Here’s a complete breakdown of costs per person for all the eight days of our trip to Cuba.
Where: Havana, Viñales, Trinidad, Cienfuegos
Transport: Airlines, Taxi, Bus
When: March 2016, for Eight days
Who: One backpacker
Currency: Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), Cuban Peso (CUP)
Note: All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate and based on the exchange rate at the time of publishing. Each cost is for one adult. The exchange rate at the time of visiting is assumed to be USD 1 = CUC 1.
Accommodation
| City | Accommodation | Cost/night | Notes |
| Havana | Hostal Plaza Vieja | €72 ($78) | Two nights. Double bed. Shared bathroom. |
| Viñales | Casa Paez (Airbnb) | $50 | Two nights. Double bed. Private bathroom. |
| Cienfuegos | Hostal Coloial D+D (Airbnb) | $28 | One night. Double bed. Ensuite bathroom. |
| Trinidad | Hostal Fany y Odalis (Airbnb) | $56 | Two nights. Double bed. Ensuite bathroom. |
| Havana | Habitación frente al Malecón (Airbnb) | $33 | One night. Double bed. Ensuite bathroom. |
Flights
| From-to | Airline | Cost | Notes |
| LAX-CUN-LAX | United Airlines | $475 | Return flight. Economy. |
| CUN-HAV-CUN | AeroMexico | $220 | Return flight. Economy. |
Planning & Information
| What | Cost | Notes |
| International Flights | $695 | LAX-CUN-LAX and CUN-HAV-CUN. |
| Accommodation for all days | $245 | See the list and costs above. |
| Tourist Visa | $20 | Single-entry. |
| Total Costs | $960 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $960 | Per person |
Day 1 – Havana
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Taxi from airport to hostel | $30 | One way, private taxi |
| Dinner | $20 | At Don Eduardo Alegre restaurant, Havana |
| Water | $0.40 | From local store. CUP 10 for 1 liter bottle, |
| Total Costs | $50.40 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,010.40 | Per person |
Day 2 – Havana
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast | $10 | Continental breakfast |
| Lunch & drinks | $30 | El Floridita (Hemingway) bar. |
| Coconut ice-cream on streets | $2 | Delicious ice-cream in a coconut. |
| Museum of Revolution | $5 | Entrance fee of CUC 5. |
| San Salvador de la Punta Fortress | $3 | Entrance fee of CUC 3. |
| Castillo de la Real Fuerza | $2 | Entrance fee of CUC 2. |
| Dinner | $17 | Cafe Bohemia. |
| Water & snacks | $2.40 | From local store. CUP 10 for 1 liter bottle. |
| Total Costs | $71.40 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,081.80 | Per person |
Day 3 – Havana to Viñales
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast | $10 | Continental breakfast |
| Taxi to Viñales | $30 | Shared taxi. One way. |
| Internet card | $10 | For 1GB. |
| Postal stamp | $0.75 | In Postal Stamp Travelogue book CUP 20. |
| Lunch | $12 | Italian food. |
| Dinner | $15 | One of the restaurants in the town. |
| Water | $0.40 | From local store. CUP 10 for 1 liter bottle, |
| Total Costs | $78.15 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,159.55 | Per person |
Day 4 – Viñales
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast | $10 | Continental breakfast at Airbnb house. |
| Bicycle Rental | $20 | For half a day. |
| Cuevas del Indio | $5 | Entrance fees. |
| Tobacco Farm tour | $80 | For horse ride, visiting the farm, and factory. |
| Tips to farmers | $10 | Owner of horses and farmer at the cigar factory. |
| Lunch | $12 | Italian food. |
| Dinner | $15 | One of the restaurants in the town. |
| Water & snacks | $2.40 | From local store. CUP 10 for 1 liter bottle. |
| Total Costs | $154.40 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,313.95 | Per person |
Day 5 – Viñales to Cienfuegos
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast | $10 | Continental breakfast at Airbnb house. |
| Viazul Bus | $32 | From Viñales to Cienfuegos. One way. |
| Lunch | $0.40 | Pizza from a local store. 6-inch for CUP 10 |
| Dinner | $10 | One of the restaurants in the town. |
| Water | $0.40 | From a local store. One liter bottle CUP 10. |
| Total Costs | $52.80 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,366.75 | Per person |
Day 6 – Cienfuegos, Trinidad
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast | $10 | Continental breakfast at Airbnb house. |
| Viazul Bus to Trinidad | $12 | From Cienfuegos to Trinidad. One way. |
| Lunch | $0.40 | Pizza from a local store. 6-inch for CUP 10 |
| Coffee at boardwalk | $3 | CUC 3 |
| Museo Historico | $5 | Entrance fee of CUC 5 |
| Drinks at Punta Gorda | $8 | CUC 8 for two beers |
| Water & snacks | $4.40 | From a local store. One liter bottle CUP 10. |
| Souvenirs | $3 | Fridge magnet & postcards. |
| Total Costs | $45.80 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,409.55 | Per person |
Day 7 – Trinidad
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast | $10 | Continental breakfast at Airbnb house. |
| Lunch | $12 | At one of many restaurants at Plaza Mayor |
| Coffee at main square | $3 | CUC 3 |
| Lucha Contra Bandidos | $2 | Entrance fee of CUC 2 |
| Dinner | $23 | At one of many restaurants at Plaza Mayor |
| Water & snacks | $4.40 | From a local store. One liter bottle CUP 10. |
| Souvenirs | $3 | Fridge magnet & postcards. |
| Total Costs | $57.40 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,466.95 | Per person |
Day 8 – Trinidad to Havana
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Breakfast | $10 | Continental breakfast at Airbnb house. |
| Taxi to Havana | $30 | Shared taxi with 6 people incl. driver. One way. |
| Lunch | $10 | Two sandwiches at a local restaurant. CUC 10 |
| Coffee | $3 | At a stopover. CUC 3 |
| Snacks at Havana Malecon | $0.80 | Chips & water for CUP 20 |
| Dinner | $0.80 | Pizza at local restaurants at Malecon. CUP 20. |
| Water & snacks | $2.40 | From a local store. One liter bottle CUP 10. |
| Cigars | $20 | One large and a pack of small cigars. |
| Taxi to airport | $20 | One way. |
| Total Costs | $97 | Per person |
| Overall Costs | $1,563.95 | Per person |
Miscellaneous
| What | Cost | Notes |
| Souvenirs & things missed | $20 | Additional costs. |
| Overall Costs | $1,583.95 | Per person |