Moving to Portugal from Cuba

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Cuba to Portugal, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lisbon averages 69°F vs 84°F in Havana, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
436 ↑ 35% vs 2022

people moved from Cuba to Portugal · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Portugal?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Portugal compared to Cuba.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CU
4.4
PT
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CU
5.4
PT
7.2

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CU
$2,575
PT
$4,928
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CU
94.3
PT
57.7

Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cuba 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
PT
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CU
1.9t
PT
3.3t

Cuba generally does better on environment, though Portugal 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
PT
43.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CU
23.9%
PT
12.3%

Portugal 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%
PT
6.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CU
$12,300
PT
$41,700

Cuba generally does better on employment & economy, though Portugal 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
PT
81.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CU
4.1
PT
2.5

Cuba generally does better on family life, though Portugal leads in life expectancy.

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

Lisbon Rain: 29.6 in/yr (751 mm)
69° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Havana Lisbon
Jan–Mar 80°/66°F (26°/19°C) 61°/48°F (16°/9°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 71°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) 65°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month Havana Lisbon
Jan 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C) 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C)
Feb 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C) 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C)
Mar 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C) 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C)
Apr 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C) 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C)
May 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C) 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C)
Jun 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C) 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C)
Jul 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C) 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C)
Aug 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C) 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C)
Sep 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C)
Oct 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C) 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C)
Nov 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C)
Dec 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C) 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C)

Data: Instituto de Meteorología Instituto de Meteorología, Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Cuba passport

Cuba passport holder visiting Portugal

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

Portugal passport holder visiting Cuba

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Portugal 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 Portugal?

Connectivity is usually fine (Portugal: 43.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Portugal offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Portugal safe for expats?

Cuba generally does better on safety, though Portugal leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Portugal is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.4 in Cuba.

How is healthcare in Portugal compared to Cuba?

Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cuba leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 57.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Portugal, compared to 94.3 in Cuba. Portugal scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cuba: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Lisbon is 69°F, compared to 84°F in Havana. Lisbon receives around 29.6 in of rainfall per year, while Havana gets 46.8 in.

What language do they speak in Portugal?

The official language in Portugal is Portuguese. In Cuba, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

CU PT
Population 11,008,112 10,242,081
Currency Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) Euro (€)
Languages Spanish Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +53 +351
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 106 112