Moving to Cuba from Japan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Japan to Cuba? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Japan to Cuba, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Havana averages 84°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Cuba compared to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs better than Cuba 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 Japan 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
Japan generally does better on environment, though Cuba leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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
Japan 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
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Cuba leads in unemployment rate.
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
Japan generally does better on family life, though Cuba leads in education spending.
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 | Tokyo | Havana |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 80°/66°F (26°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Havana |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Instituto de Meteorología
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.
Japan passport holder visiting Cuba
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Cuba passport holder visiting Japan
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Cuba?
Connectivity is usually fine (Cuba: 2.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Cuba offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Cuba safe for expats?
Japan performs better than Cuba across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cuba is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.
How is healthcare in Cuba compared to Japan?
Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in health coverage index. There are 94.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Cuba, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Cuba scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Cuba compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Havana is 84°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Havana receives around 46.8 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Cuba?
The official language in Cuba is Spanish. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
