Moving to Cuba from Dominican Republic

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Dominican Republic to Cuba.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
14 ↓ 48% vs 2015

people born in Dominican Republic live in Cuba · UN DESA

Who's moving to Cuba?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Dominican Republic to Cuba.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

DO
12.4
CU
4.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

DO
27.4
CU
5.4

Cuba performs significantly better than Dominican Republic across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

DO
$1,169
CU
$2,575
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

DO
22.3
CU
94.3

Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Dominican Republic 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

DO
27.0
CU
31.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

DO
3.0t
CU
1.9t

Dominican Republic generally does better on environment, though Cuba leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

DO
10.7
CU
2.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

DO
39.5%
CU
23.9%

Dominican Republic 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

DO
5.6%
CU
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

DO
$23,100
CU
$12,300

Dominican Republic generally does better on employment & economy, though Cuba leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

DO
72.6 yrs
CU
79.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

DO
21.2
CU
4.1

Cuba performs significantly better than Dominican Republic 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.

Santo Domingo Rain: 57.0 in/yr (1447 mm)
87° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Santo Domingo Havana
Jan–Mar 85°/67°F (29°/20°C) 80°/66°F (26°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 87°/72°F (30°/22°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/73°F (31°/23°C) 88°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/71°F (30°/21°C) 82°/70°F (28°/21°C)
View all months
Month Santo Domingo Havana
Jan 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C) 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C)
Feb 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.7°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C)
Mar 85°/68°F (29.6°/20.2°C) 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C)
Apr 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.1°C) 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C)
May 87°/72°F (30.4°/22.2°C) 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C)
Jun 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C)
Jul 88°/73°F (31.3°/22.8°C) 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C)
Aug 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.7°C) 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C)
Sep 89°/73°F (31.4°/22.7°C) 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C)
Oct 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.3°C) 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C)
Nov 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.4°C) 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C)
Dec 85°/69°F (29.6°/20.3°C) 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C)

Data: Oficina Nacional de Meteorologiá Oficina Nacional de Meteorologiá, Instituto de Meteorología Instituto de Meteorología

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Dominican Republic passport

Dominican Republic passport holder visiting Cuba

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

Cuba passport holder visiting Dominican Republic

Visa Required
Cuba passport holders need a visa to enter Dominican Republic.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Cuba?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Cuba has 2.9 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 Cuba safe for expats?

Cuba performs significantly better than Dominican Republic across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cuba is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 12.4 in Dominican Republic.

How is healthcare in Cuba compared to Dominican Republic?

Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Dominican Republic leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 94.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Cuba, compared to 22.3 in Dominican Republic. Cuba scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Dominican Republic: 77).

What's the weather like in Cuba compared to Dominican Republic?

The average high temperature in Havana is 84°F, compared to 87°F in Santo Domingo. Havana receives around 46.8 in of rainfall per year, while Santo Domingo gets 57.0 in.

What language do they speak in Cuba?

Both Dominican Republic and Cuba share the same official language: Spanish.

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At a Glance

DO CU
Population 10,694,700 11,008,112
Currency Dominican Peso (DOP) Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC)
Languages Spanish Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +53
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 106