Moving to Barbados from Cuba

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Cuba to Barbados? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Cuba to Barbados, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Cuba to Barbados.

Living there in 2020
57 ↓ 2% vs 2015

people born in Cuba live in Barbados · UN DESA

Who's moving to Barbados?

Top countries of origin for Barbados's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Barbados compared to Cuba.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CU
4.4
BB
15.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CU
5.4
BB
10.0

Cuba performs better than Barbados across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CU
$2,575
BB
$1,153
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CU
94.3
BB
29.7

Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Barbados leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CU
31.0
BB
19.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CU
1.9t
BB
2.5t

Cuba generally does better on environment, though Barbados leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CU
2.9
BB
37.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CU
23.9%
BB
87.5%

Cuba generally does better on infrastructure, though Barbados leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CU
1.2%
BB
8.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CU
$12,300
BB
$17,400

Cuba generally does better on employment & economy, though Barbados leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CU
79.6 yrs
BB
78.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CU
4.1
BB
9.6

Cuba performs better than Barbados across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cuba and Barbados. To live, work, or study long-term in Barbados, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Barbados's immigration authority.

Cuba passport

Cuba passport holder visiting Barbados

Visa Free
Cuba passport holders can enter Barbados without a visa.
Barbados passport

Barbados passport holder visiting Cuba

Visa Free
Barbados passport holders can enter Cuba without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Barbados?

Connectivity is usually fine (Barbados: 37.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Barbados offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Barbados safe for expats?

Cuba performs better than Barbados across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Barbados is 15.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.4 in Cuba.

How is healthcare in Barbados compared to Cuba?

Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Barbados leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 29.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Barbados, compared to 94.3 in Cuba. Barbados scores 77 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cuba: 83).

What language do they speak in Barbados?

The official language in Barbados is English. In Cuba, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

CU BB
Population 11,008,112 302,674
Currency Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) Barbadian Dollar (BBD)
Languages Spanish English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +53 +1246
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 106