Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to Cuba isn’t just about changing your address or the climate. It’s entering a society shaped by the 1959 revolution, decades of socialism, a long-standing economic embargo, and an incredibly vibrant popular culture. Between music, resourcefulness, bureaucracy, human warmth, and political control, the culture shock can be intense for an expatriate, especially one coming from a liberal Western country.
Before leaving, it is essential to understand the cultural differences of the destination country. This helps avoid faux pas, put potential dysfunctions into perspective, and thus fully enjoy what the country has to offer, both in daily life and in a professional context.
A Socialist, Proud Country Under Economic Pressure
Before discussing daily gestures, one must understand the framework in which Cubans live. The Republic of Cuba is a single-party socialist state, dominated by the Communist Party, with a planned economy where the state still controls the majority of sectors.
Since the revolution, socialist ideology has structured the institutions, health, and education. Despite a deep economic crisis (shortages, inflation, very low purchasing power) and persistent American sanctions since the 1960s that hinder imports and access to technology, national pride remains strong.
For an expatriate, this is felt everywhere: in the lines, the difficulty finding certain basic products, the speed of administrative procedures, but also in the level of politicization of public life, or in the caution with which Cubans approach sensitive subjects.
A Daily Life Where Resourcefulness is a Social Skill
Cubans have lived for a long time with regular shortages of food, medicine, fuel, drinking water, or even electricity. Power outages, scheduled or not, can last up to 12 hours in Havana, even longer in the provinces. The lack of spare parts and import restrictions affect the entire economy.
The Cuban mindset is often summed up by the verbs ‘inventar’ and ‘resolver,’ illustrating a culture of improvisation and making do with what’s available. This translates into daily actions like repairing an old car with Soviet parts, fixing an appliance, adapting a recipe despite missing ingredients, or negotiating a purchase through a network of contacts. This resourcefulness often surprises newcomers.
The expatriate who expects a “smooth” and predictable environment can be disoriented. In Cuba, having a network—of neighbors, colleagues, family members—sometimes counts more than money. This is all the more true as public salaries remain very low, often around a few dozen dollars per month at the official rate.
Language, Communication, and Relationship Codes
The dominant language is Spanish, and speaking Spanish (or at least mastering the basics) is almost an indispensable condition for integration, particularly for long-term work. English is present in tourist areas and some professional circles, but it remains a minority language in daily life.
A Very… Cuban Spanish
The Castilian Spanish spoken in Cuba has its particularities: fast pace, Caribbean accent, numerous local expressions (cubanismos) and pervasive colloquial language. Greetings like “¿Qué bolá?” or “¿Qué vuelta?”—the equivalent of “How’s it going? / What’s up?”—are very common in informal exchanges, but aren’t used in all contexts.
In a professional setting, standard polite forms are preferred at first: usted for the formal “you,” señor / señora followed by the last name, or professional titles like Doctor, Ingeniero, Licenciado, Director. Switching to the informal “you” and first names happens upon invitation, rarely right away.
Direct… But Not Always Confrontational
In terms of communication style, Cubans can seem very expressive: loud voices, abundant gestures, animated faces. For a Northern European or Asian, an animated conversation can seem like an argument when it’s just a passionate discussion. Intonation and gestures are tools used to give emphasis to speech.
In peer-to-peer relationships in Cuba, speech can be direct. However, when addressing a sensitive topic, criticizing a superior, or discussing political themes, it is common to avoid open confrontation. Disagreements are then expressed indirectly, through allusions or humor. This approach aims to preserve the harmony of the relationship and is often motivated by caution linked to the political context.
With an expatriate, people might sometimes avoid saying no directly, especially if the interlocutor is perceived as having power or a high status. A “vamos a ver” (“we’ll see”) can in reality mean “no” or “not now.”
Importance of Non-Verbal Cues and Proximity
Physical contact and proximity are central elements of Cuban communication. People stand closer to each other than in Northern Europe, North America, or East Asia. Kisses, hugs, and pats on the back among close acquaintances are frequent.
For an expatriate, it’s important to distinguish friendly familiarity from what is inappropriate. Cubans generally do not appreciate a foreigner they barely know touching them in a familiar way (pats on the back, hasty embraces). At first contact, limit yourself to a firm handshake, a smile, and direct eye contact. Physical distance then gradually decreases as the relationship develops.
Small Talk, Big Importance
Informal conversation is an essential ingredient of interactions. One rarely begins a meeting, even a professional one, without a few words about family, health, the weather, music, or the neighborhood. Talking about daily life, the difficulties finding certain products, the latest power outage, or the local party is a way to create a connection.
On the other hand, some themes should be handled with care, especially for an expatriate:
– Domestic politics, the system in place, the role of the state
– The military, the police, security forces
– Direct criticism of shortages or government management
Not only can these topics make your interlocutors uncomfortable, but public criticism of the government is illegal for Cubans themselves. A foreigner who appears too politically engaged can attract the attention of the authorities.
Work, Hierarchy, and Negotiation: A Very Structured Framework
Integrating into the professional world in Cuba requires understanding the logic of organizations and the hierarchical culture. The economy remains largely dominated by state-owned enterprises, even though the private sector (cuentapropistas, small businesses, and self-employed workers) is growing.
A Clear Hierarchy, Even in an Egalitarian Discourse
Officially, socialism promotes equality and cooperation. In practice, organizational culture is very hierarchical, especially in state-owned companies. Decisions go up to the higher levels, sometimes under strong ministerial influence. Superiors receive marked respect, often materialized by the use of titles and the formal “you.”
Expatriates must prepare for multiple approval circuits and long validation delays, particularly when a project involves a public entity. Giving an opinion in a meeting is possible, but directly contradicting a leader in front of everyone is frowned upon. More discreet approaches are often preferred: private discussion, nuanced suggestion, seeking compromise.
Opening Doors Through Personal Relationships
In Cuba, the boundary between professional and private life is porous. Colleagues see each other outside of work, share meals, parties, concerts, baseball games. The bonds formed in these contexts play a key role in facilitating daily professional life: getting a signature faster, unblocking a file stuck in a department, accessing a rare resource.
The phenomenon called sociolismo illustrates this importance of networks: using one’s connections, cousins, former university classmates, or military service comrades to “get things done.” The expatriate who remains too distant, who doesn’t invest in these informal moments (coffees, lunches, company parties) deprives themselves of an essential lever.
Sociolismo
Negotiation: Slow, Relational, Patient
In work with Cuban partners, negotiation can be long and demanding. Initial meetings often serve to “get to know each other,” test trust, measure the reliability of the interlocutor, rather than to immediately sign a contract. Courtesy, patience, and a certain flexibility are indispensable.
Cubans often practice tenacious bargaining, which can seem aimed at wearing down the interlocutor. This attitude is not hostile; it allows testing limits and maximizing gains in a difficult economic context. It is advisable to remain firm on one’s objectives while maintaining a cordial and honest tone, an approach generally appreciated.
Bureaucracy, Slowness, and Resilience
Administrative procedures—work visas, permits, contract registration—are often slow and formalized. Several ministries and agencies can be involved, procedures change periodically, and local interpretations vary. For both employers and foreign employees, strict adherence to immigration and work rules is unavoidable: controls exist, and penalties (fines, expulsion, problems for the local employer) can be severe.
In this context, the support of a reliable local partner, a lawyer, or an experienced intermediary is often decisive. The expatriate must learn to deal with this bureaucratic timeframe, integrating delays and setbacks into their planning.
Time, Punctuality, and Pace of Life
One of the frequent culture shocks concerns time management. In many settings, there is a gap between the punctuality expected by foreigners and the flexibility practiced locally.
In the business world in Cuba, the expatriate is expected to arrive on time, even early, as a sign of seriousness and respect. However, it is common for the Cuban host to be late, for meetings to start half an hour or more behind schedule, or to be canceled at the last minute. These delays or postponements are often justified by transportation problems, lines for fuel, power outages, or unforeseen family obligations.
In the social sphere, timing becomes even more relative. Arriving late to a dinner at a friend’s house is not considered a major offense, and evenings can extend well beyond what was announced. Patience is a virtue to cultivate; open irritation or direct remarks about punctuality risk coming across as arrogance.
Greetings, Gestures, and Social Etiquette
The human warmth of Cubans is evident from the first minutes of a meeting. Greetings are an important, almost ritual moment, in social life as well as at work.
How People Greet Each Other
At first contact, especially in a formal context, people shake hands while looking the other person in the eyes, with a “Buenos días” or “Mucho gusto.” The handshake can last a bit longer than in Northern Europe, without being considered strange locally.
Among acquaintances, a kiss on one cheek is common, both between women and between men and women. Men kiss each other less often, but readily give hugs, sometimes accompanied by a pat on the back. Within family or close friends, embraces are generally warmer and more frank.
