Moving to Cuba from Switzerland

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Switzerland to Cuba, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Havana averages 84°F vs 55°F in Bern, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Switzerland to Cuba.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

CH
2.4
CU
5.4

Switzerland performs better than Cuba across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CH
$10,602
CU
$2,575
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CH
44.4
CU
94.3

Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cuba 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

CH
10.0
CU
31.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CH
3.7t
CU
1.9t

Switzerland 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

CH
47.1
CU
2.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CH
6.5%
CU
23.9%

Switzerland performs better than Cuba across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CH
4.0%
CU
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CH
$82,900
CU
$12,300

Switzerland 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

CH
83.2 yrs
CU
79.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CH
3.6
CU
4.1

Switzerland 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.

Bern Rain: 42.8 in/yr (1086 mm)
55° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bern Havana
Jan–Mar 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) 80°/66°F (26°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) 88°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) 82°/70°F (28°/21°C)
View all months
Month Bern Havana
Jan 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C)
Mar 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C)
Apr 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C)
Jun 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C)
Jul 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C)
Aug 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C)
Sep 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C)
Oct 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C)
Nov 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C)
Dec 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C)

Data: MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, Instituto de Meteorología Instituto de Meteorología

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland 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.

Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting Cuba

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

Cuba passport holder visiting Switzerland

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

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?

Switzerland performs better than Cuba across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cuba is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland.

How is healthcare in Cuba compared to Switzerland?

Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cuba leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 94.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Cuba, compared to 44.4 in Switzerland. Cuba scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).

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

The average high temperature in Havana is 84°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Havana receives around 46.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.

What language do they speak in Cuba?

The official language in Cuba is Spanish. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.

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At a Glance

CH CU
Population 8,508,698 11,008,112
Currency Swiss Franc (CHF) Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC)
Languages French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +41 +53
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 106