A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Havana vs. Granada for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Havana or Granada?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Havana and Granada can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Havana or Granada?

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.

Granada

Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Granada or Havana?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Havana is $65, while the average daily cost in Granada is $40. 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 Havana and Granada in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Havana $40
    Granada $17
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Havana $80
    Granada $34
Compare Hotels in Havana and Granada

Looking for a hotel in Havana or Granada? 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.

Hotels in Havana


Hotels in Granada


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: Granada Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Havana $19
    Granada $8.57
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Havana:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.68

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:

  • One-Way Private Transfer From/To Airport or Hotels in Granada: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Havana or Granada?

Prices for flights to both Granada and Havana 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Havana $10
    Granada $14
Typical Food Prices in Havana

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Havana:


  • Pizza
    $0.03

Typical Food Prices in Granada

Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:


  • Pizza
    $2.29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Havana $11
    Granada $10

Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:


  • Lago de Nicaragua Boat Tour
    $8.17

Tours and Activities in Granada

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Granada are as follows:

  • Granada Kayak Tour: $30
  • Colonial Granada Horse Carriage & Walking Tour: $35
  • Paddle Boarding and Meditation Wellness Experience in Las Isletas: $39
  • Las Isletas: Kayak Tour: $39
  • Granada City Tour: $40
  • Granada's City Tour: $40
  • Las Isletas: Boat Tour: $45
  • Masaya Night Tour Minimum 2 People from Granada: $45
  • Las Isletas 2-Hour Kayak Adventure in Granada with Pickup: $48
  • City Walking Tour and Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride: $50
  • Full-Day Tour: Masaya Volcano, Art Market and White Villages: $60
  • Experience Granadas Best Sights Carriage ride + Local Guide: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Havana $5.76
    Granada $7.50
Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Havana:


  • Mojito
    $0.15

Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:


  • Tequila
    $1.36


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Havana and Granada, we can see that Havana is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Havana is in Caribbean Islands and Granada is in Central America, 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 Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada 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 Havana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Havana than you might in Granada.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Havana Expensive? and Is Granada Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Havana or Granada?

Havana has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Granada. When comparing the sizes of Havana and Granada, 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 Havana or Granada?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Havana or Granada in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Havana and Granada. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Havana year-round. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Granada receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Havana usually receives less rain than Granada. Havana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Granada receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Havana is around the same temperature as Granada in the summer. The daily temperature in Havana averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Granada fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Havana 27°C (81°F) 
    Granada 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Havana or Granada in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Havana as well as Granada. Havana attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Granada. Havana usually gets less rain in October than Granada. Havana gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Granada receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the autumn, Havana is around the same temperature as Granada. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Havana in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Granada averages at about 27°C (81°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Havana 25°C (77°F) 
    Granada 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Havana or Granada in the Winter?

Both Granada and Havana are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Havana throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Havana usually receives more rain than Granada. Havana gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Granada receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

In January, Havana is generally cooler than Granada. Daily temperatures in Havana average around 21°C (70°F), and Granada fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Havana 21°C (70°F) 
    Granada 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Havana or Granada in the Spring?

Both Granada and Havana during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Havana because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round.

Havana usually gets more rain in April than Granada. Havana gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Granada receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Havana is cooler than Granada in the spring. The daily temperature in Havana averages around 24°C (75°F) in April, and Granada fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Havana 24°C (75°F) 
    Granada 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Granada and Havana

Havana Granada
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 21°C (70°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Feb 22°C (72°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 27°C (80°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 23°C (73°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 24°C (75°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 29°C (84°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
May 26°C (79°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 29°C (84°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 196 mm (7.7 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 50 mm (2 in) 27°C (81°F) 144 mm (5.7 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 26°C (79°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 210 mm (8.3 in)
Oct 25°C (77°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 197 mm (7.8 in)
Nov 23°C (73°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 31°C (88°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Dec 22°C (72°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)