In a professional environment, it’s better to start with a formal handshake and let Cuban colleagues initiate more familiar gestures if the relationship grows closer.
Affectionate Terms and Colloquial Language
Even with people they barely know, Cubans may use very affectionate terms: mi corazón (my heart), mi vida (my life), mi amor (my love), cariño (darling). For an expatriate, this can seem surprising, even ambiguous. However, it is a common way of speaking, which does not necessarily imply an intimate relationship.
In Cuba, it’s important to adapt one’s language according to the interlocutor. With elderly people, authority figures, or strangers, it is appropriate to use a more respectful tone and more formal vocabulary. The ability to switch from an informal to a formal register depending on the social context is a marked characteristic of communication on the island.
Impromptu Visits and Hospitality
The neighborhood and community bond plays a major role in social life. It is common for friends, neighbors, or family members to drop by unexpectedly to have a coffee (cafecito), chat, ask for a favor, watch a game, or share a moment of music. For an expatriate used to scheduling all encounters via message, the spontaneous arrival of a visitor can be surprising, even disturbing.
Systematically refusing these invitations, or closing one’s door to this type of informal conviviality, quickly gives a cold and distant impression. Conversely, accepting to sit for a few minutes, share a coffee or a conversation, is often the best way to gain the trust of one’s surroundings.
Religion, Beliefs, and Diversity
Cuban society is religiously plural. A majority of the population declares itself more or less Catholic, but practice varies widely. Many turn to Afro-Cuban religions like Santería, Palo, or Vodú, blending Yoruba cults and Catholicism.
On the street, elements like colored bead necklaces, white clothes worn by initiates, small offerings, or ritual drums are manifestations of spiritual beliefs. These practices, far from being marginal, are an integral part of the local cultural fabric.
In parallel, the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination based on belief. The state has defined itself as secular since the 1990s. Other minorities—Jewish, Muslim, and various Christian denominations—are present, especially in large cities.
For the expatriate, it is advisable to approach these subjects with respectful curiosity rather than mocking skepticism. Taking photos of a ritual without permission or commenting negatively on these beliefs can be very poorly received.
Daily Life: Housing, Food, Health
Setting up in Cuba isn’t just about adopting new social codes; it’s also about dealing with a very specific material environment.
Finding Housing: The Culture of Casas Particulares
In many cases, foreigners stay in casas particulares—rooms or apartments in a local home, displaying an official symbol at the entrance. These accommodations, managed by Cuban families, are one of the showcases of the private sector authorized by the state and a pillar for many expatriates and long-stay visitors.
This arrangement imposes a different relationship with hospitality: you live in an occupied house, you interact with the owners, you sometimes share the kitchen or terrace. The hosts can play a key role in the expatriate’s cultural integration: practical advice, introductions to neighbors, help understanding local realities.
For a foreigner, it’s also an opportunity to experience the real life of Cubans firsthand, far from the more impersonal state hotels.
Eating in Cuba: Between Rationing, Creativity, and Conviviality
Traditional Cuban cuisine (criolla) blends Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences: rice, black beans, pork, chicken, cassava, plantains, soups, and stews. Dishes like moros y cristianos, ropa vieja, or lechón asado are staples at parties and special occasions.
Despite the theories, Cuban reality is marked by scarcity. A part of the population depends on the libreta (ration book) for insufficient quantities of basic products. The rest of the foodstuffs are accessible via free markets, cooperatives, currency stores, or the black market, often at prices that are prohibitive relative to local salaries.
For the expatriate, the main cultural difference lies in unpredictability: you can’t always buy what you want when you want it. A product available one week can disappear the next month. One must learn to work with what’s available, adapt menus and habits, and avoid waste.
Shared meals hold a central place in relationships. Being invited to someone’s home represents a real gesture, given the relative cost of food. It is therefore polite to bring a small gift: coffee, chocolate, flowers, or a product unavailable locally. Complimenting the meal and savoring what is served are part of the basic codes.
Health: A High-Performing but Uneven System for Foreigners
Cuba is world-renowned for the quality of its preventive medicine and its medical density: one of the highest doctor-to-inhabitant ratios in the world, high life expectancy, and a low infant mortality rate for a limited-income country. The public health system is free for citizens and largely oriented towards prevention.
For expatriates, access to care is primarily through a private network of international clinics and hospitals, located in major cities like Havana (e.g., Clínica Central Cira García). These establishments offer better standard services than public facilities but operate on a fee-paying model in foreign currency. Payment is often in cash, and foreign bank cards are not systematically accepted.
