Budget — La Havane

Living costs in Havana are broadly moderate for foreign travellers, with significant variability depending on accommodation and dining choices. The baseline of €70 per person per day covers a comfortable stay in a casa particular, meals in paladares (private Cuban restaurants), museum entries and local transport.

Accommodation is very accessible. A casa particular (room in a private home, official licence required) costs €25-40 a night for a double room with a copious home-cooked breakfast — the recommended option to experience Cuba from the inside. State hotels (Inglaterra, Sevilla, Saratoga, Nacional) charge €120-300 a night with sometimes uneven comfort due to shortages. Absolute luxury (Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski, Iberostar Parque Central) clears €400 a night.

Dining centres on the paladares (private restaurants since the 2011 reforms) — the Cuban culinary revolution of the past decade. Expect €15-25 per person for a complete dinner with a mojito at a quality paladar (La Guarida, El Cocinero, Doña Eutimia, Habana 61). State cafeterias serve basic meals at €3-5 per person. A mojito in a tourist bar costs €4-6, a cocktail at the Hotel Nacional €8-10.

Site entry fees are modest: Capitolio €5, Museo de la Revolución €8, Hotel Nacional free (some areas excepted), Fábrica de Arte €5 plus drinks. A ride in a classic American convertible costs €30-40 for an hour along the Malecón and Plaza de la Revolución — one of the must-do iconic experiences. Private salsa class €10-15/hour in a casa particular.

For local transport, private taxis (almendrones, shared classic American cars) cost €0.50-1 per shared trip in town; tourist taxis €5-10 per trip; bicitaxis €2-3 for a short ride. Avoid the official yellow ETECSA taxis, which are more expensive. Urban buses (guaguas) are practically free but heavily crowded, best avoided in the first days.