In the height of mango season, a video posted on Facebook starkly summarizes the purchasing power crisis that Cubans are experiencing: the fruit is selling for 200 pesos per pound, and there are those who cannot afford even one whole mango.
The clip, recorded by Lizardo Bello González, showcases the interaction between a buyer and a seller that has become a symbol of the food crisis on the island.
How much are the sleeves, my brother?
- 200 pesos.
-The pound? At 200 a pound?
- $200 per pound.
- So... grab me half a mango there.
- Half a pound?
- Yes, because a whole mango has to cost at least 400 or 500 pesos, right? Can't you cut me one there?
-It cannot be done.
The buyer, unable to pay between 400 and 500 pesos for a whole mango, asks to buy half a pound instead. The seller responds that he cannot cut it, and the transaction does not go through.
The mango season in Cuba runs from March to July, peaking in May and June, when the increased supply typically causes prices to drop somewhat compared to the beginning of the harvest.
The 200 pesos per pound shown in the video are prohibitive prices for most Cubans. In March 2025, mango was sold for 500 pesos a pound at the 19 and B market in Havana.
The economic context explains the indignation that the scene generates. The average monthly salary in Cuba is around 6,930 pesos, equivalent to about 15 dollars at the informal exchange rate.
A pound of mango at 200 pesos represents almost 3% of that income; one mango can consume between 6% and 7% of an entire month's salary.
Independent economists estimate that in Cuba the minimum cost of living exceeds 50,000 pesos per month, which is about seven times the average salary.
The official food inflation rate was 16.65% year-on-year in March 2026 according to the National Office of Statistics and Information, although independent estimates place it at around a real 70%.
Mango is not the only fruit out of reach for Cubans. An apple costs 500 pesos in May 2026, an orange reached 1,000 pesos per pound in January, and lemons were sold for between 600 and 700 pesos. A small purchase of basic food items can exceed 3,875 pesos, which is more than 56% of the monthly salary.
The government attempted to control prices with Resolution 148/2025, which set maximum limits on agricultural products, but sellers systematically ignored it without facing any real consequences.
The supply booklet, which historically subsidized basic food items, has collapsed and no longer meets the needs of the population, forcing Cubans to rely on a private market where prices are set according to the accelerated devaluation of the peso.
Historically, mango was an abundant and accessible fruit during the Cuban summer. Today, with the minimum pension set at just 4,000 pesos, even those receiving that benefit have to think twice before buying one.
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