Is Havana or Santa Fe cheaper?

Havana is cheaper on average. A mid-range day in Havana costs about $80 vs $175 in Santa Fe, so Havana saves you roughly $95 per day compared to Santa Fe.

Is Havana or Santa Fe safer?

Santa Fe scores higher on our safety index (82/100 vs 65/100). Santa Fe is generally safe for tourists in the plaza and Canyon Road areas.

Is it easier to get by with English in Havana or Santa Fe?

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

How do daily costs in Havana and Santa Fe compare?

In Havana: budget ~$30-50/day, mid-range ~$70-130/day, luxury ~$200+/day. In Santa Fe: budget ~$80–130/day, mid-range ~$150–250/day, luxury ~$350+/day.

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Havana vs Santa Fe

Q: Which has better weather, Havana or Santa Fe?

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?

🏆 Santa Fe wins 82 OVR vs 75 · attribute matchup 2–5

Havana

Cuba

75OVR

Santa Fe

United States

82OVR

Safety

Affordability

Food

Culture

Nightlife

Walkability

Nature

Connectivity

Transit

Havana Guide →Santa Fe Guide →

Havana

Cuba

Santa Fe

United States

Havana

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

Santa Fe

Safety: 72/100Pop: 87KAmerica/Denver

💰 Budget

budget

Havana: $30-50Santa Fe: $80–130

mid-range

Havana: $70-130Santa Fe: $150–250

luxury

Havana: $200+Santa Fe: $350+

🛡️ Safety

Havana70/100Safety Score✓72/100Santa Fe

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.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe is generally safe for tourists in the plaza and Canyon Road areas. Property crime (car break-ins) is the most common issue — never leave valuables visible in vehicles. The south side near Cerrillos Road has higher crime rates.

⭐ Ratings

Havana2/5English Friendly✓5/5Santa Fe

Havana4/5Walkability4/5Santa Fe

Havana2/5Public Transit2/5Santa Fe

Havana3/5Food Scene✓5/5Santa Fe

Havana4/5✓Nightlife3/5Santa Fe

Havana4/5Cultural Sites✓5/5Santa Fe

Havana3/5Nature Access✓4/5Santa Fe

Havana2/5WiFi Reliability✓4/5Santa Fe

🌤️ 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

Santa Fe

High desert climate at 7,200 ft. Intense sunshine year-round. Summer afternoons bring dramatic monsoon thunderstorms. Winter brings snow and world-class skiing at Ski Santa Fe.

Spring (Mar–May)10–22°C

Summer (Jun–Aug)25–32°C

Fall (Sep–Nov)8–24°C

Winter (Dec–Feb)-5–10°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

Santa Fe

The historic plaza and Canyon Road are walkable. A car is essential for day trips to Taos, Bandelier, or White Sands. The city bus system covers main areas cheaply.

Walkability: Very walkable around the plaza, Canyon Road, and Museum Hill; a car is needed for day trips and outlying attractions

On Foot — Free

Santa Fe Trails Bus — $1–2

Uber / Lyft — $8–25

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 Santa Fe if...

you want the USA's oldest state capital (1610) at altitude — Georgia O'Keeffe country, Canyon Road galleries, Meow Wolf immersive art, and chile sauce on everything in America's best small food city

Havana

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Santa Fe

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