Cuba offers a decent value for European travellers — less economical than Southeast Asia but more accessible than the English-speaking or French-speaking Caribbean. The reference budget of €70/day/person corresponds to a comfortable stay in casas particulares with dinners in paladares and local activities.
A budget traveller can manage on €50-60/day: basic casa particular (€20-30/night for 2), meals in popular paladares or with hosts (€8-15/person), Viazul bus transport, few cocktails.
The comfort or luxury traveller has plenty of choice between state hotels (Inglaterra, Nacional, Saratoga in Havana, Iberostar Grand Trinidad, Hotel Casa Granda in Santiago) at €120-300/night and all-inclusive resorts in the Cayos (Iberostar Selection, Pullman, Meliá premium) at €150-400/person/night in high season. All-inclusive packages from Europe (charter flight + transfer + 1 week resort) start at €800 in low season, €1,500-2,500 in high season.
By category: accommodation (35-40% of budget) — casa particular €20-40/night double, 3-star hotel €60-100, 4-star €120-200, Cayos all-inclusive resort €100-200/person/night. Food (25-30%) — Cuban coffee €0.50-1, mojito €3-4, paladar dinner €12-20/person, gastronomic restaurant €30-50/person. Sites and museums (5-10%) — site entries €1-6, classic car ride €30-40/hour, private salsa class €10-15/hour, guided excursion €30-50/day. Transport (15-20%) — Viazul bus €5-60/trip, shared taxi €15-35/person, private car €80-200/trip, domestic flight €80-180 return.
A few practical tips: bring euros in cash in quantity (Cuba is largely cash-based, ATMs are rare and unreliable). Exchange only at official CADECAs (slightly lower rate but secure). European bank cards work at some ATMs (US-issued cards refused). For internet, buy a Cuba eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) before departure or a Cubacel SIM at the airport — European roaming does not work. Tips matter enormously for services (5-10% at restaurants, €1-2/day for the chambermaid, €1 per cocktail at the bar). Bring modest gifts for your hosts (soaps, perfumes, children's clothes, school supplies) — much appreciated in a chronically scarce country.
Read also
- Havana and the West — The UNESCO capital and Viñales Valley: absolute priority for a first Cuban trip.
- Central Cuba — UNESCO Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara: the historic colonial and revolutionary heart.
- South-East and Santiago — Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa, Sierra Maestra: the most authentic and African Cuban Oriente.
- Cayos and Beaches — Varadero, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo: Cuba's paradise beaches in all-inclusive formula.
- Havana, the frozen capital — UNESCO Old Havana, the Malecón, American classic cars, nightly salsa: the Cuban heart.