Comparison · Havana vs Mexico City · Cuba / Mexico
Havana vs Mexico City
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: RenaatPeeters, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Havana for Old Havana, Malecón and beaches; choose Mexico City for Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and free sights. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 1,784 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,784 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Havana
- November–April
- Best time for Mexico City
- March–April and October–November
Side by side
| Havana | Mexico City | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Cuba | Mexico |
| Known for | Old Havana, Malecón and Classic American cars | Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and Frida Kahlo |
| Best time to visit | November–April | March–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $110–$220 | $120–$220 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | April, 27°C (81°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 26°C (79°F) | December, 21°C (70°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | Santa María del Mar | — |
| Airports | HAV | MEX, NLU, TLC |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Havana for…
Old Havana, Malecón and beaches. Havana, Cuba's capital, spreads west from a sheltered harbour along the Caribbean coast. Old Havana (Habana Vieja), a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its fortifications, holds four restored colonial plazas, baroque churches and pastel mansions; Centro…
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Choose Mexico City for…
Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and free sights. Mexico City sits at about 2,240 metres in a high valley ringed by volcanoes, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. Its historic centre around the Zócalo holds the Templo Mayor ruins, the cathedral and Diego Rivera's murals, while Chapultepec…
Top sights compared
| # | Havana | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plaza de la Catedral and Havana Cathedral | Zócalo |
| 2 | Plaza de Armas | Metropolitan Cathedral |
| 3 | Plaza Vieja | Templo Mayor |
| 4 | Plaza de San Francisco de Asís | National Palace murals |
| 5 | El Capitolio | Palacio de Bellas Artes |
Food compared
| Havana | Mexico City |
|---|---|
| Ropa vieja | Tacos al pastor |
| Moros y cristianos | Chilaquiles |
| Lechón asado | Tamales and atole |
| Yuca con mojo | Tlacoyos |
Which is cheaper?
Havana and Mexico City cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $110–$220 in Havana and $120–$220 in Mexico City (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Havana on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,784 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 10 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Havana or Mexico City cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $110–$220 in Havana and $120–$220 in Mexico City (estimates).
+Is Havana or Mexico City better for a first trip?
Pick Havana for Old Havana, Malecón and beaches, or Mexico City for Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and free sights.
+How far is Havana from Mexico City?
About 1,784 km in a straight line.