A Cuban known on TikTok as La Dama de Hierro reopened one of the most recurring debates among the Cuban diaspora yesterday by publishing a video that lasts over nine minutes in which she firmly argues that living in Spain is preferable to living in the United States, and that "the one who lives in Europe and comes here is crazy."
The creator, who claims to be 51 years old and a Spanish citizen, published the video in response to another user on the platform, sparking an active debate among her followers.
His central arguments revolve around two pillars: the balance between work and personal life, and access to public healthcare. "We work to live, not live to work. Medicine is free; in other words, you are a patient, not a client," he stated.
To illustrate the difference in costs, the TikToker provided a concrete example: in the U.S., they pay 100 dollars a month for their phone line, while in Spain, the equivalent would cost about 20 euros.
In terms of labor, it was noted that in the U.S., workers have only five paid sick days a year, compared to the 60 days mentioned for Spain. Spanish legislation actually provides for common sick leave of up to 545 calendar days with economic compensation starting from the fourth day, while in the U.S., there is no federal law guaranteeing paid sick days.
European social freedom was another point he emphasized. "There, they aren't watching if you went to Cuba, if you entered, if you left, if you sat in a bar to have a drink. Their life is normal," he said, highlighting that in Spain, no one scrutinizes personal habits or daily outings.
This is complemented by the mobility granted by the Spanish passport: "You are in Spain, you drove to Italy, to France. I don't have to apply for a visa to go. I am a Spanish citizen." With this document, she explained, she can travel throughout the European Union without any additional procedures.
His conclusion was blunt: "To everyone who has asked me, I have told them: you are going to regret it, because I already know many who have done it and are now regretting it."
This type of comparison has been active among Cubans in the diaspora at least since the end of 2024, and opinions are far from unanimous.
In July 2025, a Cuban resident in Spain stated, “I wish I hadn’t made the decision to come here,” referring to the U.S., and asserted that “you earn more here, but live worse.” Conversely, the Cuban influencer @elixir_karen1994 warned in September 2025 that emigrating from the U.S. to Spain is “a complete madness” and that “you will work to earn less.”
Other creators have contributed nuances from different experiences. In December 2025, a Cuban in Spain reacted to criticisms about the U.S. defending her life choices, while in October of that same year a Cuban in Miami warned those planning to move to Spain about the difficulties of the process.
Objective data supports both viewpoints: the GDP per capita in the U.S. is around $65,000 compared to about $45,000 in Spain, but Spanish life expectancy —83.2 years— surpasses the American by almost five years, at 78.5, a metric that proponents of the European model frequently cite as a true measure of quality of life.
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