Is Havana or Washington, D.C. cheaper?

Havana is cheaper on average. A mid-range day in Havana costs about $80 vs $160 in Washington, D.C., so Havana saves you roughly $80 per day compared to Washington, D.C..

Is it easier to get by with English in Havana or Washington, D.C.?

English is more widely spoken in Washington, D.C. (5/5 vs 2/5 on our scale). You will find it easier to order food, ask for directions, and navigate transit in Washington, D.C..

How do daily costs in Havana and Washington, D.C. compare?

In Havana: budget ~$30-50/day, mid-range ~$70-130/day, luxury ~$200+/day. In Washington, D.C.: budget ~$80-130/day, mid-range ~$200-330/day, luxury ~$500+/day.

← Back to Compare

Havana vs Washington, D.C.

Q: Is Havana or Washington, D.C. safer?

Washington, D.C. scores higher on our safety index (70/100 vs 65/100). Tourist areas of DC — the National Mall, Capitol Hill, Downtown, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Foggy Bottom — are generally safe during the day and well into the evening.

Q: Which has better weather, Havana or Washington, D.C.?

Havana has the more temperate climate year-round. Havana has a tropical climate with a dry season (November-April) and a wet season (May-October). Temperatures are warm year-round. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with September and October being the highest-risk months.

Which destination is right for your next trip?

Havana

Cuba

Washington, D.C.

United States

Havana

Safety: 70/100Pop: 2.1M (city)America/Havana

Washington, D.C.

Safety: 70/100Pop: 700K (city), 6.3M (metro)America/New_York

💰 Budget

budget

Havana: $30-50Washington, D.C.: $80-130

mid-range

Havana: $70-130Washington, D.C.: $200-330

luxury

Havana: $200+Washington, D.C.: $500+

🛡️ Safety

Havana70/100✓Safety Score66/100Washington, D.C.

Havana

Cuba is generally one of the safest countries in Latin America. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. The main annoyances are persistent jineteros (hustlers) offering everything from cigars to restaurant recommendations on commission.

Washington, D.C.

Tourist areas of DC — the National Mall, Capitol Hill, Downtown, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Foggy Bottom — are generally safe during the day and well into the evening. Like any major US city, DC has neighborhoods with higher crime, mostly in parts of Southeast and Northeast that tourists rarely visit. Petty theft, car break-ins, and occasional phone snatching are the main concerns.

⭐ Ratings

Havana2/5English Friendly✓5/5Washington, D.C.

Havana4/5Walkability4/5Washington, D.C.

Havana2/5Public Transit✓5/5Washington, D.C.

Havana3/5Food Scene✓4/5Washington, D.C.

Havana4/5✓Nightlife3/5Washington, D.C.

Havana4/5Cultural Sites✓5/5Washington, D.C.

Havana3/5Nature Access3/5Washington, D.C.

Havana2/5WiFi Reliability✓5/5Washington, D.C.

🌤️ Weather

Havana

Havana has a tropical climate with a dry season (November-April) and a wet season (May-October). Temperatures are warm year-round. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with September and October being the highest-risk months.

Dry Season (November - April)20-28°C

Early Wet Season (May - June)23-32°C

Hurricane Season Peak (July - October)24-33°C

Late Season Transition (November)22-29°C

Washington, D.C.

Washington, DC has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are famously hot and sticky (the city was built on reclaimed swampland), while winters are cold but rarely extreme. Spring and fall are glorious and are the best times to visit.

Spring (March - May)5-22°C

Summer (June - August)20-32°C

Autumn (September - November)7-26°C

Winter (December - February)-2-8°C

🚇 Getting Around

Havana

Havana's transport is a fascinating mix of vintage American cars, Chinese buses, coconut-shaped taxis, and horse-drawn carts. There's no ride-hailing app that works reliably. Getting around requires a mix of walking, negotiating with taxi drivers, and patience.

Walkability: Old Havana, Centro Habana, and the Malecon are all walkable, though sidewalks are uneven and sometimes missing. The 3-4 km walk from Habana Vieja to Vedado along the Malecon is one of the great urban walks. Beyond central areas, distances become too large for walking.

Classic Car Taxis (Almendrones) — CUP 40-100 (~$0.30-0.80) for shared rides along fixed routes

Private Taxis — $5-15 USD for trips within central Havana

HabanaBusTour (Hop-on Hop-off) — $10 USD for a full-day pass

Washington, D.C.

DC has an excellent public transit system run by WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority). The Metro (subway) and Metrobus cover the city and much of the Maryland and Virginia suburbs. A SmarTrip card (or contactless phone tap) works across all Metro, bus, and Capital Bikeshare. Driving downtown is frustrating and parking is very expensive — transit or walking is the way to go.

Walkability: Central DC is one of the most walkable cities in the US, with wide sidewalks, a clear street grid, and short blocks. The National Mall itself is longer than it looks on maps (roughly 3 km end to end), so plan accordingly. Georgetown and Capitol Hill are especially pleasant on foot, though some DC hills can be steep.

Washington Metro — $2.25 - $6.75 per ride depending on distance and time

Capital Bikeshare — $1 to unlock + $0.05/min (classic); day pass $8

DC Circulator & Metrobus — Circulator $1, Metrobus $2.25

The Verdict

Choose Havana if...

you want a time-warp to 1959 — vintage Chevys on the Malecón, Old Havana plazas, rum mojitos, son cubano clubs, and crumbling colonial grandeur

Choose Washington, D.C. if...

you want world-class museums (all free), iconic monuments, Metro convenience, and four seasons of American political history

Havana

View Full Guide Book Tours

Washington, D.C.

View Full Guide Book Tours