Cubans Increasingly Choose Houston Over Miami: Here's Why

Houston is emerging as a top destination for the new wave of Cuban migration to the United States. This shift is propelled by the city's rapidly expanding Cuban community, which offers newcomers job opportunities, relatively affordable housing, and a growing network of Latino and family connections.

A recent feature by the Houston Chronicle, utilizing U.S. Census Bureau data and interviews with experts and migrants, illustrates how Houston has transformed from a mere stopover to a primary settlement for many Cubans, diverging from traditional destinations.

The Cuban-born population in Harris County, which includes Houston, has surged to nearly 41,000, a significant increase from about 25,000 in the 2019 five-year estimate by the American Community Survey.

Between 2015 and 2024, the number of Cuban residents grew by 64%, as detailed in the publication. Among the top ten foreign-born groups in the county, Cubans experienced the second-fastest growth, trailing only Venezuelans.

This trend had been developing over the years. By 2023, Houston had become the preferred destination for thousands of Cuban immigrants, attracted by the city's affordable living costs and job prospects.

The Growing Cuban Community in Houston

Maylen Rondón, a 30-year-old Cuban who arrived in Houston in 2022 after spending several years in Bolivia and traversing the Latin American migration route, shared her firsthand experience with the Houston Chronicle. "In the four years I've been here, the Cuban community has grown tremendously," said Rondón, who works at Azúcar Cuban Bakery, finding a place to reconnect with her cultural roots.

Valerie Lacarte, a senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, attributes this growth partly to changes in the routes Cubans take to reach the U.S. Following the end of the "wet foot, dry foot" policy in 2017 and the removal of the Nicaraguan visa requirement for Cubans in 2021, many began entering through Central America and Mexico, reaching the U.S. southwest border instead of directly arriving in Florida.

Federal data cited by the Houston Chronicle indicates that this shift in migration paths became particularly noticeable in 2022 when the Border Patrol recorded around 220,000 encounters with Cuban nationals at the U.S.-Mexico land border.

Why Houston is Attractive to Cuban Migrants

Lacarte explains that this new route helps clarify why Texas is gaining prominence as a Cuban migration destination. Those entering from Mexico encounter Houston geographically before Miami and often find compelling reasons to settle there.

Employment and housing costs are significant incentives. The report highlights that average rent, considering various property types and sizes, is about $1,900 per month in Houston compared to $3,109 in Miami, based on Zillow data cited in the article.

Although Miami remains the historical, familial, and cultural hub for the Cuban community in the U.S., experts note that many recent migrants do not necessarily maintain the same strong ties to South Florida as previous generations did.

This change is also evident in the stories shared by Cuban residents in Texas over recent years. In May, a Cuban explained why she left Miami and was reluctant to return, citing the tranquility she found in Texas as a preference. A year prior, another Cuban recounted moving back to Houston after trying his luck in Miami, citing high living costs and a lifestyle that did not align with his priorities.