Explore Cuba Like a Pro: Your 2026 Travel Budget Guide

In Cuba, cash isn’t just king – it’s your only safe bet. Knowing how to exchange and spend wisely can make or break your travel experience.

What currency does Cuba use (and why should you care)?

Cuba’s currency system is one of the most complex in the world – and that’s no exaggeration. Understanding how it works (or doesn’t) is essential to avoid overspending and/or unnecessary stress.

A short history of Cuban money

For nearly three decades, Cuba operated under a dual currency system:

• Locals used Cuban Pesos (CUP), also known as Moneda Nacional;
• Overseas visitors paid in Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC), which were pegged to the USD at a 1:1 rate. CUCs were also required for locals buying imported goods in certain state-owned shops.

1 CUC/USD was worth CUP 24. While foreigners weren’t meant to use the CUP, many of us did (for example, to pay for street food).

In 2021, the Cuban government implemented a sweeping monetary reform. Among its goals was the elimination of the dual currency system. So, they kept the CUP but got rid of the CUC. At the same time, though, they introduced a digital currency – the Moneda Libremente Convertible (MLC) – needed by locals (you guessed it) to buy imported goods in specific state-owned shops.

While this money reform had massive consequences for many Cubans (in that their savings and earnings were devalued – suddenly their CUP was only worth 1/5 of its prior value), it didn’t change much from a dual-currency point of view. The reform also made other currencies (even more) popular: the EUR and USD. Many businesses accessible to tourists require payment in EUR or USD. That includes casas particulares, Viazul buses and long-distance taxis. Privately owned restaurants (paladares) accept CUP, EUR or USD. Which brings us to another intricacy…

Official vs informal FX rates (and why it matters)

If you exchanged your EUR or USD notes at a government-operated Casa de Cambio (CADECA), you would receive approximately CUP 110 per USD or CUP 136 per EUR (at least that was the case when we visited earlier this year). Based on this exchange rate, your CUP 7,557 meal at a slightly upmarket paladar would cost USD 68.70. That’s expensive, right? When you look at the bottom of your restaurant receipt, you’ll notice that the restaurant quoted a different USD amount: USD 25.19. How is that possible?

Well, that’s Cuba’s informal currency market at play. Instead of a CUP110/136 per USD/EUR rate, you can get many more CUPs if you exchange your EUR or USD via your casa particular, a private restaurant, tourist guide or taxi driver you trust.

Tip The going rate (official and informal) can be found in the elTOQUE app. You won’t ever get the full rate, but even CUP330 per USD is still much better than the CUP110 that CADECA would give you. That said, never exchange money with one of the random people approaching you on the street. At best, you get counterfeit bills; at worst, you get mugged.

So, what does that mean for foreign visitors?

Calculate how much money you might spend on your trip, and bring all your cash needs in EUR or USD notes (whichever is more convenient for you to obtain). Exchange only small amounts at a time once you’re in the country (say, EUR/USD 100, pending your needs). Just ask your casa owner. If they can’t exchange it for you, they’ll know someone who can. Also, always ask for the exchange rate they will give you – use the elTOQUE app as a reference.

While you don’t want to exchange too much at once, you will get a better rate for EUR/USD100 than for EUR/USD20. Also, your EUR/USD banknotes must be undamaged. If your ATM at home spits out a slightly damaged note, walk into the bank and ask them to exchange it.

Also, since you won’t be exchanging a large amount in any case but will instead be paying a lot in EUR/USD, bring notes in smaller denominations so you can always pay the correct amount.

And speaking of EUR vs USD: While you may get more CUPs by exchanging EUR, we found that both currencies are used interchangeably. For example, the Viazul website quotes a trip at EUR 50, which you can pay for by handing over USD 50.

How much did we spend in Cuba in 2025?

During our most recent visit in 2025, we spent an average of USD42.23 per person per day. That’s approximately USD5 less than we paid back in 2017 (USD47.30 per person per day), despite rising prices worldwide. How is that possible (without changing our usual travel style)? Because the devaluation of the Cuban Peso (CUP) against the EUR and USD more than offset those cost-of-living increases.

While the affordability is welcome from a traveller’s perspective, it also underscores how much more expensive daily life has become for ordinary Cubans (especially those who rely on rations) – something to be mindful of as you travel around the country.

Accommodation

Cuba offers two primary types of accommodations: state-owned hotels and privately operated homestays, known as casas particulares.

We’ve stayed exclusively in casas particulares on all our trips, and for good reason. Not only are they usually better value than hotels, but they also offer a more authentic experience and let you support Cuban families directly. Casas particulares are usually owner-operated, with clean private rooms, en-suite bathrooms and even air conditioning. Many casa hosts also offer breakfast, some even dinner (at an additional cost).

Booking a casa particular: What do we recommend?

Airbnb used to be the leading platform connecting Cuban hosts with overseas guests. That all changed in February 2025, as Airbnb stopped transferring the funds collected from guests to Cuban bank accounts. Some hosts can access their income through a middleman (at additional cost on top of Airbnb’s commission), but many others don’t. This is why you may have noticed the number of Airbnb listings dropping (or a host cancelling your already booked accommodation) – they can’t afford to provide their services for free.

So, what should you do instead? Here are the options we’ve used:

• Homestay.com – The platform allows you to search listings, read reviews from prior guests, check out photos and request a booking. Once your booking has been accepted, you pay a 15% booking fee to Homestay (online). Once you arrive at your casa, you pay your hosts in EUR/USD cash the nightly rate (plus any additional meals you may have arranged with them). Easy.
• Google Maps and WhatsApp – We found Google Maps an excellent source for destinations where Homestay had a limited number of viable listings. We would look for accommodation businesses on Google Maps and read the reviews from prior guests. If we liked what we read (and the reviews were relatively recent), we would contact the business via WhatsApp (Cuban mobile numbers have 8 digits starting with 5xxx xxxx, and they are often listed on Google Maps).
• Google Maps and Door-to-Door – If you can’t find a mobile number in Google Maps, but the business has recent reviews, you could also arrive at your destination, knock on their door and ask if they have room for you. Given the lack of tourists in many parts of the country, any casa owner with a vacancy would be very happy to accept you.
• Casa to Casa Recommendations: Another option is to ask your first casa hosts for recommendations for the destination (s) you want to visit. They often have friends or family who also own casas around the country. You don’t know in advance what you’ll get, but if that’s fine with you, it could be a great way to explore the country.

How much does accommodation cost in Cuba?

The nightly rate of a casa particular varies depending on the location, season and included amenities. We paid an average of USD27.52 per night. All our rooms included air conditioning (plus a fan in most cases) and en-suite bathrooms. Breakfast was an extra USD5-7 per person. In some places, particularly outside Havana, our hosts also offered dinner – portions were generous and always home-cooked. But more on that in the following category.

Our most affordable accommodation was a large twin room with an en-suite and private seating area, plus a large shared terrace in the city centre of Sancti Spiritus, which cost USD15 per night. Our most expensive accommodation was a one-bedroom apartment in a (staffed) guesthouse with a shared swimming pool in Holguín, which cost USD40 per night.

Where we stayed in Cuba in 2025

Below are the properties we stayed at when we last visited Cuba in 2025:

Dining and Groceries

While locals who rely on food rations would tell you a different story, we (tourists) never experienced food shortages in Cuba. Each time we visit, we are surprised by our meals’ variety, quality and affordability. Sure, food is made from seasonal ingredients so you won’t find anything out of season. But that’s how it should be. And since Cubans don’t have access to expensive chemical fertilisers, all that’s grown on the island is produced organically.

Where to eat in Cuba?

