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Havana or Mexico City? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick Mexico City for one of the world's great food cities, major museums, Teotihuacán and a reliable, modern travel experience. Pick Havana for colonial streets, vintage cars and live music in a city unlike anywhere else; on our numbers it is cheaper (about €101 a day mid-range against €144), but expect power cuts, shortages and cash complications.
Havana: suits patient solo travellers and friends, ideally with some Spanish, who want architecture, music and street life despite daily hardships.
Mexico City: suits first-timers, solo travellers and friends who want outstanding food, museums, ancient sites and reliable services.
Side by side
| Havana | Mexico City | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €102 US$115 local | €144 MXN2,950 local |
| Budget day* | €40 | €54 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●About €101 a day, but cash and shortages complicate it. | ●●●●●About €144 a day; outstanding food and museums for the money. |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Old Havana busy on cruise days; elsewhere relaxed. | ●●●●●Centro and Teotihuacán busy; the huge city spreads people out. |
| Food | ●●●●●Shortages limit menus; private paladares are the best bet. | ●●●●●Tacos, markets and top restaurants; exceptional at every price. |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Live son and salsa in bars and clubs; power cuts interrupt. | ●●●●●Mezcal bars, clubs and cantinas in Roma, Condesa and Centro. |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Shortages, heat and blackouts make it hard with children. | ●●●●●Chapultepec, museums and parks; traffic and altitude need pacing. |
| Getting around | ●●●●●Walk Old Havana; otherwise taxis, with fuel shortages. | ●●●●●Cheap metro and ride apps; heavy traffic at peak hours. |
| Best months | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec |
| Warmest / coolest | Jul 33°C / Jan 27°C | Apr 28°C / Dec 22°C |
| Known for | El Capitolio, Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Plaza de la Catedral, Malecón | Zócalo, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Chapultepec, Teotihuacán |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Havana and Mexico City day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Havana if…
- you want colonial architecture, vintage cars and live music
- you can handle outages and shortages with patience
- you speak some Spanish
- you want a place that feels like nowhere else
Pick Mexico City if…
- Food is a main reason for your trip
- you want museums, ancient sites and day trips
- you need reliable internet and card payments
- It is your first trip to Latin America
Weather month by month
| Month | Havana high / rainy days | Mexico City high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°C · 9 | 23°C · 3 |
| Feb | 29°C · 8 | 25°C · 1 |
| Mar | 29°C · 8 | 27°C · 3 |
| Apr | 31°C · 9 | 28°C · 8 |
| May | 31°C · 18 | 27°C · 12 |
| Jun | 31°C · 21 | 26°C · 18 |
| Jul | 33°C · 19 | 23°C · 28 |
| Aug | 33°C · 18 | 23°C · 28 |
| Sep | 31°C · 19 | 23°C · 22 |
| Oct | 30°C · 15 | 23°C · 15 |
| Nov | 29°C · 10 | 24°C · 2 |
| Dec | 28°C · 8 | 22°C · 2 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Havana
Shredded beef in tomato sauce · Rice and black beans · Roast pork · Cassava with garlic sauce · Croquettes and street snacks · Seafood and lobster
Where: Vedado, Habana Vieja (Old Havana), Mercado agropecuario de 19 y B, Vedado, Mercado de Cuatro Caminos
Mexico City
Tacos al pastor · Suadero and campechano tacos · Tlacoyo · Tamal and atole · Quesadillas and huaraches · Pozole
Where: Mercado de Medellín (Roma Sur), Mercado de Coyoacán, Mercado de La Merced and Centro Histórico, Mercado de Jamaica
Doing both in one trip
9 days: 5 in Mexico City + 4 in Havana
Start in Mexico City for the bigger, easier city and its wider flight connections, then end in Havana. December to March suits both.
Getting between them: Direct flight about 2 h 45 plus airport time, several times a week — check current schedules and Cuba's entry requirements. Distance about 1,782 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1: Mexico City — Zócalo, Templo Mayor, Palacio de Bellas Artes
- Day 2: Teotihuacán early, dinner in Roma or Condesa
- Day 3: Chapultepec and the National Museum of Anthropology
- Day 4: Coyoacán, the Frida Kahlo Museum (book ahead), Mercado de Coyoacán
- Day 5: Xochimilco, or Mercado de La Merced and Jamaica
- Day 6: Fly to Havana, the Malecón at sunset
- Day 7: Old Havana — Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza Vieja, El Capitolio
- Day 8: Vedado and the Hotel Nacional, live music in the evening
- Day 9: Classic-car ride along the coast, fly home
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Common questions
Is Havana or Mexico City cheaper?
Havana, on our mid-range figures: about €101 per person per day against roughly €144 in Mexico City. In practice Cuba is complicated: foreign cards are often refused, so bring cash in euros or dollars, and official and informal exchange rates differ widely. Mexico City gives more certainty, with cards widely accepted and excellent food at every budget.
Is it a good time to visit Cuba?
Cuba is in a deep economic crisis, with frequent power cuts, fuel shortages and limited food and medicine. Many visitors still enjoy Havana's music, architecture and people, but you need patience. Stay in a casa particular with backup power if possible, bring any medicines you need, and check your government's current travel advice before booking.
When is the best time to visit?
December to March suits both. Our data marks January to March and December for Havana, and January to April plus November and December for Mexico City. Havana is hot and humid in summer, about 33°C in July, and hurricane season runs from June to November. Mexico City sits at about 2,240 m, so it stays mild, with afternoon rain from roughly June to September.
How do I get from Mexico City to Havana?
Fly direct in about 2 h 45; flights run several times a week, so check current schedules. Cuba requires a tourist card, sometimes sold by the airline, and an online entry form before arrival, so confirm the current rules with your airline. US citizens face extra restrictions on travel to Cuba and should check them before booking.