Cost of living comparison

China

compared to

Cuba

Havana vs. Shanghai Cost of Living Summary

Havana is 31.7% cheaper than Shanghai.

Restaurants: pay 10.9% more in Havana
Groceries: pay 54.3% more in Havana
Transportation: pay 30.7% more in Havana
Housing: pay 58.9% less in Havana
Childcare: pay 85.8% less in Havana
Entertainment and Sports: pay 67.5% less in Havana
Clothing: pay 24.4% less in Havana

The cost of groceries, transportation, and restaurants in Havana are more expensive than in Shanghai. Expenses including childcare, entertainment and sports, housing, and clothing are lower in Havana.

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Havana vs. Shanghai Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Havana instead of Shanghai, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 10.9% more for restaurants

	Shanghai	Havana
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$4.47 CN¥29.94	$3.71 CUC3.71	-17.2%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$5.22 CN¥34.93	$5.00 CUC5.00	-4.2%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$0.60 CN¥4.01	$1.70 CUC1.70	+183.6%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.37 CN¥2.47	$1.00 CUC1.00	+170.3%
Average			+10.9%

Shanghai vs. Havana - Cost of restaurants

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pay 54.3% more for groceries

	Shanghai	Havana
Bread 1 loaf	$1.98 CN¥13.22	$1.49 CUC1.49	-24.5%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$8.60 CN¥57.52	$2.22 CUC2.22	-74.2%
Milk (1 gallon)	$6.88 CN¥46.02	$14.20 CUC14.20	+106.4%
Eggs 1 dozen	$1.70 CN¥11.36	$3.71 CUC3.71	+118.8%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$1.48 CN¥9.89	$2.07 CUC2.07	+40.1%
Apples (1 lb)	$0.99 CN¥6.65	$2.75 CUC2.75	+176.3%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.77 CN¥5.16	$0.48 CUC0.48	-37.2%
Oranges (1 lb)	$0.90 CN¥6.05	$1.79 CUC1.79	+97.6%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$0.77 CN¥5.15	$1.04 CUC1.04	+35.7%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.36 CN¥2.40	$1.73 CUC1.73	+382.0%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.43 CN¥2.90	$1.85 CUC1.85	+326.9%
Average			+54.3%

Shanghai vs. Havana - Cost of groceries

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pay 30.7% more for transportation

	Shanghai	Havana
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$4.96 CN¥33.21	$4.83 CUC4.83	-2.8%
Monthly public transit pass	$29.83 CN¥199.59	$22.50 CUC22.50	-24.6%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$19,374.76 CN¥130K	$60,000.00 CUC60,000.00	+209.7%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$5.67 CN¥37.92	$6.20 CUC6.20	+9.4%
Average			+30.7%

Shanghai vs. Havana - Cost of transportation

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pay 58.9% less for housing

	Shanghai	Havana
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$10.55 CN¥70.59	$90.21 CUC90.21	+755.1%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$1,036.96 CN¥6,938.07	$254.03 CUC254.03	-75.5%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$588.71 CN¥3,938.93	$214.40 CUC214.40	-63.6%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$44.06 CN¥294.77	$36.20 CUC36.20	-17.8%
Average			-58.9%

Shanghai vs. Havana - Cost of housing

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pay 85.8% less for childcare

	Shanghai	Havana
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$1,413.50 CN¥9,457.42	$112.00 CUC112.00	-92.1%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$27,686.22 CN¥185K	$7,000.00 CUC7,000.00	-74.7%
Average			-85.8%

Shanghai vs. Havana - Cost of childcare

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pay 67.5% less for entertainment and sports

	Shanghai	Havana
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$1.19 CN¥7.98	$1.60 CUC1.60	+34.3%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$3.35 CN¥22.41	$1.11 CUC1.11	-66.9%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$3.73 CN¥24.95	$2.00 CUC2.00	-46.4%
Monthly membership at local gym	$65.69 CN¥439.52	$19.00 CUC19.00	-71.1%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$8.95 CN¥59.88	$0.85 CUC0.85	-90.5%
Average			-67.5%

Shanghai vs. Havana - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 24.4% less for clothing

	Shanghai	Havana
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$54.37 CN¥363.79	$37.00 CUC37.00	-31.9%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$37.09 CN¥248.19	$37.00 CUC37.00	-0.3%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$75.49 CN¥505.08	$68.67 CUC68.67	-9.0%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$105.70 CN¥707.25	$56.00 CUC56.00	-47.0%
Average			-24.4%

Shanghai vs. Havana - Cost of clothing

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated October 2026). How we calculate this

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