As a visitor, your main dining options fall into three categories:

• Casas particulares: Your casa hosts often offer home-cooked meals – usually breakfast and sometimes dinner. Breakfast frequently includes toast, egg/s, butter, jam, and sometimes yoghurt, but almost always fresh fruit and fresh juices (plus coffee or tea, of course). We even had waffles and pancakes in one casa. Dinners are hearty and generous – perfect after a day of exploring.
• Paladares: These private restaurants offer a wider variety of dishes than the home-cooked meals in your casa. Pending culinary focus and creativity of the chef, you can find anything – from traditional Cuban dishes like Ropa Vieja (with rice, beans and salad) to surprisingly refined dishes with international influence. Some paladares are simple family affairs, some are high-end (with uniformed staff), but most are somewhere in between.
• State-owned restaurants: These establishments are best avoided, unless there is no alternative. While there are some higher-end restaurants in the country’s state-owned 4- and 5-star hotels, other state-owned restaurants’ food and service quality tend to be on the lower side.

How much do meals cost in Cuba?

On average, we spent USD12.03 per person per day on food, including meals, snacks, groceries and drinks (and tips where applicable).

The cheapest meal out we had? Two peso pizzas from a hole-in-the-wall eatery in Sancti Spiritus cost us CUP180 (around USD0.50) each. It wasn’t gourmet, but it was tasty, freshly-prepared (read: steaming hot) and filling. We ate our most expensive meal at a slightly upmarket paladar in Habana Vieja, where we paid CUP8,000 (around USD22.50) for two people, including drinks and tips. That meal included lobster (yep, the one in the picture above) – at less than USD10, an absolute steal. Most of our meals cost between USD6 and USD12 for two people, including drinks and a (usually 10%) tip.

At our casas, breakfast cost us USD5-7 per person, while dinners ranged from USD12-15 for the two of us (including soup and main course).

As portion sizes in Cuba tend to be large to extra-large, we often shared a meal between us. Once, when we weren’t sure about the portion size, we ordered one meal each, resulting in so much leftover that we ate the rest over lunch AND dinner the following day. Thankfully, we were able to take the leftovers home and had a working fridge to store them overnight.

How much do groceries cost in Cuba (and where do you find them)?

Cooking for yourself is possible in Cuba if you can access a kitchen. In most casas, you’ll only be able to rent a room (with your host preparing the meals). We had access to a kitchen once, for four days, when we rented an apartment, but we only cooked for ourselves twice.

Fresh produce is available at local farmers’ markets (agropecuarias) and from street vendors (pregoneros), with the choice depending on what is in season. We bought tomatoes, capsicum, sweet potatoes, malanga (a type of taro), bananas, and ciruela (a kind of plum) – all for just a few hundred pesos. You’ll find other basics (such as rice, beans, eggs and pasta) in small private shops (tiendas), often just the front room of the vendor’s house. All of them charge and accept only CUP.

If you want something a little fancier (in Cuban vernacular), such as jam, canned vegetables, canned fish, pasta sauces or alcohol, you can find those in the special state-run stores that only accept MLC or EUR/USD.

How much are drinks in Cuba?

Bottled water is sold in two sizes: a 1.5-litre bottle costs CUP250-300 and a 500-ml bottle costs approximately CUP150.

Local beer (Cristal or Bucanero) costs CUP400-500 per can or bottle in a shop (and USD2-3 in restaurants). Cocktails like Mojitos, Daiquiris or Piña Coladas cost as little as CUP400 outside Havana, but we’ve also seen them for up to CUP1,200 (for the same size glass) in Habana Vieja.

Transportation

Getting to Cuba (Quick note on entry)

We’ve intentionally excluded our international airfare from this cost breakdown, as the expense varies too widely, depending on where you travel from/return to. However, one important thing to note is that if you plan to travel to (or via) the United States after visiting Cuba, your entry options may be restricted. Under current US rules, you cannot use the ESTA visa waiver if you’ve visited Cuba since January 2021; you’ll need to apply for a full visa instead. Learn more on the website of the US State Department.

How to get around Cuba?

