Moving to Panama from Cuba
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Cuba to Panama — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Cuba to Panama.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Get free moving quotes to Panama
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Cuba to Panama, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Panama?
Top countries of origin for Panama's foreign-born residents.
- 119,553
- 50,702
- 22,427
- 16,867
- 15,517
- 9,711
- · · ·
-
17.2,194
Cuba
Key Indicator Comparison
How Cuba and Panama stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Cuba performs better than Panama across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in adult obesity rate.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Cuba generally does better on environment, though Panama leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Panama generally does better on infrastructure, though Cuba leads in internet access.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Cuba generally does better on employment & economy, though Panama leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Cuba performs better than Panama 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Havana | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/66°F (26°/19°C) | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Havana | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C) | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) |
| Feb | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C) | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) |
| Mar | 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C) | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C) | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) |
| May | 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C) | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) |
| Jun | 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C) | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) |
| Jul | 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) |
| Sep | 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C) | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) |
| Oct | 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C) | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) |
| Nov | 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C) | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) |
Data:
Instituto de Meteorología,
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cuba and Panama. To live, work, or study long-term in Panama, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Panama's immigration authority.
Cuba passport holder visiting Panama
Visa Required
Panama passport holder visiting Cuba
Visa Online (e-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 Panama?
With 15.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Panama can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Cuba and Panama.
Is Panama safe for expats?
Cuba performs better than Panama across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.4 in Cuba.
How is healthcare in Panama compared to Cuba?
Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in adult obesity rate. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 94.3 in Cuba. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cuba: 83).
What's the weather like in Panama compared to Cuba?
The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 84°F in Havana. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Havana gets 46.8 in.
What language do they speak in Panama?
Both Cuba and Panama share the same official language: Spanish.
