Which place is cheaper, Havana or Bucharest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bucharest or Havana?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bucharest and Havana. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Bucharest or Havana?
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.
Havana
The city of Havana is at the top of most peoples' bucket list - mostly because of the allure of a forbidden land. Before the Communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination. Since it has reopened in the 1990s, it has drawn tourists from all over the world (except the US).
This capital city is a land trapped in the past. With 50 years of neglect, when you step off the plane, prepare to step back in time. A trip to Havana is meant for those with truly open minds - and when they arrive they'll be swept away.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBucharest $139Havana $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Bucharest is $139, while the average daily cost in Havana is $65. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bucharest and Havana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBucharest $63Havana $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBucharest $126Havana $80
Compare Hotels in Bucharest and Havana
Looking for a hotel in Bucharest or Havana? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bucharest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bucharest $26Havana $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:
- Bucharest to Drobeta Turnu Severin - Private Transfer - Driver and Car: $208
- ATV Adrenaline Race in Carpathian with Private Transfer: $142
- Airport Bucharest Transfer: $54
- Airport Henri Coanda (Otopeni) to Bucharest - Private Transfer - Driver: $44
- Airport Private Transfer - to or from any Bucharest hotel: $65
- Airport Transfer - Bucharest Otopeni Henri Coandă Airport : $18
- Airport Transfer Bucharest - Brasov ,Brasov- Bucharest: $66
- Airport to Bucharest - Private Transfer from Henri Coanda Airport OTP Otopeni : $44
- Airport to Bucharest /Private Transfer from OTP Henri Coanda: $39
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bucharest Airport OTP to Brasov in Business Car: $148
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bucharest Airport OTP to Brasov in Luxury Van: $163
- Arrival Private Transfers from Bucharest Airport OTP to Bucharest City: $51
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Havana:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.68
Is it cheaper to fly into Bucharest or Havana?
Prices for flights to both Havana and Bucharest change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBucharest $59Havana $10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.
- Dinner at the Museum of Communism - Traditional Food Tour: $54
- Bohemian Bucharest Markets and Mahallas Traditional Food Tour: $60
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner: $64
- Cooking Class traditional food: $66
- Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $74
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner - 3 hours: $87
- Private Walking Food Tour - Culture, History & Traditions: $99
- Discover Private Highlights and Traditional Food Tour: $109
- Private Bucharest Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $116
- Historical and Cultural Tour with Romanian Cuisine dinner: $142
- 4-Hour Walking Food Tour in the Old Town: $203
- Bucharest City Tour & Traditional Home-made Cooking Experience: $229
Typical Food Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Havana:
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Pizza$0.03
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bucharest $15Havana $11
Tours and Activities in Bucharest
Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Buchaest: Peles Castle, Bran Castle, & Brasov Old Town Tour: $5.37
- Reptiland Bucharest Entry Ticket: $13
- A Tale of Bucharest Old Town Walking Tour: $16
- Communism Walking Tour from Lenin to Ceausescu in Bucharest: $16
- City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $17
- Bucharest Highlights Walking Tour: $18
- Parliament Palace Skip-the-line Ticket: $20
- Palace of Parliament Bucharest 1 Hour Guided Tour: $21
- Virtual Reality Experience: $21
- Calea Victoriei and Old Town Highlights Tour: $22
- Guided Tour at museum Casa Storck: $22
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Bucharest: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBucharest $9.28Havana $5.76
Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest
Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Weekend Pub Crawl: $24
- Bucharest Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $25
- From Romanian Wine Tasting Tour: $26
- Bachelors Party in Custom Bar Crawl: $38
- Private Bar Crawling in Bucharest Old City: $43
- Private Wine Tasting Experience: $43
- Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $47
- Private Romanian Wine Tasting in Urlați: $52
- Guided Pub Crawl in Bucharest: $56
- Bucharest Old Town Pub and Bar Crawl with Guide: $57
- Bucharest VIP Bar Crawl in Lipscani 'Old Town': $59
- Bucharest City Tour and Wine Tasting: $85
Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Havana:
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Mojito$0.15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bucharest and Havana, we can see that Bucharest is more expensive. And not only is Havana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bucharest is in Europe and Havana is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Havana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Havana and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bucharest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bucharest than you might in Havana.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bucharest Expensive? and Is Havana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bucharest or Havana?
Havana has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Bucharest. When comparing the sizes of Bucharest and Havana, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Bucharest or Havana?
Bucharest has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Havana experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Bucharest or Havana in the Summer?
Both Havana and Bucharest are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bucharest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Havana because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Bucharest is cooler than Havana. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bucharest in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Havana averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In July, Bucharest usually receives more rain than Havana. Bucharest gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Havana receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBucharest 23°C (73°F)Havana 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Bucharest or Havana in the Autumn?
Both Havana and Bucharest during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bucharest in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Havana year-round.
In October, Bucharest is generally much colder than Havana. Daily temperatures in Bucharest average around 13°C (55°F), and Havana fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Bucharest usually gets less rain in October than Havana. Bucharest gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Havana receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBucharest 13°C (55°F)Havana 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Bucharest or Havana in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bucharest and Havana. Most visitors come to Bucharest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Havana attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Bucharest can be very cold during winter. Bucharest is much colder than Havana in the winter. The daily temperature in Bucharest averages around -1°C (29°F) in January, and Havana fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In January, Bucharest usually receives more rain than Havana. Bucharest gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Havana receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBucharest -1°C (29°F)Havana 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Bucharest or Havana in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Bucharest as well as Havana. The spring months attract visitors to Bucharest because of the activities around the city. The warm climate attracts visitors to Havana throughout the year.
In the spring, Bucharest is much colder than Havana. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bucharest in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Havana averages at about 24°C (75°F).
Bucharest usually gets more rain in April than Havana. Bucharest gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Havana receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBucharest 12°C (54°F)Havana 24°C (75°F)
Typical Weather for Havana and Bucharest
| Bucharest | Havana | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -1°C (29°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (44°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (34°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.