Getting around Cuba requires patience, flexibility and sometimes a bit of creativity. That said, long-distance travel in Cuba is typically done by one of the following options:

• Viazul: The main bus network for foreigners. Seats can be booked online, but credit card payments are unlikely to work, given the sanctions against Cuba. So, make the booking online but pay in EUR/USD cash in person at the Viazul bus station (1.5 hours or less before departure).
• Private taxis: More expensive than the Viazul bus but with door-to-door service. Pending destination, the size of your travel group and your negotiation skills, it could even cost the same (per person) as the Viazul bus. Private taxis can also be helpful to hire for day trips (more on that below). Fares are charged in EUR/USD and paid in cash once you’re dropped off at your destination (or at the end of your day trip).
• Trains: Yes, Cuba has a railway network (a remnant from colonial times), with trains running every few days. However, with frequent delays and the need to book tickets as soon as they become available (30 days prior to departure), it’s only recommended if you’re adventurous and have time to spare. Fares are charged in CUP.
• Colectivos (sometimes called máquinas): These shared vehicles operate on specific routes and depart from designated points when full (though they do pick up passengers along the way as others are dropped off). As colectivos don’t cover large distances, they’re only recommended for day trips to nearby towns (for example, we used them to visit Gibara from Holguín). Fares are paid in CUP.

We used a mix of Viazul buses, colectivos and private taxis to get around. We tried to get train tickets for our overnight journey from Havana to Bayamo, but by that time, all tickets were sold out.

How to get around Havana (and how much does it cost)?

Within Havana, your options are a little broader:

• Transtur airport bus: This is a dedicated shuttle for tourists between the airport and key locations in Habana Vieja, Habana Centro and Playa (there are three different routes). Tickets cost USD5 per person and are paid in cash upon boarding.
• Route buses (guaguas): Public buses cover the whole city and cost CUP2 per person (you pay cash as you get on). They’re not very reliable, though. We once arrived at a bus stop where locals had already waited 1.5 hours (!) for the bus we wanted to take (we ended up walking instead).
• Metro taxis: These yellow (mini)buses have set routes but no set timetable. They leave their starting point when they are full and stop at designated stops to drop people off or let people on if there is space. Metro taxis cost CUP5 per person per section travelled. Check the sign outside the bus to see which section you’re getting off in and pay accordingly.
• Private taxis: Widely available, and easy to book via the La Nave app (Cuba’s version of Uber). You’ll need a Cuban mobile number to use the app (which you get if you buy a physical SIM card – more on that below). However, unlike Uber, you pay your driver in cash (CUP) upon drop-off.
• Public ferry: If you want to cross Havana Harbour to visit sites in Casablanca or Regla, you can take the public ferry from the wharf at Parque Aracelo Iglesias [Google Maps location]. Check the direction before you board, as the ferry alternates between Casablanca and Regla (servicing each once an hour). A ferry ride costs CUP2 per person – you pay cash as you board.

In Havana, we mostly walked between Habana Vieja, Habana Centro, and Vedado, but we used all of the above for trips to other parts of the city (and for our trip to and from the airport).

How much did we spend on transportation in Cuba?

During our trip, we averaged USD7.28 per person per day for transportation. This included all intercity travel and local transport. Our intercity travel was made up of the following sections:

• We used the Viazul bus for two long-distance trips: Havana to Bayamo and Holguín to Sancti Spiritus.
• We hired a private taxi twice: from Sancti Spiritus to Playa Larga and from Playa Larga to Havana (as the Viazul bus ran only twice a week, and not on the days we needed it).
• We also took a colectivo from Bayamo to Holguín.

Experiences

Cuba offers a multitude of enriching experiences – many of them completely free or incredibly affordable. But you can also spend a fortune on activities (especially when doing private tours). It all comes down to your travel style, how much time you’ve got and how much you want to see.