Shortages of medication and medical supplies affect the entire country. A well-prepared expatriate must therefore:
– Arrive with a supply of personal and basic medications,
– Have health insurance that includes Cuba and medical evacuation,
– Know that, in case of an unpaid medical bill, the authorities can block their exit from the country.
This contrast between theoretical medical excellence and lack of resources on the ground is another disorienting aspect of Cuban life.
Summary Table: Key Contrasts for Daily Life
| Area | For Cubans (general trend) | For the Expatriate |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Housed by the state, little or no rent, sometimes run-down housing | Casas particulares or more comfortable private rentals |
| Access to Foreign Currency | Limited, often depends on remittances from abroad | Must bring cash in foreign currency and manage a complex system |
| Food | Rationing + black market + creativity | Broader choice, but unpredictability and sometimes high prices |
| Health | Free but shortages | Fee-paying international clinics in foreign currency |
| Internet | Very high cost vs. salary, political control | Connection possible, but slow, expensive, and monitored |
Security, Control, and Freedoms: A Particular Framework
One of the big surprises for many newcomers is the paradoxical feeling of personal security in a politically highly controlled country.
Crime and Daily Security
The violent crime rate remains relatively low, and civilian firearm possession is extremely rare. Kidnappings, extortions, and homicides are infrequent compared to other countries in the region. This explains why Cuba is regularly described as one of the safest countries on the continent for moving around, including at night in many urban areas.
With the worsening economic crisis, petty crimes like bag snatching, pickpocketing, tourist scams, and vehicle break-ins have increased. These incidents occur mainly in tourist areas, markets, crowded buses, and certain bars.
Expatriates, often perceived as wealthy or naive, can become prime targets for:
– Jineteros (touts, improvised intermediaries),
– Affection scams (financially motivated romances, requests for financial help),
– Currency scams or taxi scams.
Table: Crime and Perception of Security
| Aspect | Situation in Cuba |
|---|---|
| Violent Crimes | Rare, but slightly increasing recently |
| Civilian Firearms | Almost non-existent, possession highly controlled |
| Opportunistic Crimes | Frequent (pickpockets, bag theft, scams) |
| Subjective Safety | High in many urban areas and resorts |
| Police and Law Enforcement | Visible presence, strong capacity for social control |
Political Control, Censorship, and Caution
In parallel, freedom of expression, assembly, and association for citizens is strictly limited. Opposition parties are banned, the media is predominantly state-run, and the internet is closely monitored.
For an expatriate, this implies several cultural and practical precautions.
– Avoid participating in demonstrations or publicly speaking out against the government,
– Understand that Cubans themselves often self-censor out of caution,
– Do not photograph military installations, security forces, ports, or airports ostentatiously,
– Know that phones and internet connections can be monitored.
This context influences how Cubans approach sensitive topics, including in professional settings. Frank criticisms that might be considered normal in a liberal democracy can here be perceived as dangerous, even reckless.
Internet, Telecommunications, and Digital Life
For many expatriates, the relationship with the internet is a culture shock in itself. After years of restrictions, access has opened up, but under very specific conditions.
State Monopoly and Unequal Access
Everything related to telecommunications falls under a single company: ETECSA, owned by the state. Access to the global internet remains partial, expensive, and slow. Several realities shape this landscape:
There is a single home internet subscription offer in Cuba, primarily via Nauta Hogar.
Cubans pay for their plans in pesos, but the rates remain proportionally exorbitant relative to their salaries. Many depend on recharges sent by the diaspora abroad.
Surveillance and Restrictions
Certain sites are blocked, circumvention applications (VPNs) are difficult to access, and legal texts penalize the “dissemination of subversive content” online. Digital self-censorship is therefore very real.
The expatriate can generally use VPNs and security tools, provided they are installed before arrival, as downloads of certain services are restricted from within the territory. They will also have to accept unexpected network outages, massive slowdowns, and even occasional blocking during periods of political tension.
Table: Internet and Digital Culture
| Element | Particularities in Cuba |
|---|---|
| Single Provider | ETECSA (state monopoly) |
| Connection Quality | Slow, unstable, sensitive to power outages |
| Relative Cost | Very high relative to local salaries |
| Censorship / Surveillance | Blocked sites, content monitoring, frequent self-censorship |
| Daily Use | Priority to messaging (WhatsApp, Telegram), low streaming |
Diversity, Gender, and LGBTQ+: A Country in Transition
Cuba is a multi-ethnic society, where Spanish, African, Chinese, and Amerindian heritages intersect. Officially, any discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation is illegal. In practice, forms of racism and sexism persist, often linked to socio-economic gaps.
