A Cuban content creator went to the fair on a Saturday with 3,000 pesos in her pocket to document how far that money goes in Cuba in 2026.
The video published on the Facebook profile “El vlog de Day” has surpassed 24,700 views and reflects the food crisis that millions of families on the island are experiencing.
"It's no secret that everything is getting more expensive every day; however, it is essential to continue meeting basic needs," the author wrote in the description of the video.
With that budget, the creator returned home with burro bananas (250 CUP), sweet potato (250 CUP, about 5 pounds), cassava (350 CUP, 5 pounds), pumpkin (350 CUP), green beans (250 CUP, two bundles), melon (300 CUP), dry wine (300 CUP), and a package of detergent (740 CUP), all purchased at an agricultural fair.
In total, he spent 2,690 CUP, which he said is equivalent to 4 USD. There was one key product that was left out of the bag. "I wanted to buy onions too, but forget it, they're insanely expensive," he admitted in the video. Once at home, he also realized that he had forgotten the malanga, which is quite pricey and tends to be a staple food in the diet of children in Cuba.
At the informal exchange rate in effect in August 2026, the dollar is around 670 Cuban pesos, which makes those 3,000 CUP equivalent to just about 4.48 US dollars.
This amount is almost equivalent to the country's monthly minimum wage, set at 3,210 pesos, a figure that independent economists consider ridiculous compared to a basic basket that would require around 96,000 CUP per month per person, of which over 70,000 would be solely for food.
The prices at fairs and informal markets illustrate the extent of the discrepancy. A carton of 30 eggs last June cost between 3,000 and 4,000 pesos, which can consume almost an entire month's minimum wage.
The liter of oil sells for between 1,100 and 2,000 pesos, and the pound of pork exceeds 850 pesos at most sales points. The onion, which the video author dismissed due to its price, can reach 900 pesos per pound.
In that context, root vegetables—yucca, sweet potato, plantain, pumpkin—have become the last food refuge for many Cuban families, who have incorporated them as a substitute for rice due to the inability to afford other foods.
The phenomenon of shopping vlogs has multiplied on Cuban social media during 2026. Other creators have documented what they can buy with 7,000 pesos or if 5,000 pesos are enough to live. Money is becoming increasingly insufficient.
The average state salary in Cuba is around 6,930 pesos per month, an amount that covers less than 10% of what economists consider necessary for survival.
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