Free and low-cost things to do in Cuba

Some of our favourite experiences in Cuba didn’t cost a cent (or only very little):

• Sunsets along the Malecón: Havana’s iconic sea wall becomes a social hub in the early evening. Bring a cold drink, sit with the locals and enjoy live music, laughter and warm breezes.
• Street music and impromptu concerts: From Santiago de Cuba to Havana, talented musicians often perform in parks and squares. While the music is free, small tips are always appreciated. Also, keep an eye out for posters of upcoming events. We attended two publicly organised (free) concerts in Sancti Spiritus and Habana Vieja.
• Free walking tour of Habana Vieja: When we visited Havana for the very first time, we joined a free walking tour of Habana Vieja. Booked via GuruWalk, it was a great introduction to the city and provided a valuable orientation for future visits.
• Museums and historical sites: Many museums around the country are free or have very low entry fees. The most we paid to enter a museum or historical site during our trip was CUP200 – at La Cabaña de Che in Casablanca/Havana [Google Maps location] and the Bay of Pigs Museum in Playa Girón [Google Maps location].
• Speaking of historic sites: If you’ve seen most of what’s to see in Habana Vieja, Casablanca, Habana Centro and Vedado, we recommend visiting Finca Vigía, Ernest Hemingway’s home for many years. Take the P1 route bus/guagua to its final stop, Rosita (Google Maps location). From there, it’s a flat 2 km walk (or a short taxi ride), mainly along the Carretera Central.

Paid experiences worth doing

Besides these free or cheap experiences, we also organised various day trips:

• From Bayamo: We hired a taxi to take us to the entrance point of the Pico Turquino National Park [Google Maps location] and pick us up from there later in the afternoon. From the gate (with an English-speaking guide provided by the National Park), we hiked to the Comandancia de la Plata [Google Maps location], the Sierra Maestra command centre of the rebel army that eventually overthrew Dictator Fulgencio Batista in the 1959 Cuban Revolution. The whole day cost USD154 for the two of us (USD77 per person) – USD60 for the taxi, USD40 per person for the National Park entrance (including guide and lunch box), and USD14 in tips.
• From Holguín: One day, we hired a private taxi to visit the Birthplace of Fidel and Raúl Castro [Google Maps location], a large estate on the outskirts of Birán, about 70km east of Holguín, where a site-employed English-speaking guide showed us around. Another day, we took a colectivo to Gibara [Google Maps location], a small coastal town 35km north of Holguín. We spent a few hours there, visiting the small local museum, hiking to a viewpoint for lunch [Google Maps location] and just soaking in the laid-back atmosphere. The day trip to Birán cost us USD91; the journey to Gibara CUP2,400 (not including food and drinks).
• From Playa Larga: Given the lack of public transport alternatives, we also hired a taxi here for a day – to visit the Bay of Pigs Museum in Playa Girón [Google Maps location], hike the Sendero Enigma de las Rocas [Google Maps location] in the Ciénaga de Zapata National Park, and snorkel – in the Cueva de los Peces Cenote [Google Maps location] and the Bay of Pigs Reef [Google Maps location]. We paid USD45 for the taxi and USD15 per person for the English-speaking National Park guide. Entry fees to the museum were CUP200 per person and to the cenote, CUP250 per person.

How much did we spend on experiences in Cuba?

As we’ve been to Cuba a few times already, we don’t do the typical touristy stuff in Havana (anymore). We also spent 3 1/2 weeks in Cuba, more than the usual tourist who visits the country. With that, we only spent an average of USD7.09 per person per day on activities. Some days we spent nothing at all, just wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere. On other days, we joined a paid experience or visited multiple museums.

Other expenses you may incur in Cuba

While the bulk of your spending in Cuba will go towards accommodation, food, transport and experiences, there are a few other costs worth considering – some of which are unique to the Cuban context.

Travel Insurance (Required)

Travel insurance isn’t just recommended for Cuba – it’s required. You may be asked to show proof of cover upon arrival. At a minimum, your policy must include medical coverage. We also recommend ensuring it provides emergency evacuation, especially if you plan to travel outside major cities.

We use an annual policy underwritten by Allianz, but have also used Insubuy to find a suitable policy.

