A Cuban content creator identified as @yaneisycanta_98 shared a video on TikTok that has gone viral, showcasing the massive amount of bills that represent one thousand US dollars converted to Cuban pesos, in denominations of 1,000, 500, 200, 100, and 50 CUP.
In the recording, the young woman holds several bundles of cash that cover almost the entire table and comments:
"I live in Cuba and this is what $1,000 looks like, in bills of 1,000, 200, 500, 100, and 50. In my country, $1,000 is a lot of money. If $1,000 can nearly fill this table, just imagine what $10,000 would look like."
It also explains that the dollar is exchanged in its area for around 450 Cuban pesos in the informal market, although that figure varies constantly.
"The dollar constantly fluctuates, so today it may be high and then it could drop significantly. The government has the dollar set at quite a low price (...) but it never surpasses the informal market," the creator points out.
The clip, with thousands of views and over 400 comments, sparked curiosity and debate among users, who reacted with questions, jokes, and criticisms. Many were interested in knowing what could be purchased with that amount, while others compared the situation to countries like Venezuela or Bolivia, or lamented the depreciation of the Cuban peso.
The dollar continues to rise
The video is circulating at a time when the value of foreign currencies continues to rise. On October 20, 2025, the US dollar is quoted at 475 Cuban pesos, and the euro reaches 530 CUP, according to elTOQUE's daily tracking.
The Observatory of Currencies and Finances of Cuba (OMFi) attributes the depreciation of the peso to the deep economic crisis the country is experiencing, characterized by a lack of domestic production, a decline in tourism, a shortage of foreign currency, and a loss of confidence in the local currency.
In September, another Cuban shared on social media his experience of exchanging 100 dollars, receiving five bags filled with Cuban peso bills, a scene that also went viral due to the shortage of high-denomination bills and inflation.
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