A young Cuban identified on TikTok as @yaneisycanta_98 went viral after posting a video showing what can be bought in Cuba with 2,500 Cuban pesos. The testimony, which has amassed over three million views, highlights the precariousness of purchasing power on the island.
“I survive in Cuba, and here the salary is not enough for anything,” he says at the beginning of the video. He explains that that day he went out with 2,500 Cuban pesos —“which is about five dollars”— and shows what he was able to buy with that amount: “I bought two packages of sausages for 960 pesos, a pack of spaghetti and a pack of elbow pasta for 700 Cuban pesos... I bought these soaps for 200 pesos each... and these fried pork rinds.”
At the end of the video, the question was asked: “Do you think a person can survive on that for the entire month?” The response was overwhelming. In the comments, many Cubans expressed empathy and frustration, while others made ironic remarks about the situation.
"That doesn't even last for the first week," wrote one user. Another commented, "Sad reality, there's no way to live like this." A third added, "And there are still those who say there's no crisis here." Among the most shared messages, one read: "Stay strong, my girl, we’re all in the same situation," and also: "This hurts because it's the truth for millions."
Some opted for sarcasm: "But there's enough for nails," wrote one user, referring to the small luxuries that many associate with social media videos. Another responded: "Of course, because if you don't laugh, you get depressed."
Reactions on TikTok have exceeded 30,000 comments and more than 400,000 "likes," according to the visible statistics on the original post. Many users from various Latin American countries compared the situation to that in their own countries. "Here in Venezuela, with five dollars, you can buy two kilos of rice," wrote one user. Another added, "That won't even last me a week; I'm lucky to live in Spain." There were also those who expressed disbelief: "I don't think that's true; how do they manage the rest of the days—water, electricity, personal hygiene?" to which the creator responded, "And what do I gain by lying to you?"
There were also reactions from Cuban emigrants who compared the situation to that of other countries: “With five dollars here in Miami, you can't even buy a coffee, but there it's what a person earns in a month.” Another message stated: “And to think that with that in Cuba, you have to live, pay for electricity, and take care of children.”
Several users offered direct help. "Tell me how I can send something from abroad," one asked. Another commented, "If anyone knows how to help this girl, message me."
Amid the wave of reactions, critical messages directed at the government also emerged: "And the regime keeps saying that everything is fine," "This is how they have us, surviving on crumbs," and "Those who talk about equality and social justice should witness this."
The video reflects a reality that is widely documented in Cuba. According to official data, the average salary on the island is only 6,649 pesos per month, while an independent study calculated that living in Cuba costs more than 50,000 pesos per month. This gap highlights the chasm between income and prices in the country.
"The discussion about the minimum wage is not just technical, but ethical: it is about ensuring that work sustains life with dignity," wrote economist Javier Pérez Capdevila in his analysis of the Cuban family economy, a reflection that aligns with the implicit message of the video: surviving in Cuba has become an almost impossible task.
Filed under: