A Cuban residing in the United States has sparked debate on social media after posting a video on TikTok in which she claims she is considering moving to Cuba with her husband when he retires next year.
"When retirement arrives, there are important decisions to make, one of which is where you will live and how to make your money last. Cuba could be an option," he wrote in the video description, which has sparked numerous reactions.
In the recording, the woman explains that they have been evaluating alternatives for leaving the United States due to the high cost of living.
According to their comment, they do not have their house paid off because they bought it five years ago, and they believe that without a paid-off home or significant savings, it is "very difficult to sustain life here in the United States after you retire."
She also notes that she doesn't want her husband, once retired, to have to continue working to cover basic expenses. “Right now, I see many elderly people working at Walmart (…) who should be resting but have to keep working to pay their bills,” she states in the video.
Among the options being considered, Cuba emerges as one of the main ones. Although he acknowledges that the Island is experiencing a deep economic crisis, he maintains that having income in dollars changes the outlook. “Cuba with dollars is a different story,” he says, and assures that with retirement money they could "live perfectly" there.
It also argues that in Cuba, they would not have to pay rent if they live in their own home, and that certain common expenses in the United States, such as high insurance costs or property taxes, would not impose the same burden.
However, he acknowledges that he is concerned about the country's economic instability and the difficulties in starting or maintaining a private business. Still, he asserts that during his most recent visit, he was surprised by the number of people with businesses and financial resources on the Island.
The woman, who claims to live near Varadero when in Cuba and emphasizes that her husband loves the beach, asked her followers to share their thoughts on the possibility of retiring on the Island or to suggest other more convenient destinations.
The video reignites the debate about the advantages and disadvantages of returning to Cuba after years of emigration, especially in a context marked by economic crisis, inflation, and the decline of basic services in the country.
While some believe that income in hard currency can ensure a relatively comfortable standard of living, others recall the structural limitations and uncertainty that the population on the Island faces.
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