Dalia Carmona Marrero, known on social media as "Dalita la Cubanita," published a video on Facebook detailing her daughter Emma's back-to-school expenses in Spain, and the result surprised many: nearly 200 euros in total for basic supplies and textbooks.
The Cuban resident in Málaga broke down, article by article, everything she purchased to prepare her daughter for the start of the school year. The basic materials —watercolors, scissors, markers, Plastidecor, pencil cases, lunch boxes, and drawing pads, among others— totaled 92.20 euros. To that amount, about 90 euros were added for textbooks and folders requested by the school.
It was precisely the price of the books that impacted her the most. "Books are extremely expensive. Over 45 euros each. I can't imagine having four, five, or six books. Oh, help," she said in the video.
Dalia also humorously recounted the challenges of adapting to the local names of products. She searched for "plastidecor" without realizing it was the Spanish equivalent of crayons until a clerk at a Chinese store clarified her doubt: "That's just a crayon, as always."
In the video, the content creator also addressed previous criticisms accusing her of living off state aid. "A troll left me a poisonous comment saying something like, 'Yeah, right, living off benefits.' I owe nothing to anyone," she stated emphatically.
One of the most emotional moments of the video was when it showed Emma's wheeled backpack. "I always wanted to have a wheeled backpack. I never had one. I don’t think it would have been worth it with those muddy and disgusting streets, full of potholes that existed in Cuba," she recalled.
Dalia also pointed out that her daughter personally selected each school item. "I really love that about Emma, that she has that determination. I'm quite indecisive myself, so thank goodness she didn't take after me," she joked. Emma chose Pokémon-themed lunch boxes and containers, complete with compartments and spoons included.
Despite acknowledging the high cost of living in Spain, Dalia downplayed her expenses. "Life is complicated. But well, it's all for my princess," she concluded.
Your 200 euros in total expenses are below the Spanish national average: the back-to-school expenses for 2026 average around 505 euros per student for printed books, according to data from the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU). Just for basic supplies without books, the average is about 90 euros, a figure that closely matches what Dalia spent on supplies.
The contrast with Cuba is striking. Preparing a child for the start of classes on the island can cost around 34,600 Cuban pesos, equivalent to nearly 11 minimum salaries, in a context of widespread shortages and skyrocketing prices. A Cuban mother on the island reported spending more than 30,000 pesos just to equip her preschool child, estimating that the total could reach 50,000 pesos to cover all necessities.
Dalia's video accumulated over 13,500 views and 141 comments, becoming an honest portrayal of what it means to emigrate and face a new economic reality, without dramatizations but also without idealizations.
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