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

Should you visit La Plata or Havana?

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 La Plata and Havana can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Plata or Havana?

La Plata

Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.

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 Buenos Aires, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires.

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

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

Which is Bigger, La Plata or Havana?

Havana has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of La Plata. When comparing the sizes of La Plata 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 La Plata or Havana?

La Plata 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 La Plata or Havana in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to La Plata as well as Havana. The warm climate attracts visitors to Havana throughout the year.

In the summer, La Plata is around the same temperature as Havana. Typically, the summer temperatures in La Plata in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Havana averages at about 27°C (81°F)in July.

La Plata usually gets more rain in January than Havanain July. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Havana receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Plata or Havana in the Autumn?

Both Havana and La Plata are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Havana because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, La Plata is generally cooler than Havanain October. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 18°C (65°F), and Havana fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

In April, La Plata usually receives around the same amount of rain as Havanain October. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Havana receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit La Plata or Havana in the Winter?

Both Havana and La Plata during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Havana year-round.

La Plata is much colder than Havana in the winter. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 12°C (53°F) in July, and Havana fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in January.

La Plata usually gets more rain in July than Havanain January. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Havana receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Plata or Havana in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and Havana. Havana attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, La Plata is cooler than Havana. Typically, the spring temperatures in La Plata in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Havana averages at about 24°C (75°F)in April.

La Plata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, La Plata usually receives more rain than Havanain April. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Havana receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Havana and La Plata