Neither the minimum wage, nor the average salary, nor the meager pensions received by most retirees are enough to cover the most basic needs for food today in Cuba, where an hour of work would barely be sufficient to buy a handful of rice or less than one egg.
For pensioners, the situation is even more alarming, given the gap between income and essential prices that exposes the precariousness of purchasing power in the country.
Through her Facebook profile, the Cuban engineer and entrepreneur Yulieta Hernández Díaz shared a reasoning that demonstrates with precise calculations that the Cuban economic system is designed to incur losses, as the income is insufficient even to cover the calories expended in labor.
The also president of the private micro, small, and medium enterprise Pilares Construcciones recalled that, on the island, the official minimum wage is 2,100 pesos (CUP) per month, which amounts to just 11 CUP per hour in a standard work month of 190.6 hours.
Those who earn the average salary (5,200 CUP) receive 27.28 CUP per hour, while retirees with an average pension of 1,900 CUP survive on 2.64 CUP per hour, if their income is distributed over the 24 hours of the day.
But these numbers become chilling when contrasted with current prices in Havana:
- 1 kg of rice: 700-1,000 CUP
- 1 liter of oil: 1,000-1,500 CUP
- 1 kg of black beans: 700-1,000 CUP
- Carton of 30 eggs: 3,000 CUP
This means that:
- With the minimum wage (11 CUP/hour), a worker can buy 15 grams of rice, 15 grams of beans, 11 milliliters (mL) of oil, or 1/3 of an egg.
- With the average salary (27 CUP/hour), the purchase amounts to 38 grams of rice, 38 grams of beans, 27 mL of oil, or ¾ of an egg.
- With an average pension (2.64 CUP/hour), a retiree can only afford four grams of rice, four grams of beans, 2.6 mL of oil, or one-tenth of an egg.
This indicates that a retired person receiving the average pension has an even more reduced purchasing power compared to active workers, noted Hernández.
It was also analyzed that the human body burns approximately 150 kilocalories per hour during a moderate workday. To replenish that energy with the available food, the following would be needed:
- 43 grams of rice (≈ 30 CUP)
- 45 grams of beans (≈ 32 CUP)
- 17 mL of oil (≈ 17 CUP)
- 1 egg (≈ 100 CUP)
However, the minimum wage per hour (11 CUP) only covers 37% of that cost, while the average wage (27 CUP) reaches 90%. In the case of retirees, their pension per hour (2.64 CUP) does not even reach 2% of what is necessary to replenish energy, “which indicates an even greater vulnerability for those who depend exclusively on the pension,” Hernández argued.
In other words, working in Cuba literally does not pay enough to cover the food needed to continue working.
Hernández emphasized that salaries in Cuba do not allow for the acquisition of basic food items or the necessary energy consumption for work.
"For retirees, the situation is even more severe, as the purchasing power of an average pension is insufficient to meet basic food needs. The gap between income and the prices of essential products highlights an economic crisis that directly impacts the quality of life for citizens," he stated.
If a retiree wanted to buy a carton of 30 eggs (3,000 CUP), they would need to save 100% of their pension for a month and a half, without spending on anything else. And if they opted for vegetable oil, they would need almost two full months of their pension to buy just one liter.
While the government insists that “the Revolution protects its elders,” the reality is that Cuban pensioners face a daily economic struggle. With just 63.3 CUP a day (when dividing the average pension by 30 days), a retiree must choose between eating or buying medication, as they cannot even afford 100 grams of rice with what they earn in a full day of work.
The independent economist Omar Everleny Pérez Villanueva estimated that, by December 2024, to cover the basic basket for two people would require about 24,351 CUP in the case of Havana, equivalent to more than 200 dollars. This figure is dramatic, as it represented 12 times the minimum wage, set at 2,100 CUP.
If other essential expenses such as transportation, internet, clothing, and personal hygiene are added, the monthly cost for two people would exceed 45,000 CUP.
According to official data, 39% of Cuban retirees receive the minimum monthly pension, which is equivalent to 1,528 CUP per month, and they are at a high risk of being added to the list of individuals facing extreme poverty.
Especially complicated is the situation for those without family abroad to send them dollars to have access to a balanced diet in the final stage of their lives. They rely solely on what arrives at the stores, which are marked by extreme rationing, scarcity, and delays in the distribution of basic foods like rice and sugar.
The uncontrollable inflation resulting from the failed Ordering Task has driven up the prices of essential goods while wages remain stagnant, deteriorating the purchasing power of Cubans, who are exhausted from queues, blackouts, hunger, and despair.
In the first half of 2025, the food crisis in Cuba has ceased to be a temporary consequence and has solidified into a chronic humanitarian emergency, recently reported the Food Monitor Program (FMP), an independent organization that monitors food (in)security on the island.
Frequently asked questions about the economic and food crisis in Cuba
Why does the minimum wage in Cuba not suffice to purchase basic food items?
The minimum wage in Cuba is insufficient to cover basic food needs due to uncontrolled inflation and rising prices of essential goods. With a minimum wage of 2,100 CUP per month, a worker can only buy small quantities of food such as rice, beans, and eggs, which are not enough for a proper diet. The economic crisis and poor government management have led to this critical situation.
How does the economic crisis affect retirees in Cuba?
The economic crisis is seriously affecting retirees in Cuba, who receive pensions that do not even cover their basic nutritional needs. According to official data, 39% of retirees receive a minimal pension of 1,528 CUP per month, which is insufficient for a dignified living. Galloping inflation and the scarcity of basic products worsen their situation, forcing many to rely on external assistance or the informal market.
What are the current prices of basic food items in Cuba?
The prices of basic foods in Cuba are extremely high compared to the incomes of most of the population. For example, a kilogram of rice can cost between 700 and 1,000 CUP, a liter of oil between 1,000 and 1,500 CUP, and a dozen of 30 eggs reaches 3,000 CUP. These prices reflect the food crisis and the government's ineffectiveness in controlling inflation.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to address the food crisis?
The Cuban government has attempted to implement measures such as imposing price caps on rice and beans, but these actions have not been effective in controlling inflation and shortages. The population continues to face difficulties in accessing basic goods, and the informal market has become an expensive yet necessary option for many. The lack of real solutions from the government exacerbates the crisis.
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