Moving to Cuba from South Korea

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from South Korea to Cuba, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Havana averages 84°F vs 63°F in Seoul, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Cuba compared to South Korea.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

KR
0.5
CU
4.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KR
6.9
CU
5.4

South Korea generally does better on safety, though Cuba leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

KR
$5,081
CU
$2,575
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

KR
25.2
CU
94.3

Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

KR
19.0
CU
31.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KR
11.4t
CU
1.9t

South Korea 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

KR
45.4
CU
2.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KR
85.2%
CU
23.9%

South Korea 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

KR
2.6%
CU
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KR
$50,600
CU
$12,300

South Korea 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

KR
83.0 yrs
CU
79.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KR
2.9
CU
4.1

South Korea 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.

Seoul Rain: 55.8 in/yr (1418 mm)
63° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Seoul Havana
Jan–Mar 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) 80°/66°F (26°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) 88°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) 82°/70°F (28°/21°C)
View all months
Month Seoul Havana
Jan 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C)
Feb 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C)
Mar 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C)
Apr 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C)
May 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C)
Jun 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C)
Jul 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C)
Aug 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C)
Sep 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C)
Oct 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C)
Nov 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C)
Dec 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C)

Data: Korea Meteorological Administration Korea Meteorological Administration, Instituto de Meteorología Instituto de Meteorología

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Korea 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.

South Korea passport

South Korea passport holder visiting Cuba

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

Cuba passport holder visiting South Korea

Visa Required
Cuba passport holders need a visa to enter South Korea.

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?

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?

South Korea generally does better on safety, though Cuba leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Cuba is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in South Korea.

How is healthcare in Cuba compared to South Korea?

Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in health coverage index. There are 94.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Cuba, compared to 25.2 in South Korea. Cuba scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Korea: 89).

What's the weather like in Cuba compared to South Korea?

The average high temperature in Havana is 84°F, compared to 63°F in Seoul. Havana receives around 46.8 in of rainfall per year, while Seoul gets 55.8 in.

What language do they speak in Cuba?

The official language in Cuba is Spanish. In South Korea, the official language is Korean.

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At a Glance

KR CU
Population 51,844,834 11,008,112
Currency South Korean Won (₩) Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC)
Languages Korean Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +82 +53
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 106