Cost Of Living For a Student in Santiago de Cuba 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: CUP
Average monthly spending for students in Santiago de Cuba
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Santiago de Cuba?
Students in Santiago de Cuba spend around 11,000 CUP per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1,700 CUP or as high as 76,000 CUP. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Santiago de Cuba
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
| 55,000 CUP | 110,000 CUP | 150,000 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
| 1,900 CUP | 2,900 CUP | 7,700 CUP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 2,900 CUP | 4,600 CUP | 12,000 CUP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 3,800 CUP | 5,800 CUP | 15,000 CUP |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 380,000 CUP | 580,000 CUP | 1.2M CUP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 460,000 CUP | 770,000 CUP | 2.9M CUP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 770,000 CUP | 2.3M CUP | 4.6M CUP |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 2,200 CUP | 2,700 CUP | 3,700 CUP |
Double Bed
| 1,500 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 | 1,500 CUP | 2,700 CUP |
Sofa or Couch
| 1,500 CUP | 2,000 CUP | 4,400 CUP |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 1,500 CUP | 2,200 CUP | 4,400 CUP |
Fridge or Freezer
| 1,300 CUP | 2,000 CUP | 2,700 CUP |
Washing Machine
| 1,700 CUP | 2,400 CUP | 4,400 CUP |
Stove or Cooker
| 1,600 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 | 4,400 CUP |
How do students spend their money in Santiago de Cuba?
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 | $17 410 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $110 2,700 CUP |
| HIGH | $760 18,000 CUP |
| Per Month |
Students in Santiago de Cuba 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 2,700 CUP with expenditure ranging from 410 CUP to 18,000 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 | $2.9 69 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $19 460 CUP |
| HIGH | $130 3,000 CUP |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Santiago de Cuba ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 460 CUP with 69 CUP and 3,000 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 | $5 120 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $33 800 CUP |
| HIGH | $220 5,300 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 120 CUP to 5,300 CUP in a month on commuting with 800 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 | $14 350 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $95 2,300 CUP |
| HIGH | $630 15,000 CUP |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Santiago de Cuba is 2,300 CUP. The cost of groceries can range between 350 CUP to 15,000 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 | $4.3 100 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $29 680 CUP |
| HIGH | $190 4,600 CUP |
| Per Month |
Students in Santiago de Cuba 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 100 CUP to 4,600 CUP with 680 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 | $3.6 86 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $24 570 CUP |
| HIGH | $160 3,800 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 86 CUP to 3,800 CUP with 570 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 | $14 330 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $90 2,200 CUP |
| HIGH | $600 14,000 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 2,200 CUP per month with 330 CUP being the minimum spent amount and 14,000 CUP being the maximum.
Other Expenses19%
19% of total expenses on average (13% to 25%)
| LOW | $11 260 CUP |
| AVERAGE | $71 1,700 CUP |
| HIGH | $480 11,000 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 Santiago de Cuba
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Santiago de Cuba?
Around 61% of surveyed students think that living in Santiago de Cuba is affordable with proper budgeting while 39% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Santiago de Cuba
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 options60%
Few low-cost options40%
Based on the survey, 60% of the students living in Santiago de Cuba have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 40% 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 Santiago de Cuba whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes60%
No40%
Based on the survey, 40% of the students living in Santiago de Cuba said that they don't have an emergency fund while 60% 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 Santiago de Cuba 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 Santiago de Cuba
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Santiago de Cuba
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,900 CUP | 2,900 CUP | 7,700 CUP |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,900 CUP | 4,600 CUP | 12,000 CUP |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 3,800 CUP | 5,800 CUP | 15,000 CUP |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,600 CUP | 7,700 CUP | 21,000 CUP |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 9,200 CUP | 23,000 CUP | 46,000 CUP |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 7,700 CUP | 12,000 CUP | 33,000 CUP |
House monthly rent cost
| 9,200 CUP | 23,000 CUP | 46,000 CUP |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 12,000 CUP | 29,000 CUP | 46,000 CUP |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Santiago de Cuba ranges between 1,900 CUP and 7,700 CUP, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 2,900 CUP to 12,000 CUP. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 3,800 CUP and 15,000 CUP per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 4,600 CUP to 21,000 CUP. The average rent of a townhouse in Santiago de Cuba is around 12,000 CUP while house rental costs can be as high as 23,000 CUP per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 12,000 CUP to 46,000 CUP per month.
Apartment and house prices in Santiago de Cuba
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 380,000 CUP | 580,000 CUP | 1.2M CUP |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 460,000 CUP | 770,000 CUP | 2.9M CUP |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 770,000 CUP | 2.3M CUP | 4.6M CUP |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 2.6M CUP | 3.8M CUP | 12M CUP |
| $110,000 | $160,000 | $480,000 |
Townhouse price
| 3.3M CUP | 7.7M CUP | 29M CUP |
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Santiago de Cuba can range from 380,000 CUP to 1.2M CUP depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 460,000 CUP to 2.9M CUP. A villa can cost you 26M CUP on average with prices ranging from 4.6M CUP to 38M CUP.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Santiago de Cuba 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
| 36 | x102 monthly income | 208 |
Property prices in Santiago de Cuba can be x102 to x208 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x102 multiples of the average monthly salary in Santiago de Cuba.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Santiago de Cuba is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 42% 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
29% 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 Santiago de Cuba
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Santiago de Cuba
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 460 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 150 CUP but can range between 88 CUP and 440 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 Santiago de Cuba is around 6.3%. This means that people pay 6.3% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.1% to 11% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Santiago de Cuba
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Santiago de Cuba
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 Santiago de Cuba is approximatly 44 CUP with meal cost ranging from 22 CUP to 73 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 75 CUP and 220 CUP with 110 CUP being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Santiago de Cuba.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 150 CUP to 900 CUP with the average cost being 220 CUP for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Santiago de Cuba.
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 Santiago de Cuba is around 29 CUP. Price ranges between 18 CUP and 44 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 Santiago de Cuba is 18 CUP. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 22 CUP and the minimum being 15 CUP depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 15 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 Santiago de Cuba is between 25 CUP and 46 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 44 CUP. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Santiago de Cuba 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 4.4 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 Santiago de Cuba is around 28%. This means that students spend 28% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 35% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 350 CUP to 15,000 CUP with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
