Moving to Ecuador from Cuba

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Cuba to Ecuador. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Quito averages 71°F vs 84°F in Havana, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Cuba to Ecuador, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
3,130 ↑ 5% vs 2015

people born in Cuba live in Ecuador · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ecuador?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CU
4.4
EC
27.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CU
5.4
EC
23.4

Cuba performs better than Ecuador across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CU
$2,575
EC
$1,238
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CU
94.3
EC
23.1

Ecuador 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
EC
23.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CU
1.9t
EC
2.6t

Cuba generally does better on environment, though Ecuador 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
EC
15.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CU
23.9%
EC
6.8%

Ecuador performs significantly better than Cuba across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CU
1.2%
EC
3.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CU
$12,300
EC
$14,300

Cuba generally does better on employment & economy, though Ecuador 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
EC
77.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CU
4.1
EC
18.1

Cuba performs better than Ecuador 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

Quito Rain: 43.2 in/yr (1098 mm)
71° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Havana Quito
Jan–Mar 80°/66°F (26°/19°C) 70°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 70°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) 72°/49°F (22°/9°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) 70°/49°F (21°/10°C)
View all months
Month Havana Quito
Jan 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C) 70°/50°F (21.2°/9.8°C)
Feb 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C)
Mar 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C) 69°/50°F (20.8°/10.1°C)
Apr 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C) 70°/50°F (20.9°/10.2°C)
May 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C)
Jun 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C) 70°/50°F (21.1°/9.8°C)
Jul 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C) 71°/49°F (21.5°/9.4°C)
Aug 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C) 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.6°C)
Sep 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C) 72°/49°F (22.3°/9.4°C)
Oct 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C) 71°/49°F (21.8°/9.5°C)
Nov 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.6°C)
Dec 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C) 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.7°C)

Data: Instituto de Meteorología Instituto de Meteorología, Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Cuba passport

Cuba passport holder visiting Ecuador

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

Ecuador passport holder visiting Cuba

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Ecuador passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Cuba.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Ecuador?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Ecuador has 15.0 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 Ecuador safe for expats?

Cuba performs better than Ecuador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ecuador is 27.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.4 in Cuba.

How is healthcare in Ecuador compared to Cuba?

Ecuador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cuba leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 23.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Ecuador, compared to 94.3 in Cuba. Ecuador scores 77 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cuba: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Quito is 71°F, compared to 84°F in Havana. Quito receives around 43.2 in of rainfall per year, while Havana gets 46.8 in.

What language do they speak in Ecuador?

Both Cuba and Ecuador share the same official language: Spanish.

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At a Glance

CU EC
Population 11,008,112 17,289,554
Currency Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Spanish Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +53 +593
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 106 911