Moving to China from Cuba

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Cuba to China — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Cuba to China, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Beijing averages 64°F vs 84°F in Havana, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Cuba to China.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

CU
4.4
CN
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CU
5.4
CN
17.4

Cuba generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CU
$2,575
CN
$1,487
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CU
94.3
CN
25.2

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cuba leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CU
31.0
CN
64.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CU
1.9t
CN
9.3t

Cuba performs better than China across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CU
2.9
CN
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CU
23.9%
CN
41.5%

China generally does better on infrastructure, though Cuba leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CU
1.2%
CN
4.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CU
$12,300
CN
$22,100

Cuba generally does better on employment & economy, though China 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
CN
76.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CU
4.1
CN
6.8

Cuba performs better than China across all family life metrics.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Havana Rain: 46.8 in/yr (1189 mm)
84° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Beijing Rain: 22.8 in/yr (578 mm)
64° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Havana Beijing
Jan–Mar 80°/66°F (26°/19°C) 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 78°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) 83°/66°F (29°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) 51°/32°F (11°/0°C)
View all months
Month Havana Beijing
Jan 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C) 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C)
Feb 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C) 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C)
Mar 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C) 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C)
Apr 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C) 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C)
May 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C) 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C)
Jun 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C)
Jul 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C) 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C)
Aug 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C) 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C)
Sep 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C) 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C)
Oct 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C) 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C)
Nov 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C)
Dec 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C) 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C)

Data: Instituto de Meteorología Instituto de Meteorología, China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Cuba passport

Cuba passport holder visiting China

Visa Required
Cuba passport holders need a visa to enter China.
China passport

China passport holder visiting Cuba

Visa Free
China 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 China?

Internet is rarely the blocker — China has 41.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is China safe for expats?

Cuba generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.4 in Cuba.

How is healthcare in China compared to Cuba?

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cuba leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 94.3 in Cuba. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cuba: 83).

What's the weather like in China compared to Cuba?

The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 84°F in Havana. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Havana gets 46.8 in.

What language do they speak in China?

The official language in China is Chinese. In Cuba, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

CU CN
Population 11,008,112 1,410,539,758
Currency Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) Chinese Yuan (CN¥)
Languages Spanish Chinese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +53 +86
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 106 110