Staying Connected: SIM Cards and Wi-Fi

Internet access in Cuba has improved, but it is still patchy and inconvenient compared to other countries, with essentially two options to stay online:

• Buy a local SIM card: These tourist SIM cards offer limited data packages and are available only at official ETECSA offices or Havana Airport. Expect to pay USD35 for 10GB of data (valid for 30 days) or USD14 for 4GB (valid for 7 days). The advantage of obtaining a SIM card is that you also receive a Cuban mobile number, which you’ll need to use the La Nave app.
• Use an ETECSA Wi-Fi card: These scratch cards give you access to Wi-Fi in hotspots (usually town centres and public parks). We bought 5 hours’ worth of use for CUP250. To find hotspots, look for ETECSA Wi-Fi on the screen you use to connect to Wi-Fi. Selecting ETECSA WIFI will take you to the ETECSA website. Carefully reveal the access number on the scratch card and type it in. Unfortunately, you’ll have to enter the access number each time you want to use wifi. As you log on, you’re also shown how much time you’ve got left on your card. Just make sure to switch off your phone’s Wi-Fi when you no longer need it.

We used a combination of both: a SuenaCuba SIM for messages and navigation, and Wi-Fi cards when staying somewhere with good reception to upload photos and videos, and download books. Whichever you choose, do be aware that internet access is often slow and prone to frequent drops.

Emergency funds and contingencies

Cuba can be unpredictable. While unforeseen events rarely ruin a trip, they can add unexpected costs, such as needing to take an overnight Viazul bus when you can’t get train tickets or a private taxi when the Viazul bus only operates on days that don’t fit your itinerary. We therefore recommend adding up to 10% of your overall budget as contingency or emergency funds, stored separately from your main funds.

A quick word on tipping

Tipping in Cuba isn’t mandatory, but it’s always appreciated – and increasingly expected in the tourism sector. Most Cubans working in service roles earn very little, and tips go a long way. Here’s our rough guide:

• In restaurants or paladares, 10% is customary
• For street performers (and people who help you without expecting anything in return): USD/EUR1 (or the CUP equivalent)
• For casa hosts who go above and beyond: Just round up the bill
• For drivers or guides: Nil if the amount for their service was negotiated with them; up to 10% if they went above and beyond

For example, in the Sierra Maestra, our taxi driver had to wait an additional 1.5 hours for us, and our guide took us to meet a farming family and taste some of their produce. We paid each of them a small tip, over and above the price agreed with them/set by the National Park, plus the farming family, too, of course (in CUP).

How much cash should you bring (and how can you keep it safe)?

Since you’ll need to assume that your foreign card(s) won’t work in Cuba, and the official exchange rate is significantly worse than the informal one, you’ll need to bring all your travel funds for Cuba in cash (in EUR or USD, whichever is easiest for you to obtain).

Working out your needs

To work out your travel budget, multiply your daily estimate (covering accommodation, food and drinks, transportation and experiences) by the number of nights. Then add (at least) 10% contingency. For example:

• Daily budget: USD50 per person
• Trip length: 14 nights
• Travel party size: 2
• Total estimate: USD1,400
• 10% contingency: USD140
• Total cash needed: USD1,540.

While larger denominations (USD/EUR100 notes) are best when you want to exchange them into CUP (as they get better exchange rates on the informal market), you should also bring a good amount of smaller denominations.

Our actual CUP needs in Cuba (2025)

Based on our 24-day itinerary, we exchanged a total of USD300 and EUR20. As we ran out of CUP in the end, we also paid for our final meal at a paladar in Habana Centro in a mix of EUR and USD:

At an average informal rate of approximately CUP355, we spent around 17% of our expenses in CUP, with the remainder in EUR/USD.

Tip Don’t convert all your cash into CUP at once. It’s hard to exchange anything you don’t need back at a fair rate. Additionally, CUP notes occupy significantly more space than equivalent EUR/USD notes.

How to keep your cash safe?

While we never felt unsafe in Cuba, we never carried all our money in one place. Instead, we use a layered approach:

• We divide the cash between us.
• We hide the cash we don’t need on the day in different places in our (locked) travel packs (which always stay in sight on travel days or at our accommodation).
• We carry a small amount in our sling bag or wallet and some backup in a money belt (but never more than we need for a few days).
• We also keep a small amount of cash in a coin wallet to buy snacks or to tip a street musician. That way, we don’t need to take out our (normal) wallet or purse, and if someone grabs it, it’s not much that we’d lose.

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