A simple question posted in the Facebook group Madres Cubanas Luchadoras triggered a flood of responses that depict, with concrete data and no filters, the collapse of purchasing power on the island: Do 5,000 pesos a week suffice to help a friend in Cuba?
The almost unanimous response was "no," but the nuance matters. Almost all the comments agreed that, although it is not sufficient, any help is appreciated in Cuba.
"That isn't enough for even a day," wrote one participant. Another was more specific: "A 2 kg package of chicken costs at least 2,650, a carton of eggs is at least 2,500, milk is 4,200, oil is 2,200, and transportation is extremely expensive at a minimum of 500 pesos; everything is very expensive."
The prices quoted by the Cubans themselves paint a picture of a basic basket that is unattainable with that amount. A carton of eggs exceeds 3,000 pesos in some places; milk is at 3,000; oil is at least 2,000; sugar is at 1,000; coffee is at 2,500.
"Those 5,000 pesos will be gone in half an hour if you go buy oil and eggs," summarized another voice in the thread.
Some comments revealed the extent of the problem from personal experience. "I leave with 6,000 daily and always come back with nothing," confessed a participant.
Another mentioned spending 15,000 pesos weekly "tight," and up to 30,000 when feeling more at ease.
One observation stood out: "It's 20,000 a month, which even a doctor doesn’t earn." A teacher confessed her situation: "I earn less than 5,000 pesos a month. If you give a Cuban 5,000 pesos a week, it would certainly be a huge help."
Someone offered the only practical solution: "If you really want to help her, send her $100 or $140 a month; with that, she can live decently without any luxuries. Just food and hygiene."
The context that explains it all
The numbers mentioned by Cubans on social media align with the documented economic reality. The minimum wage increased to 3,210 pesos as of July 1, 2026, but the regime itself acknowledged that this amount "is still insufficient to cover the basic basket."
Independent estimates calculate that a person needs around 96,000 pesos monthly to cover their basic needs, of which more than 70,000 would be allocated solely to food.
The official average salary in 2025 was 6,930 pesos per month, which is equivalent to less than 10 dollars at the informal exchange rate. The official inflation reached 18.27% year-on-year in June 2026, although unofficial estimates place the real inflation of the basic basket around 70% year-on-year.
In that scenario, 5,000 pesos per week —20,000 per month— represents more than double a doctor's salary, but barely covers a few basic necessities.
Related videos:
Filed under: