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

Should you visit Helsinki or Havana?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Havana can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Helsinki or Havana?

Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.

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 10-Day Tours in Finland, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland.


Which place is cheaper, Havana or Helsinki?

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

  • Helsinki Prices
    Finland Prices
    Havana Prices
    Cuba Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Helsinki 164
    Havana 63

The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €164, while the average daily cost in Havana is €63. 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 Helsinki and Havana in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Helsinki 73
    Havana 36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Helsinki 146
    Havana 72
Compare Hotels in Helsinki and Havana

Looking for a hotel in Helsinki 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.

Hotels in Helsinki


Hotels in Havana


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: Helsinki Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Helsinki 22
    Havana 16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki

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

  • Minivan Departure Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL: $79
  • Airport Transfer Helsinki Center: $108
  • Airport Transfer: Helsinki Airport HEL to Helsinki by Luxury Van: $109
  • Airport Transfer: Helsinki to Airport HEL by Business Car: $107
  • Arrival Transfer: Helsinki Airport HEL to Helsinki by MB Van: $109
  • Departure Transfer: Helsinki to Airport HEL by Luxury Van: $114
  • Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer: $70
  • Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer : $70
  • Helsinki Hotels to West Harbour Cruise Terminal - Deparure Private Transfer: $70
  • Helsinki Private Airport & City Transfer: $90
  • Helsinki Private Arrival Airport Transfer: $213
  • Helsinki Private Departure Airport Transfer: $213

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana

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


  • Short Taxi Ride
    0.58

Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Havana?

Prices for flights to both Havana and Helsinki 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
    Helsinki 59
    Havana 15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki

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

  • FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $119
  • Helsinki Food Tour: A Culinary Experience with a Local: $275

Typical Food Prices in Havana

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


  • Pizza
    0.03

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Helsinki 27
    Havana 9.53

Tours and Activities in Helsinki

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

  • Tip-based Tour of Helsinki - RED UMBRELLA - 2025: $3.61
  • Tove Jansson's Helsinki Self Guided Tour: $11
  • Helsinki Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour : $11
  • Capital of Contrasts: A Self Guided Audio Tour in Helsinki: $15
  • A Finntastic Walking Tour in Helsinki: $24
  • Sightseeing Cruise in Archipelago of Helsinki: $32
  • Helsinki Canal Cruise: $33
  • Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour: $42
  • City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $42
  • Helsinki Panorama Sightseeing Audio-Guided Bus Tour: $43
  • Adventure Day: $48
  • Explore Tallinn: Self-Guided Day Cruise from Helsinki: $49

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Helsinki 16
    Havana 4.90

Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana

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


  • Mojito
    0.13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Havana, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. And not only is Havana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Helsinki 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki 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 Helsinki Expensive? and Is Havana Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Havana?

Havana has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki 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 Helsinki or Havana?

Helsinki 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 Helsinki or Havana in the Summer?

Both Havana and Helsinki during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Helsinki in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Havana year-round.

In the summer, Helsinki is much colder than Havana. Typically, the summer temperatures in Helsinki in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Havana averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Helsinki usually gets more rain in July than Havana. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Havana receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Helsinki 17°C (62°F) 
    Havana 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Helsinki or Havana in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Havana. Most visitors come to Helsinki for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Havana attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Helsinki is generally much colder than Havana. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 6°C (42°F), and Havana fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

In October, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Havana. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Havana receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Helsinki 6°C (42°F) 
    Havana 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Helsinki or Havana in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Havana. The winter months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Havana throughout the year.

The weather in Helsinki can be very cold. Helsinki is much colder than Havana in the winter. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around -6°C (21°F) in January, and Havana fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

Helsinki usually gets more rain in January than Havana. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Havana receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Helsinki -6°C (21°F) 
    Havana 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Helsinki or Havana in the Spring?

Both Havana and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Havana because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It's quite cold in Helsinki in the spring. In the spring, Helsinki is much colder than Havana. Typically, the spring temperatures in Helsinki in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Havana averages at about 24°C (75°F).

In April, Helsinki usually receives more rain than Havana. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Havana receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Helsinki 3°C (37°F) 
    Havana 24°C (75°F)

Typical Weather for Havana and Helsinki

Helsinki Havana
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -6°C (21°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 21°C (70°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Feb -7°C (20°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 22°C (72°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Mar -3°C (27°F) 34 mm (1.4 in) 23°C (73°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Apr 3°C (37°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 24°C (75°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
May 9°C (49°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 27°C (81°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Aug 16°C (60°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 11°C (51°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 26°C (79°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Oct 6°C (42°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 25°C (77°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 1°C (33°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 23°C (73°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Dec -4°C (26°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 22°C (72°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)