A Cuban resident in Mexico published a video on Facebook in which he details with specific figures how much money an immigrant needs to survive in that country, and the answer is as straightforward as it is uncomfortable: between 8,000 and 16,000 pesos per month (approximately between 500 and 1,000 dollars), and that is "just to survive."
Leunam Cantero, the author of the testimony, speaks from his own experience. He lives in a small apartment for which he pays 6,000 pesos a month —including water and internet, but electricity is separate— which already accounts for most of his budget. "And with all that, a large portion of your money is gone," he warns.
In addition to that income, food and transportation also add to the expenses, which, according to Cantero, reveal the true extent of the problem. "The issue isn't how much it costs to live in Mexico. The problem is how much you can earn. For an immigrant, it's challenging to find work, and often you have to accept whatever is available," he points out.
The gap between what is needed and what is earned is the central theme of the narrative. Cantero estimates that most Cuban immigrants end up earning between 2,000 and 2,600 pesos per week in informal jobs, which amounts to between 8,000 and 10,400 pesos monthly, a figure that barely touches the minimum threshold he sets for survival.
"No one here cares if you were a doctor or an engineer in your country," says Cantero, summarizing the professional devaluation faced by those who arrive without documents and must integrate into the informal economy without access to benefits or social security.
This scenario is not new. Cubans in Tapachula, Chiapas, on Mexico's southern border, have reported wages of only 150 to 180 pesos per day for 12 to 13 hour shifts in informal work, far below the official minimum wage of 315.04 pesos per day that will be in effect in 2026.
Other Cubans have shared similar experiences on social media. In January 2025, a Cuban stated on TikTok that he lived on 8,000 pesos a month, paying only 1,500 pesos for rent, although that testimony sparked debate as it was considered unrealistic for large cities. On March 31, another Cuban went viral with the message: "In Mexico we don't have money, but we are not poor; we have freedom, clothing, food, and electricity."
The Cuban community in Mexico has steadily grown, increasing from 25,976 people in 2020 to around 41,475 in 2022, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. Many of them work without documentation in construction, cleaning, and commerce, sectors where working conditions are especially harsh.
Despite the realistic tone of his narrative, Cantero concludes with a message of hope directed at those considering emigration: "At least if you are here in this great country, you don’t have to worry about food or when the power goes out. Your only job is to focus on moving forward and being better every day." A phrase that, for many Cubans who left behind the blackouts and scarcity of the island, summarizes the true value of having emigrated.
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