A Cuban doctor living on the island, who was on vacation in Varadero, posted a video on TikTok this Tuesday that starkly illustrates the gap between prices and salaries in Cuba: out of curiosity, she entered a candy store in the Los Icacos shopping center and ended up spending 9,990 Cuban pesos on a single snack, an amount that exceeds the entire monthly salary of any doctor in the country.
The author, identified on the platform as "A Cuban Doctor," describes the experience with amazement from the very first moment. "As soon as you enter, it feels like you've stepped out of Cuba. Fine sweets everywhere, spectacular displays, an incredible presentation—one of those that makes you want to try everything," she recounts in the video.
The dazzle didn't last long. When reviewing the prices, reality hit her hard: "The cheapest candy costs almost what I earn in three days of work as a doctor."
Even so, the temptation was too strong. "No way, the temptation was overwhelming and it was such a treat, a final blow," he admits. The order included five sweets to share, three sodas, and two espressos. "When the bill arrived, I almost had a heart attack. Nine thousand nine hundred ninety for that," he says.
The figure hits harder when compared to the current salary scale. According to the Resolution 17/2026 from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, in effect since July 1, 2026, a newly graduated doctor earns 7,045 CUP per month, a resident receives 8,115 CUP, and a specialist with a second-degree qualification earns up to 8,880 CUP. In all cases, the 9,990 CUP for snacks exceeds the total monthly salary.
The national average salary in Cuba was 6,930 CUP per month in 2025, according to data published in April of this year. To put this into perspective, the Food Monitor Program estimates that the basic food basket for two adults requires between 39,595 and 41,735 CUP per month, which is between five and six average salaries.
It is not the first time that a Cuban health professional has publicly highlighted this disparity. In May 2026, another doctor demonstrated how she spent her entire salary in just one day of shopping, and at the end of July, a doctor reacted with embarrassment to the recent salary increase in the health sector.
Varadero, for its part, also shows signs of deterioration. The video's author herself notes: "This year I was surprised that there were almost no people in all of Varadero." This information aligns with reports of a decline in tourism in 2026 and hotel discounts of up to 25% to attract visitors, although prices in restaurants and sweet shops remain unaffordable for the average Cuban.
At the end of the video, the doctor poses the question: “Let me know in the comments what you thought and if you would pay that bill.”
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