The young Cuban, Marlan Vázquez, has sparked an intense debate on social media after sharing a video expressing her concern about the cost of living in Miami. In a recently shared TikTok video, she wrote: “This is crazy. The prices in Miami are out of control,” while recounting her experience in stores like Aldi and Burlington.
"I never come to Aldi, only to buy some meat for my little dog... and this time the bill was $113. To make matters worse, everything was half empty, the service was terrible, and the bathroom... my God, it looked like a restroom at a terminal in Cuba," recounted @marlan_estudio. The entrepreneur also criticized the high prices at Burlington: "It was about $300 for two or three little blankets, two Christmas cushions, and other nonsense. I just spent over $400 on three pieces of junk."
Marlan, who claims to earn well thanks to her work as an aesthetician, expressed alarm over the economic situation of those reliant on low wages in Miami. "What do people earning $8, $10, or $12 an hour do? They have to pay for a small apartment costing $1,500 or $1,700, send money to Cuba, and support their children. What are these people supposed to do? I believe they can't save any money or even make ends meet. If I, who am earning well, feel that this is too much, what does that leave for them?"
The video quickly garnered views and comments, sparking mixed opinions. Many users shared similar experiences: “The bathroom really does look like something out of a Cuban carnival; I went in the other day and couldn't even pee.”; “Miami's prices are insane. One week you eat, and the next week you buy clothes. It’s crazy.”; “I went to an Aldi in Miami Gardens, and my experience was awful too.”
Others defended Aldi, highlighting its affordability and organization: “I really love Aldi, especially for fruits and vegetables. They also have a variety of cheeses, and it's one of the most economical options”; “The service and cleanliness at Aldi really depend on the manager of each store. In my area, it’s super clean”; “Girl, the bag policy is for the environment, so we can appreciate how much plastic we use. It's the same in Germany.”
However, the video did not escape criticism: "Oh, she doesn't look at the prices. What a way to make people believe her"; "Girl, that's nothing for you. I saw a video where you said you earned around a thousand a day"; "Right, because you're a millionaire."
Others reflected on the difficulty of living in Miami: “Those people who earn like that only buy what they need and nothing more”; “I just don’t understand how in Miami, a city that is so expensive, there are still such low salaries”; “Sad, but true. Everything is expensive and there seems to be no way out.”
Marlan, 22 years old, concluded the video by expressing her frustration: “I have too many responsibilities, too many bills piling up... I wish I knew how people manage to live on minimum wages. Oh my God, I’m only 22 and I'm going to end up bald.”
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