A Cuban resident in Antigua and Barbuda warns her compatriots that emigrating to this island in the Eastern Caribbean requires having at least 5,000 dollars, and that without this capital, the migratory adventure can turn into a financial trap that is hard to overcome.
The content creator, known on TikTok as @yuyudecuba, posted a video in which she clearly details the minimum expenses involved in settling in Antigua and Barbuda, thereby answering the dozens of Cubans who write to her daily asking about how to emigrate to that island nation.
"You absolutely need to have 5,000 dollars to emigrate to this island," asserts the TikToker, who arrived in the country through a work contract and speaks from direct experience.
The breakdown provided is striking: a plane ticket from Cuba costs between $1,100 and $1,300 per person; the minimum rent is around $800 per month, and when paying the first month plus the security deposit, the initial outlay amounts to $1,600; additionally, at least $300 per month is needed for food.
For one person, the minimum total amounts to about $3,100.
For a couple with a child, the amount doubles: "We're going to multiply 3,100 dollars by two adults and one child. That would be 6,200 dollars just to get to Antigua and live here," he explains.
The problem does not end with the initial disbursement.
"When you arrive, you won't find a job immediately. Because if those who are already here take a long time to find work, you who just arrived today must have the luck of the world," warns @yuyudecuba.
Antigua and Barbuda is one of the Caribbean destinations where Cubans can travel without a prior visa, making it a theoretically accessible option among the 60 countries that the Cuban passport allows entry to without a visa.
However, working legally in the country requires a work permit, and job opportunities are limited due to the size of its economy, which is almost exclusively focused on tourism and highly dependent on imports.
In light of this situation, the TikToker suggests more profitable alternatives for those who have that amount of money in Cuba.
"You are going to tell me that you have 6,200 dollars in Cuba, that you could set up a small business and travel to other countries and do business, like in Mexico, where all they ask for is a thousand dollars or a property for you to get a visa and enter and leave the country whenever you want," he questions.
It also mentions tourist trips to Venezuela, which cost between 400 and 500 dollars and allow purchasing goods to resell on the island.
@yuyudecuba clarifies that her personal situation is different from those who emigrate on their own: "We came under a work contract where we are paid to be able to live on this island, support our families in Cuba, indulge ourselves, and cover certain expenses."
The video aligns with a growing trend on social media where Cubans abroad share raw and unfiltered testimonies about the reality of emigrating, from Miami to Spain, Mexico, or the Caribbean.
The uniqueness of @yuyudecuba's message is that, unlike many accounts that lament having emigrated, his is openly preventive: "I'm not going to lie to you. I'm going to tell you the truth as it is. Because I live on this island."
His final recommendation leaves no room for interpretation: "I advise you not to spend $6,200 to come to an island where you won't recover that money for a very long time."
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