUP with 72 CUP and 3,200 CUP being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $5.2 130 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $35 830 CUP |
| HIGH | $230 5,500 CUP |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 130 CUP to 5,500 CUP in a month on commuting with 830 CUP being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $15 360 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $99 2,400 CUP |
| HIGH | $660 16,000 CUP |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Havana is 2,400 CUP. The cost of groceries can range between 360 CUP to 16,000 CUP. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $4.5 110 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $30 710 CUP |
| HIGH | $200 4,700 CUP |
| Per Month |
Students in Havana allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 110 CUP to 4,700 CUP with 710 CUP being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $3.7 90 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $25 590 CUP |
| HIGH | $160 4,000 CUP |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 90 CUP to 4,000 CUP with 590 CUP being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $14 340 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $94 2,300 CUP |
| HIGH | $630 15,000 CUP |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 2,300 CUP per month with 340 CUP being the minimum spent amount and 15,000 CUP being the maximum.
Other Expenses19%
19% of total expenses on average (13% to 25%)
| LOW | $11 270 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $74 1,800 CUP |
| HIGH | $490 12,000 CUP |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Havana
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Havana?
Around 63% of surveyed students think that living in Havana is affordable with proper budgeting while 37% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Havana
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options62%
Few low-cost options38%
Based on the survey, 62% of the students living in Havana have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 38% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of Havana whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes62%
No38%
Based on the survey, 38% of the students living in Havana said that they don't have an emergency fund while 62% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in Cuba
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy53%
We asked student guardians and parents in Havana whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 47% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 53% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of Cuba have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 41% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 59% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance41%
Easily manages finances59%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Havana
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Havana
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,000 CUP | 3,000 CUP | 8,000 CUP |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 3,000 CUP | 4,800 CUP | 12,000 CUP |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,000 CUP | 6,000 CUP | 16,000 CUP |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,800 CUP | 8,000 CUP | 22,000 CUP |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 9,600 CUP | 24,000 CUP | 48,000 CUP |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 8,000 CUP | 12,000 CUP | 34,000 CUP |
House monthly rent cost
| 9,600 CUP | 24,000 CUP | 48,000 CUP |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 12,000 CUP | 30,000 CUP | 48,000 CUP |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Havana ranges between 2,000 CUP and 8,000 CUP, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 3,000 CUP to 12,000 CUP. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 4,000 CUP and 16,000 CUP per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 4,800 CUP to 22,000 CUP. The average rent of a townhouse in Havana is around 12,000 CUP while house rental costs can be as high as 24,000 CUP per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 12,000 CUP to 48,000 CUP per month.
Apartment and house prices in Havana
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 400,000 CUP | 600,000 CUP | 1.2M CUP |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 480,000 CUP | 800,000 CUP | 3M CUP |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 800,000 CUP | 2.4M CUP | 4.8M CUP |
| $33,000 | $100,000 | $200,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| $110,000 | $170,000 | $500,000 |
Townhouse price
House price
| $170,000 | $1,000,000 | $1.4M |
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Havana can range from 400,000 CUP to 1.2M CUP depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 480,000 CUP to 3M CUP. A villa can cost you 27M CUP on average with prices ranging from 4.8M CUP to 40M CUP.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Havana will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 37 | x106 monthly income | 216 |
Property prices in Havana can be x106 to x216 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x106 multiples of the average monthly salary in Havana.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Havana is around 33%. This means that people pay 33% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 22% to 43% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
30% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Havana
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Havana
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 470 CUP. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 110 CUP to 290 CUP with 220 CUP being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 140 CUP but can range between 87 CUP and 430 CUP depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Havana is around 6.5%. This means that people pay 6.5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.3% to 11% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Havana
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Havana
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Havana is approximatly 43 CUP with meal cost ranging from 22 CUP to 72 CUP. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 76 CUP and 230 CUP with 110 CUP being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Havana.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 150 CUP to 910 CUP with the average cost being 230 CUP for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Havana.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Havana is around 29 CUP. Price ranges between 18 CUP and 43 CUP depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Havana is 17 CUP. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 22 CUP and the minimum being 14 CUP depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 14 CUP on average with 11 CUP and 22 CUP being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Havana is between 25 CUP and 45 CUP depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 32 CUP.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 43 CUP. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Havana costs around 16 CUP on average with prices rangeing between 12 CUP and 23 CUP depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 4.3 CUP to 11 CUP. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 10 CUP on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Havana is around 29%. This means that students spend 29% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 21% to 36% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 360 CUP to 16,000 CUP with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
