Moving to Cuba from Panama

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Panama to Cuba.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
11 ↓ 48% vs 2015

people born in Panama 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 Panama to Cuba.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

PA
11.3
CU
4.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PA
7.3
CU
5.4

Cuba performs significantly better than Panama across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PA
$3,318
CU
$2,575
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

PA
17.3
CU
94.3

Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in adult obesity rate.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PA
17.0
CU
31.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PA
2.7t
CU
1.9t

Panama 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

PA
15.5
CU
2.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PA
0.9%
CU
23.9%

Panama generally does better on infrastructure, though Cuba leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PA
6.7%
CU
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PA
$35,800
CU
$12,300

Panama 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

PA
77.6 yrs
CU
79.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PA
16.4
CU
4.1

Cuba performs significantly 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.

Panama City Rain: 75.1 in/yr (1907 mm)
93° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Panama City Havana
Jan–Mar 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) 80°/66°F (26°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Jul–Sep 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) 88°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) 82°/70°F (28°/21°C)
View all months
Month Panama City Havana
Jan 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C)
Feb 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C)
Mar 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C)
Apr 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C)
May 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C)
Jun 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C)
Jul 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C)
Aug 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C)
Sep 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C)
Oct 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C)
Nov 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C)
Dec 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C)

Data: IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá, Instituto de Meteorología Instituto de Meteorología

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Panama 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.

Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Cuba

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

Cuba passport holder visiting Panama

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

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 Panama across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cuba is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.3 in Panama.

How is healthcare in Cuba compared to Panama?

Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in adult obesity rate. There are 94.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Cuba, compared to 17.3 in Panama. Cuba scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Havana is 84°F, compared to 93°F in Panama City. Havana receives around 46.8 in of rainfall per year, while Panama City gets 75.1 in.

What language do they speak in Cuba?

Both Panama and Cuba share the same official language: Spanish.

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At a Glance

PA CU
Population 4,337,768 11,008,112
Currency Panamanian Balboa (PAB) Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC)
Languages Spanish Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +507 +53
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 106