A video posted on TikTok by the user kary_y_jonyyoutuber has sparked a wave of reactions by highlighting the precarious economic situation in Cuba. In the recording, the author, Kary Sánchez, reveals that her husband, a lawyer, receives a monthly salary of 4,700 Cuban pesos (CUP), which is roughly equivalent to 14 dollars on the informal exchange market, and shows how all of his salary is spent on basic food purchases, not even enough to last the whole month.
In the video, Sánchez (@kary_y_jony) explains: "My husband has a law degree and earns 4,700 Cuban pesos a month, which is about 14 dollars. With this money, we buy 2 kg of rice for 1,400 pesos, 1 kg of sugar for 600 pesos, and we've been purchasing 1 liter of oil for 990 pesos. The vegetables weren't of the best quality, so we opted for some chicken picadillo for 360 pesos, 1 kg of chicken liver for 850 pesos, 4 heads of garlic for 280 pesos, 2 pounds of tomatoes for 120 pesos, and a jar of ají cachucha for 150 pesos, leaving us with an overdraft of 50 Cuban pesos. Tell me, do you think you can survive a whole month on this food? Did you know this is the salary of a lawyer in Cuba?"
The video went viral quickly, reaching over 22,000 'likes,' 1,200 comments, and 1,000 shares within just a few days. The reactions in the comments reflect a mix of outrage, skepticism, and comparisons to the situation in other countries. One user commented: "I spend 14 dollars on breakfast." Another pointed out: "Here in Peru, lunch for one person costs 14 dollars." From Venezuela, a user stated: "They earn more than here in Venezuela; I'm a doctor and I make 3 dollars every two weeks." Another expressed disbelief: "And how do they survive? They don't have anemia, they're in good shape; how do they manage?" A comment from the Dominican Republic noted: "14 dollars in the Dominican Republic is gone in a single day."
Some questioned the conversion of the Cuban salary to dollars. One user pointed out, "That's a lie, 4,700 CUP is 195 dollars, not 14." Another asked, "If they don't have money, how do they pay for clothes, glasses, and cell phones?" There were also criticisms of the government system: "Keep voting for communism," commented one user. Another wrote, "We need to put an end to the communism that has a whole people living with indignity." In contrast, some defended the official policy and blamed the U.S.: "Is the blame on the Cuban authorities or the blockade they are under?" asked a user.
The video not only reflects popular perception but is also backed by recent economic analyses. A study by economist Omar Everleny Pérez Villanueva revealed that the monthly cost of basic food for two people in Havana reached 24,351 CUP (202 dollars) in December 2024, which is equivalent to 12 times the Cuban minimum wage of 2,100 CUP. In contrast, in 2020, when the Cuban government set that minimum wage, the value of the Cuban peso was calculated at 24 CUP per US dollar. However, inflation and the devaluation of the CUP in the informal market have drastically reduced its real value.
Moreover, the Cuban regime itself has acknowledged the unsustainability of the current salary level. In February 2025, Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa publicly recognized that "with a salary of 6,000 CUP, one cannot live," although he did not provide concrete solutions for the crisis. This exacerbates the crisis in key sectors such as health and education, where the government has attempted to stem the mass exodus of professionals with salary increases in 2024, allocating more than 25 billion CUP to these sectors. However, experts warn that these increases are not enough to offset inflation or improve the quality of life for workers.
The reports regarding the precariousness of state salaries in Cuba have been constant. Health professionals, educators, and others have expressed on social media that they must spend months of salary just to purchase a single basic product like powdered milk or fresh food. In the case of doctors, for example, a specialist with over 30 years of experience barely exceeds 6,000 CUP, an amount insufficient in light of the current cost of living. The salary increase announced in 2020 set the minimum wage at 2,100 Cuban pesos and established a scale system for different sectors. However, the measure was unable to contain the devaluation of the CUP or inflation, leading to an even more severe purchasing power crisis.
Despite recent attempts to enhance revenues in key sectors such as education and health, the Cuban regime has allocated funds for salary increases without these translating into real improvements in the purchasing power of workers.
The viral video is a reflection of the growing discontent within Cuban society in light of the economic crisis. The inability to survive on state salaries has become an undeniable reality, as shown by economic studies and even acknowledged by the government. As prices continue to rise and salaries remain frozen, Cubans face a daily struggle for survival in a system that provides no immediate solutions.
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