Gender Issues: Between Progressive Laws and Machismo
Since the revolution, laws have encouraged women’s participation in the workforce, legal equality, and access to education. Yet, macho models remain present in behaviors: insistent compliments in the street, stereotypes about women’s roles, domestic chores still largely assumed by women.
A female expatriate may encounter paternalistic attitudes or persistent advances, especially in tourist or party areas. It’s important to learn to set clear boundaries while remaining polite. Furthermore, it should be noted that understanding of non-conforming gender issues (trans, non-binary people) remains limited in society in general, despite the existence of some advanced medical and legal provisions put in place by the state.
LGBTQ+ Rights in Evolution
A symbolic turning point occurred with the legalization of same-sex marriage, joint parenthood, and surrogacy in a new Family Code, adopted by referendum. In parallel, a national center for sex education (CENESEX) actively defends the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
Acceptance of LGBTQ+ people in Cuba varies by generation and region, with sometimes hostile attitudes outside major urban centers. Although community spaces exist, especially in Havana, vigilance is recommended, particularly at night and in less frequented areas.
Getting Around, Consuming, Managing Money: Other Cultural Gaps
Beyond social norms, daily Cuban life is shaped by a fragmented economy, limited public services, and specific financial rules.
Mobility: Old Taxis, Crowded Buses, and Unpredictable Roads
The Cuban road landscape mixes incomplete highways, potholed secondary roads, fragile bridges, and lack of clear signage. Public transportation (buses, trains) is often crowded, in poor condition, and unpunctual.
Expatriates generally rely on:
– Official or private taxis (including the famous 1950s American cars),
– Shared taxis (same route shared among several passengers),
– Car rental, with caution.
Driving at night is not recommended: poorly lit roads, vehicles without headlights, stray animals, horse-drawn carts. Road accidents represent one of the main causes of mortality in the country, often involving pedestrians and cyclists.
Money, Payments, and the Banking System
Cuba operates largely in cash. International bank cards are partially usable, provided they are not issued by U.S. banks or linked to groups subject to the embargo. Visa cards are more likely to work than some MasterCards, and payment terminals are essentially present in hotels, state stores, or high-end establishments.
A foreigner must therefore:
– Arrive with sufficient foreign currency (often euros, Canadian dollars, or U.S. dollars),
– Exchange money in official exchange bureaus (CADECA) or banks, knowing the official rate is not very advantageous,
– Stay away from the black market, which offers much more favorable rates but carries legal and security risks.
In Cuba, the population uses a complex monetary system mixing pesos, foreign currencies, and cards in freely convertible currency (MLC). The latter are necessary to buy certain products in specific stores. This system creates and accentuates strong social inequalities, favoring people with access to foreign currency via diaspora remittances or tourism income, to the detriment of others.
Consumption, Services, and Expectations
For an expatriate used to Amazon, fast delivery, well-stocked stores, and formalized customer service, Cuban consumption culture is a radical change. One shouldn’t expect to find everything, right away, or to be able to easily return a defective product.
Services are often more informal, and quality depends as much on the person in front of you as on the organization itself. Tipping occupies an important place in the income of service staff, and it is good form to leave a significant percentage in restaurants, for drivers or guides, especially in tourist circuits.
Integration: What the Expatriate Must Remember Most
Expatriating to Cuba means accepting to play with several layers of reality: a very present state, a fragile economy, but also a warm, creative, tenacious population. Cultural differences aren’t limited to a few gestures or phrases; they touch on the very way of conceiving time, security, speech, and solidarity.
In summary, the expatriate who successfully integrates is generally the one who:
To build authentic bonds in Cuba, it is advisable to learn at least functional Spanish while accepting the particularities of the local speech. Show sincere interest in the daily life of Cubans, without condescension. Understand the weight of shortages and resourcefulness (“resolver”) instead of making hasty judgments. Respect the political framework by avoiding overly direct discussions that could endanger your interlocutors. Invest in personal relationships by accepting impromptu coffees, long conversations, and shared meals. Finally, develop great tolerance for the unexpected and delays, often explained by a simple “it got complicated.”
Cuba can be a difficult country to live in if one clings to expectations of comfort and rationality “in the Western style.” But for those who accept being moved by another way of living, speaking, and mutually supporting each other, the expatriation experience can be exceptionally rich culturally and humanly.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
