Living in cuba

by william
(ireland)

How much peso nacional would I need per month to live in cuba.


Answer by Vic Webmaster

First this: the average salary in Cuba is 480-600 Cup (Peso Nacional or also named Peso Cubano)
this equals 20-25 Cuc (Peso Convertible).(20-25USD)
Much depend on your lifstyle and status. A "spoiled" Yuma (foreigner) is used to drink one or two beers (?) a day, and have a decent meal (this include meat, pork, chicken etc). A Cuban with his 500 peso nacional has to survive on rice and black beans...no beer but tap water.
Are you living with a "permanent residence visa"? In this case you are regarded as a Cuban, you can get "free" treatments, the ration book and medical treaments. Without a permanent residence you have to pay for a medical insurance, you can't buy food of the ration book etc. Note that most "luxuries" must be paid in CUC (peso convertible). Do you have to pay rent? Are you on a temporary visa? (2 months?)in this case you have to leave the country for at least 24hrs. (=$$$) and get a new tourist visa to enter!
So once again, are you planning to live like a Cuban eating all days beans and rice, drinking tap water etc. or like a foreigner, eating once in a week meat, drinking a can of beer, having decent clothes and sanitary products. I guess somewhere in the middle. If you have to rent a casa count for 600-700 Cuc per month (long term agreement) this is +/- 16000 Cup per month, if they accept Cup in the casa? Count (at least) 1000 Cuc or 24000 Cup (one Peso Convertible equals 1 USD or 24 Peso Nacional) for food, drinks, transport, etc. Don't be blinded by the cheaper Peso Nacional, much has to be paid in CUC. Cuba isn't a cheap country! As a foreigner think about 2000 Cuc to spend per month (48,000 peso Nacional). I am no big spender, but I would not feel comfortable with less than 2000 Cuc (50,000 peso national) per month.
Living in Cuba