Moving to United States from Cuba
What to Expect
Considering a move from Cuba to United States? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Cuba to United States, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°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 United States.
people moved from Cuba to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
8.1,376,211
Cuba
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United States compared to Cuba.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Cuba performs better than United States 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 United States leads in health coverage index.
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 United States 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
United States generally does better on infrastructure, though Cuba leads in water stress level.
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 United States 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
Cuba generally does better on family life, though United States 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Havana | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/66°F (26°/19°C) | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Havana | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C) | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) |
| Feb | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C) | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C) | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) |
| Apr | 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C) | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) |
| May | 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C) | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) |
| Jun | 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C) | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C) | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) |
| Sep | 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C) | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) |
| Oct | 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) |
| Nov | 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) |
| Dec | 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C) | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) |
Instituto de Meteorología
National Weather ServiceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cuba and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Cuba passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States 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 United States?
Connectivity is usually fine (United States: 37.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United States offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is United States safe for expats?
Cuba performs better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.4 in Cuba.
How is healthcare in United States compared to Cuba?
Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in health coverage index. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 94.3 in Cuba. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cuba: 83).
What's the weather like in United States compared to Cuba?
The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 84°F in Havana. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Havana gets 46.8 in.
What language do they speak in United States?
The official language in United States is English. In Cuba, the official language is Spanish.
