Which place is cheaper, Havana or Mexico City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Mexico City or Havana?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mexico City or Havana? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Mexico City or Havana?
Mexico City
Mexico City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. There are an estimated 26 million people living in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. The area is about 60 kilometers by 40 kilometers and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes on three sides. Mexico City proper has about 8.8 million people and is the capital of the country. More than a third of the country's economy is based here, making it the wealthiest city in all of Latin America.
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 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
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Mexico City Prices
Mexico PricesHavana Prices
Cuba Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMexico City $225Havana $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Mexico City is $225, while the average daily cost in Havana is $74. 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 Mexico City and Havana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMexico City $41Havana $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMexico City $82Havana $84
Compare Hotels in Mexico City and Havana
Looking for a hotel in Mexico City 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: Mexico City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mexico City $13Havana $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Mexico City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:
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Metro$1.15
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Uber Ride$4.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Aguascalientes Airport (AGU) Aguascalientes - RoundTrip Transfer: $82
- Aguascalientes to Guanajuato Airport (BJX) - Departure Transfer: $98
- Airport Transfer to Hotel in Mexico City: $59
- Airport Transfer: Mexico Airport MEX to Mexico by Business Car: $92
- Airport Transfer: Mexico Airport MEX to Mexico by Luxury SUV: $104
- Airport Transfer: Mexico Airport NLU to Mexico by Luxury SUV: $208
- Airport Transfer: Mexico to Mexico Airport MEX by Luxury SUV: $104
- Airport Transfer: Mexico to Mexico Airport NLU by Luxury SUV: $208
- Arrival Private Transfer Mexico City Airport MEX to Mexico by SUV: $130
- Arrival Transfer: Airport MEX to Mexico City by Business Car: $92
- Arrival Transfer: Mexico Airport MEX to Mexico by Luxury SUV: $104
- Balloon Flight in Teotihuacan Transfers and Breakfast Included: $234
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 Mexico City or Havana?
Prices for flights to both Havana and Mexico City 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 dayMexico City $46Havana $18
Typical Food Prices in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$13
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Coffee and Snacks$4.50
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Dinner for 2$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mexico City Coyoacan Food Tour & Optional Frida Kahlo Museum: $20
- Cable Car, Cultural Spaces, and Traditional Food Tour: $40
- Local Markets & Food Tour in Mexico City: $54
- Coyoacan Market Food Tour Urban Eats & Local Legends: $54
- Tortilla Crawl: Food Tour in Mexico City: $55
- Mexico : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $58
- CDMX Historic Center Food Tour: $58
- 3 Hours Food Tour Best Vegan Tacos in Mexico City: $64
- 3h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Drinks: $68
- Street Food Tour with Michelin-Starred Taco: $70
- Roma–Condesa: Haute Cuisine and Renowned Restaurants Food Tour: $70
- La Roma Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
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.Mexico City $15Havana $11
Tours and Activities in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mexico City Self-Guided Tour: Historic Center & Beyond: $1.14
- MUCHO Museum of Chocolate Entrance Ticket: $4.65
- Mexico City Coyoacán, Frida Kahlo Exploration Game and Tour: $4.98
- Mexico City Historic Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
- Mexico City Coyoacan Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
- Flavors of the past: A Pre-Hispanic drink tour in Mexico city.: $5.85
- Mexico City Walking Tour 2h40 and 24 audio reviews: $7.08
- Mexico City Jewish History Smartphone Guided Audio Walking Tour: $7.75
- La Roma's Famous Sights and Local Lore: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Night Tour of Mexico City Panoramic Ride on a Double-Decker Bus: $10
- Night City Tour in a Double Decker Bus: $10
- KidZania Santa Fe Entrance Ticket: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMexico City $20Havana $5.76
Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
- CDMX Pub Crawl: Guided Pub Crawl with Party Games: $24
- Mexico City Pub Crawl: $26
- THE MEXICO CITY PUB CRAWL: A real chilango night: $35
- Make Your Own Tequila or Mezcal with Distillery and Cocktails: $94
- Zona Rosa Pub Crawl Experience: $100
- The Mexican Wine Tasting and Pairing: $126
- Mexican Wine Tasting with Food Pairing: $126
- Private Cheese and Wine Tour to Queretaro: $511
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 Mexico City and Havana, we can see that Mexico City is more expensive. And not only is Havana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mexico City is in North 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 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 Mexico City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mexico City 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 Mexico City Expensive? and Is Havana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mexico City or Havana?
Mexico City has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Havana. When comparing the sizes of Mexico City 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.
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.