Havana vs Kingston
Havana comes out ahead overall, winning 3 of 7 criteria.
Summary
Havana edges out Kingston overall (5.6 vs 5.4), but the margin is thin enough that a single strong priority — like internet & connectivity — could reasonably flip your personal decision the other way.
Quick answers
Safety: Havana (6/10 vs 4/10).
Climate: Havana and Kingston tie on this (8/10 each).
Overall, Havana scores higher (5.6/10 vs 5.4/10) across all seven criteria combined.
Cost of living: Havana (7/10 vs 6/10).
Havana — Havana scores higher once we weight toward households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (5.7 vs 5.2 for Havana vs Kingston), driven largely by safety.
Havana and Kingston are a close call for remote work based on internet and cost of living.
Where each city wins
- +Safety: notably better than Kingston (6.0 vs 4.0)
- +Cost of living: slightly better than Kingston (7.0 vs 6.0)
- +Healthcare: slightly better than Kingston (6.0 vs 5.0)
- +Internet & connectivity: notably better than Havana (6.0 vs 4.0)
- +Public transport: slightly better than Havana (4.0 vs 3.0)
Which city fits your profile?
Havana and Kingston score within a rounding error of each other for remote workers who need fast internet and an affordable, pleasant base, so this comparison won't settle it either way.
Havana scores higher once we weight toward independent workers balancing cost of living against healthcare access (5.9 vs 5.5 for Havana vs Kingston), driven largely by cost of living.
Havana scores higher once we weight toward households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (5.7 vs 5.2 for Havana vs Kingston), driven largely by safety.
Havana scores higher once we weight toward movers for whom affordability outweighs every other factor (5.8 vs 5.5 for Havana vs Kingston), driven largely by cost of living.
Havana scores higher once we weight toward people relocating somewhere unfamiliar who weigh personal safety above all (5.7 vs 5.1 for Havana vs Kingston), driven largely by safety.
Havana scores higher once we weight toward retirees prioritizing healthcare, climate and a calm environment over nightlife or internet speed (6.0 vs 5.5 for Havana vs Kingston), driven largely by climate.
Havana and Kingston score within a rounding error of each other for students who need affordability, transit and a lively social scene, so this comparison won't settle it either way.
Havana scores higher once we weight toward expatriates relocating for work who lean on safety, healthcare and internet to stay settled and connected (5.4 vs 5.2 for Havana vs Kingston), driven largely by safety.
Havana and Kingston score within a rounding error of each other for founders and small business owners who need reliable connectivity and a livable base without big-city costs, so this comparison won't settle it either way.
Havana and Kingston score within a rounding error of each other for early-career movers who want nightlife and transit within budget, without yet prioritizing healthcare or climate, so this comparison won't settle it either way.
Which city should you choose?
Pick Havana if you're a freelancer, young family, or budget-conscious mover.