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

Should you visit Havana or Mendoza?

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 Mendoza can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Havana or Mendoza?

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.

Mendoza

Mendoza is a city in western Argentina and more precisely in the desertic Cuyo region. Mendoza is the center of the Argentinian wine industry and is famed around the world for its vineyards and wine production. Spread across the valley of the Rio Mendoza and in the foothills of the Andean mountain range, Mendoza is also near the Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. The bustling and scenic city of wide, leafy avenues, atmospheric plazas and cosmopolitan cafes spoils visitors with unique natural attractions and historical landmarks. If you can, visit Mendoza during the harvest festival at the end of February. There are many events and festivals in Mendoza and they are usually free. Each has a different theme, and they usually have a stage with singing and dancing and booths that sell food around a plaza. Seventy percent of Argentina's wines are produced here, and Mendoza is especially known for its world-famous malbecs.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Mendoza or Havana?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Havana is $74, while the average daily cost in Mendoza is $56. 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 Mendoza in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Havana $42
    Mendoza $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Havana $84
    Mendoza $86
Compare Hotels in Havana and Mendoza

Looking for a hotel in Havana or Mendoza? 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 Mendoza


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: Mendoza Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Havana $19
    Mendoza $4.18
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 Mendoza

Also for Mendoza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 6-Seats Private Transfer in Mendoza with Personal Driver: $21
  • Argentine BBQ Experience and Winery Visits.Transfer included: $195
  • Catena Zapata and El Enemigo Wine Tasting with Private Transfer: $290
  • Classic Wine Tour with Winery Roast. Private Transfer.: $220
  • Departure Private Transfer Valle de Uco to Mendoza Airport MDZ : $103
  • Distillery Gin + Lunch in Winery with Private Transfer.: $160
  • Essential Wine and Lunch. Private Transfer: $100
  • Luján de Cuyo/ Maipú Wineries. Full Day. Transfer.: $115
  • MDZ Airport Private Transfer to Mendoza City Center: $22
  • Mendoza Airport (MDZ) to Mendoza - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $67
  • Mendoza Airport Departure Transfer: $34
  • Mendoza Airport Shuttle Transfer: $22

Is it cheaper to fly into Havana or Mendoza?

Prices for flights to both Mendoza 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 $18
    Mendoza $5.85
Typical Food Prices in Havana

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


  • Pizza
    $0.03

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mendoza

For Mendoza, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Argentine BBQ on Terrace with Views. Dinner, Sunset.: $80
  • Mendoza Cooking Experience with Unlimited Wine & Cocktails: $95
  • Argentine Hands-On Cooking & Wine Experience in Mendoza: $95
  • Bar Safari 4 Best Mendoza’s Bars in 1 Night with Full Dinner: $167
  • Bar Safari: 4 Best Mendoza’s Bars in 1 night. + Full Dinner: $180
  • Horseback Riding at Sunset and Dinner in Mendoza: $185
  • Tango Show with Dinner at Hualta Winery Hotel: $190
  • Full-Day Small-Group Mendoza Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $199
  • City Tour with Dinner at a Local Restaurant: $200
  • Winery Los Toneles + Dinner in Saffron Restó. Private transportation: $250

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Havana $11
    Mendoza $23

Tours and Activities in Havana

Here are a few actual costs in Havana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Private: City Tour with Lunch, Rum, and Chocolate: $2,000

Tours and Activities in Mendoza

For Mendoza, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Self-guided bike tour of Maipu (Mendoza): $15
  • Malbec Experience in Bodega Tierras Altas: $22
  • Tour autoguiado en bicicleta por Luján de Cuyo (Mendoza): $23
  • City tour with visit to General San Martin Park: $24
  • Renacer Winery Experience: $25
  • City Tour: $25
  • City Tour: $25
  • Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $34
  • Wine and Olive Oil Tasting Half-Day Tour: $34
  • Half-Day Sightseeing City Tour: $35
  • Half Day Winery Tour: $36
  • City Highlights Tour: $36

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Havana $5.76
    Mendoza $5.94
Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana

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


  • Mojito
    $0.15

Sample the Local Flavors in Mendoza

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mendoza:

  • Classic Wine Tasting: $44
  • Premium Wine Tasting: $66
  • Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $80
  • Make an Argentine Asado BBQ w/ Local Host & Wine Tasting: $89
  • El Enemigo and Casa Vigil Wine Tour: $93
  • In Mendoza Wine Tours, Empanadas, and Olive Oil: $99
  • Mendoza Private Wine Tour Paired Lunch and Olive Oil Tasting: $115
  • Classic Wine Tour on a Budget. Lunch. Private Driver: $120
  • Wine Tour with Lunch and Transport in Mendoza: $130
  • Full Day Wine Tour with 3 Course Lunch: $164
  • Wine tasting region Uco Valley in Mendoza: $180
  • Bike Tour at Zuccardi: Olive Oil, Wine Tasting & Lunch: $182


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Havana and Mendoza, we can see that Havana is more expensive. And not only is Mendoza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Havana is in Caribbean Islands and Mendoza is in South 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 Mendoza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mendoza 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 Mendoza.

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


Which is Bigger, Havana or Mendoza?

Havana has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Mendoza. When comparing the sizes of Havana and Mendoza, 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.