A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Havana vs. Asheville for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Havana or Asheville?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Havana and Asheville can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Havana or Asheville?

Havana

The city of Havana is at the top of most peoples' bucket list - mostly because of the allure of a forbidden land. Before the Communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination. Since it has reopened in the 1990s, it has drawn tourists from all over the world (except the US).

This capital city is a land trapped in the past. With 50 years of neglect, when you step off the plane, prepare to step back in time. A trip to Havana is meant for those with truly open minds - and when they arrive they'll be swept away.

Asheville

Asheville is a beautiful mountain town between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a popular tourist destination in western North Carolina that attracts hikers, shoppers, and adventurers alike. It's the largest city in the area and is famous for it's liberal mindset and large art community. Local crafts are frequently available for sale in the downtown shops.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Asheville or Havana?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Havana Prices
    Cuba Prices
    Asheville Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Havana $74
    Asheville $159

The average daily cost (per person) in Havana is $74, while the average daily cost in Asheville is $159. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Havana and Asheville in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Havana $42
    Asheville $89
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Havana $84
    Asheville $178
Compare Hotels in Havana and Asheville

Looking for a hotel in Havana or Asheville? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Havana


Hotels in Asheville


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Asheville Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Havana $19
    Asheville $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Havana:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.68

Is it cheaper to fly into Havana or Asheville?

Prices for flights to both Asheville and Havana change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Havana $18
    Asheville $58
Typical Food Prices in Havana

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Havana:


  • Pizza
    $0.03

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Havana $11
    Asheville $20

Tours and Activities in Havana

Here are a few actual costs in Havana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Private: City Tour with Lunch, Rum, and Chocolate: $2,000

Typical Entertainment Prices in Asheville

Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Biltmore Estate Entrance Fee
    $60
  • Massage
    $40

Tours and Activities in Asheville

Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Downtown Asheville Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
  • Downtown Asheville Historian-Guided Tour: $20
  • Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour : $27
  • Asheville Ghost Tour: A Walk Through Riverside Cemetery & Montford Neighborhood: $27
  • Gem Mining and Goat Farm Walking Tour in Hendersonville: $30
  • The Asheville Abyss Ghost Tour: Ashes to Apparitions: $32
  • Haunted History & Murder Mystery Trolley Tour: $35
  • Asheville Insider Guided Walking Tour: $35
  • Buffalo Creek Ranch Tour Experience: $40
  • Asheville Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Trolley Tour: $41
  • Explore Asheville on Segway Tours: $65
  • Asheville Historic Downtown Guided Electric Bike Tour with Scenic Views: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Havana $5.76
    Asheville $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Havana:


  • Mojito
    $0.15

Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville

Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Asheville Bar Crawl: $15
  • Asheville Terrors Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
  • Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour: $69
  • Premier Walking Guided Brewery Tour Through Downtown Asheville: $69
  • Bachelorette Royal Bar Crawl through South Slope District: $80
  • Floating Bar Crawl Tour: $85
  • Asheville Brewery Tour: $94
  • 2 Vineyard Wine Tour of Western NC: $159
  • Private Wine Tour with Dine in Black Mountain from Asheville: $230
  • Three Vineyards Half Day Private Wine Tour From Asheville: $260


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Havana and Asheville, we can see that Asheville is more expensive. And not only is Havana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Havana is in Caribbean Islands and Asheville is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Havana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Havana and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Asheville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Asheville than you might in Havana.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Havana Expensive? and Is Asheville Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Havana or Asheville?

Havana has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Asheville. When comparing the sizes of Havana and Asheville, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit Havana or Asheville?

Asheville has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Havana experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Havana or Asheville in the Summer?

Both Asheville and Havana are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Havana throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Asheville for the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Havana is generally around the same temperature as Asheville. Daily temperatures in Havana average around 27°C (81°F), and Asheville fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. In July, Havana usually receives less rain than Asheville. Havana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Asheville receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Havana 27°C (81°F) 
    Asheville 82°F (28°C)

Should I visit Havana or Asheville in the Autumn?

Both Asheville and Havana during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Havana because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Asheville because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Havana is a little warmer than Asheville in the autumn. The daily temperature in Havana averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Asheville fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

Havana usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Asheville. Havana gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Asheville receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Havana 25°C (77°F) 
    Asheville 64°F (18°C)

Should I visit Havana or Asheville in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Havana and Asheville. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Havana year-round. Furthermore, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Asheville this time of year.

In the winter, Havana is much warmer than Asheville. Typically, the winter temperatures in Havana in January average around 21°C (70°F), and Asheville averages at about 44°F (7°C).

Asheville receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Havana usually receives less rain than Asheville. Havana gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Asheville receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Havana 21°C (70°F) 
    Asheville 44°F (7°C)

Should I visit Havana or Asheville in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Havana as well as Asheville. Havana attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Asheville for the natural beauty.

In April, Havana is generally a little warmer than Asheville. Daily temperatures in Havana average around 24°C (75°F), and Asheville fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

It's quite rainy in Asheville. Havana usually gets less rain in April than Asheville. Havana gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Asheville receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Havana 24°C (75°F) 
    Asheville 64°F (18°C)

Typical Weather for Asheville and Havana

Havana Asheville
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 21°C (70°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 44°F (7°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Feb 22°C (72°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 47°F (8°C) 4.3 inches (109 mm)
Mar 23°C (73°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 55°F (13°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm)
Apr 24°C (75°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 64°F (18°C) 4.4 inches (112 mm)
May 26°C (79°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 71°F (22°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 79°F (26°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 50 mm (2 in) 82°F (28°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 81°F (27°C) 4.6 inches (118 mm)
Sep 26°C (79°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 75°F (24°C) 4 inches (101 mm)
Oct 25°C (77°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 64°F (18°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Nov 23°C (73°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 55°F (13°C) 3.2 inches (81 mm)
Dec 22°C (72°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 47°F (8°C) 4.1 inches (103 mm)