The Cuban content creator Zoilemis Arias published a video on her YouTube channel titled "The Cost of Buying Food in Cuba + What I Use to Go Out", where she shares the price of a basic grocery purchase at an agricultural fair in Havana and at a nearby micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise.
"Well folks, welcome to my channel. My name is Sol, and today we’re going to... today is Saturday, and we’re going to a fair where they sell things a little bit, a little bit more economically, meals and that sort of thing," Arias explained at the beginning of the recording.
He shared that he went with his mother to Parque Trillo, one of the busiest areas for purchasing agricultural products in the capital. “It’s packed with people because everyone waits for the weekend to come shop here,” he said while showcasing the atmosphere of the place.
In the video, she showcased the products purchased along with their prices. Among them, she mentioned a melon for 60 pesos per pound, three pounds of beets for 150 pesos, a bunch of lettuce for 200 pesos, a pumpkin for 120 pesos, and a bottle of oil for 880 pesos. She also included a carton of eggs for 2,600 pesos, a packet of sausages for 2,500 pesos, as well as smoked pork loin that cost 1,000 pesos per pound. The creator clarified that she was unable to buy meat or chicken, and that the closest thing to a main dish was the eggs and the pork loin. “It totaled over 10,000 pesos; I’ll write it down here converted into dollars so you can get an idea of how much it costs, and we didn’t buy anything that could really be considered a main dish,” she stated. She then added, “This amounts to a minimum salary for 4 to 5 months.”
In a preview posted on TikTok, Arias summarized the extent of the spending with an overlay message in the video: "We spent the equivalent of 4 months' salary without buying meat."
The experience of Arias is not an isolated case. A few days ago, another Cuban creator, Sheyla Reyes, shared that she spent 18,000 pesos on a basic shopping trip where an avocado cost her 500 pesos, a liter of oil 1,000, and a dozen eggs 3,800. “Buying food here is super complicated due to the outrageous prices,” she stated on TikTok. As she explained, five pounds of pork cost her 3,750 pesos and ten pounds of chicken picadillo 2,800, figures that reflect a reality marked by inflation and a loss of purchasing power.
These testimonies align with the latest survey from the Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory (OCAC), which indicates that a Cuban needs at least 30,000 pesos per month just to cover food, while the minimum wage remains at 2,100 pesos and the minimum pension, which will increase to 3,056 pesos in September, barely lasts for three days of food. The report warns that the gap between income and prices makes it impossible to secure a basic diet, while the rationing system continues to deteriorate. Since May 2024, eggs have not been distributed through the ration booklet, and products arrive incomplete or with months of delay.
The Cuban government has acknowledged the extent of the problem. "You cannot live on that; with an average salary of 5,000 pesos you cannot live, nor with 6,000 pesos... You cannot live given the prices today," said Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa before the National Assembly, during the same session in which the increase in pensions was announced. However, the adjustment does not resolve the precariousness, as on the street, a simple carton of eggs can cost more than a complete minimum pension.
As prices continue to rise and access to essential goods decreases, testimonies like that of Zoilemis Arias are multiplying on social media, highlighting the growing gap between the cost of food in Cuba and what most people earn.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Economic Crisis and Food Prices in Cuba
How much does a basic grocery shopping cost in Cuba?
A basic grocery purchase in Cuba can cost between 10,000 and 18,000 Cuban pesos, according to testimonials from content creators such as Zoilemis Arias and Sheyla Reyes. These prices reflect uncontrolled inflation and a loss of purchasing power that affects most Cubans.
How does inflation affect the purchasing power of Cubans?
Inflation has significantly eroded the purchasing power of Cubans. With minimum wages around 2,100 pesos and a minimum pension of 3,056 pesos, incomes are insufficient to cover the high costs of food, which can exceed 30,000 pesos per month, according to the Cuban Citizens' Audit Observatory.
What products are the most expensive in Cuba currently?
Basic products such as oil, eggs, and meats have exorbitant prices in Cuba. For example, a liter of oil can cost 1,000 pesos, a carton of eggs up to 3,800 pesos, and pork meat around 3,750 pesos for five pounds, reflecting the scarcity and rampant inflation in the country.
What does the Cuban government say about the current economic situation?
The Cuban government has acknowledged the severity of the economic situation. Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa admitted that with an average salary of 5,000 pesos, one cannot live, although the measures taken, such as the increase in pensions, have not resolved the economic hardship faced by the majority of Cubans.
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