Moving to Cuba from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Cuba — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Cuba, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Havana averages 84°F vs 66°F in Washington, making it significantly warmer.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United States to Cuba, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States to Cuba.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Cuba performs significantly better than United States 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States 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
United States 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
United States 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
United States 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
Cuba generally does better on family life, though United States leads in life expectancy.
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 | Washington | Havana |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 80°/66°F (26°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Havana |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C) |
National Weather Service
Instituto de MeteorologíaVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Cuba
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Cuba passport holder visiting United States
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?
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 United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cuba is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States.
How is healthcare in Cuba compared to United States?
Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in health coverage index. There are 94.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Cuba, compared to 36.1 in United States. Cuba scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Cuba compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Havana is 84°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Havana receives around 46.8 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Cuba?
The official language in Cuba is Spanish. In United States, the official language is English.
