The Cuban Dalma Rosell Marrero, a resident of Reparto Guiteras, East Havana, posted on Facebook a price list that has raised alarms about the food crisis in Cuba: one pound of chicken at 800 pesos, six eggs at 960, and a bag of yellow milk that can reach 5,500 pesos.
Rosell Marrero directly points to the decision approved in the last extraordinary session of the National Assembly to eliminate price caps and allow each vendor to freely set the value of their products as the cause.
"Gentlemen, we need to put a quick stop because I don’t know where we’re headed. Here in the MiPYMES, a pound of chicken costs 800 pesos," wrote the author, who clarified that she had not been able to publish earlier due to the collapse of the National Electroenergetic System.
The detailed list accurately depicts the collapse of the purchasing power of Cubans: MDM ground beef ranges between 550 and 600 pesos per pound; white sugar is at 500; imported rice is at 350; onions are at 1,200; cucumbers are at 600; a bottle of oil ranges between 3,800 and 4,000 pesos; and a liter of probiotic yogurt ranges between 2,750 and 4,000 pesos depending on the establishment.
The background of this escalation is the economic reform approved in June 2026, which included a package of 176 measures, among which was the general liberalization of prices. Resolution 150/2026 from the Ministry of Finance and Prices specifically eliminated price caps on chopped chicken, cooking oils, powdered milk, pasta, and sausages.
The Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz declared before Parliament that the government "will no longer approve price caps" and that price setting would be decentralized to companies and local governments.
The author of the complaint directly points to the consequences of that decision: "In this country, there have always been price caps, despite the informal market. But ever since they decided in the last Assembly to lift the price caps and allow everyone to set their own prices for their products, things have been going from bad to worse."
The most painful impact, according to Rosell Marrero, falls on the most vulnerable families: "How are mothers with children who have rare diseases and disabilities going to maintain proper nutrition for our children? Until when will this abuse continue? It's a complete lack of respect."
The comments on the post reflect the same desperation. One user described the anguish of telling his son to "wet his lips" while trying to gather money for food, and estimated that at least 5,000 pesos daily are needed to survive: "Those without a business, may God help us."
The figures starkly contrast with the actual earnings of most Cubans. The cost of living in Havana for a small family exceeds 205,000 pesos per month, while the minimum wage is just 3,210 pesos monthly and the average state salary hovers around 7,000 pesos.
The official year-on-year inflation reached 25.19% in August 2026, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information, with food and non-alcoholic beverages being the main driver of the increase: a year-on-year change of 36.01% in that same month.
According to a recent analysis by Infobae, inflation in Cuba has reached 25% and the regime has begun circulating bills of up to 20,000 pesos, yet another sign of the monetary deterioration affecting the island.
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