The Cuban government announced the opening of new neighborhood markets in Granma as part of its program to transform state commerce, but official publications have sparked a wave of criticism from residents who question the high prices and assert that these establishments offer few advantages compared to private businesses.
Criticism arose following the announcements made by the authorities of Media Luna and Manzanillo, where the new businesses were presented as an alternative to bring essential goods closer to the population.
In Media Luna, the municipal government announced on Facebook the opening of a market on Raúl Podio Saborit Avenue, in the Pueblo Nuevo neighborhood, as part of the economic and social transformations approved in June 2026.
However, what caught users' attention the most was not the opening, but the prices displayed on the establishment's board.
Among the products offered are 900 milliliters of oil for 2,800 Cuban pesos (CUP), 500 grams of mayonnaise for 1,350 CUP, 850 grams of tomato paste for 1,400 CUP, and a kilogram of black beans for 1,100 CUP.
A user calculated that purchasing one unit of each of the 22 visible products would cost 12,740 pesos, an amount equivalent to nearly four times the monthly minimum wage of 3,210 CUP, effective since July.
"I think it's a good idea, but it's still very far from the salary of a working Cuban," commented a resident.
Another questioned what really differentiates these establishments from private businesses.
"I see the same prices; in fact, more affordable products can even be found in the private sector," he said, before pointing out that the main novelty seems to be the name and the official promotion.
Criticism also arose regarding the use of facilities that previously operated as stores for subsidized products.
"It is a disrespect to the people: to take over a store that used to offer basic basket products and turn it into a market with exorbitant and inaccessible prices," reported another neighbor.
In Manzanillo, the prices are also not convincing
The situation was repeated in Manzanillo, where local media announced that four neighborhood markets are now open, including "Las Tres Puertas," located at the corner of León and Purísima streets.
Although the publication by journalist Baldo Alexy Blanco González from Radio Granma highlighted the progress of this commercial modality, the comments reflected doubts about its benefits for consumers.
"It gains ground because there is no option, not because it is ideal for those of us who live on a salary," wrote a user.
Others reacted with shorter but equally critical phrases: "The same dog with a different collar" and "Dubai style," the latter referring to the high prices.
"The pocket is the great judge," declared another commentator, who urged comparing prices before presenting the initiative as a competitive alternative.
Concerns also extend to retirees, whose incomes are insufficient to afford many of the offered products.
"I don't think my cousins can buy any of these products with a retirement pension of 3,000 pesos," noted a neighbor.
Closer markets, but not necessarily cheaper
The neighborhood market program was regulated by the , which includes the participation of various economic actors in the management of state establishments.
The authorities initially promised prices between 15% and 30% lower than those of other stores, although at some openings in Havana, discounts of only 10% to 15% were announced.
The expansion of the program also coincides with the reorganization of the traditional network of bodegas. The Ministry of Domestic Trade selected 1,913 establishments from a network of more than 12,000 to serve vulnerable individuals, although it has not specified what will happen with the rest or how many will maintain their traditional functions.
Concern over access to food is worsening amid the loss of purchasing power. Cuban economist Javier Pérez Capdevila has estimated that a person needs around 96,000 pesos per month to meet their basic needs, nearly 30 times the current minimum wage.
Filed under: