Havana: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Havana is the capital of Cuba, a city of about 2 million and one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the Americas. Old Havana with its fortresses and squares is a UNESCO World Heritage site, art deco buildings line the Malecón seafront, and music plays in almost every courtyard.

Yet the country is in a severe economic crisis: in 2026 the national power grid collapsed completely seven times, most recently on 18 September, and the city has blackouts lasting more than a day, and fuel, medicines and food are scarce. Hundreds of thousands of people have left since 2021. Tourism remains the main source of hard currency, but visitor numbers have fallen sharply.

It suits those coming for a while for culture, music and Spanish, and people with Cuban relatives. It does not suit those seeking a stable life, remote work with fast internet or clear business rules.

Neighbourhoods: where newcomers settle

Foreigners usually rent from licensed private hosts: registration is simpler, and many hosts have generators or water reserves.

Cost of living

A single person lives comfortably on about $1,200-2,000 a month, but much depends on the exchange rate: the Cuban peso has several rates, and the unofficial one is many times higher than the official. Prices in hard-currency shops are comparable to Europe.

Practicalities: transport, climate, money

• Transport. City buses are crowded; foreigners take taxis, including vintage American cars. Fuel is often short.
• Climate. Tropical, dry season November to April, hurricane season June to November.
• Money. Cash dollars and euros are essential; international cards are not accepted in 2026 and cannot be used to withdraw cash at ATMs.
• Power and water. Outages happen daily, so flats with generators, torches and water reserves are valued.
• Entry. Russian nationals need no visa for up to 90 days; an electronic traveller form is filled in before the trip.

Family: schools and healthcare

For foreigners' children Havana has embassy-linked international schools and one large international school teaching in English, with few places. Cuban medicine is known for its doctors, but pharmacies and hospitals lack medicines and supplies, so people bring their own medicines. Separate paid clinics serve foreigners.

Remote work from Havana

Internet in Cuba is provided by the state operator: mobile data and home connections exist, but speeds are low, prices high, and outages cut connectivity along with power. Some foreign services do not work from Cuban addresses because of sanctions, so a backup connection is needed for work. Video calls during working hours are not guaranteed, and for calls many look for hotels with a generator and their own connection. If your job needs a stable connection every day, Cuba is difficult.

Moving and legal status

Foreigners can hardly buy housing, except in certain tourist developments and through marriage to a Cuban citizen. There is no simple residence for remote workers or retirees. Those wanting to live in Latin America under clear rules are usually better served by Argentina, Paraguay or Brazil.

First steps after arrival

• register your place of stay: a licensed host does this for you;
• exchange some cash at a bank or official exchange office and check current rates;
• buy a local SIM card with a data package;
• find a clinic for foreigners nearby and bring a supply of medicines;
• extend your stay at the immigration office in advance if you stay beyond the permitted period.

Is the city worth considering for living

For a stay of weeks or months, yes, if you are ready for blackouts and shortages: Havana's atmosphere is unique. For permanent life and work, rather no: the crisis, weak internet and restrictions on foreigners make moving difficult. We choose Latin American countries to live in and support the move; we fix our fee after a free consultation.