A Cuban woman identified as Lorena Herrera posted a video on Facebook lasting just over two minutes, in which she documents a small purchase of basic groceries and reveals that the total amounted to 5,160 Cuban pesos (CUP).
The video was recorded during a prolonged blackout. "Today is the fifth day we have been completely without power—no electricity, no water, and to make matters worse, no sunlight," says Herrera at the beginning of the recording, before showing each product along with its price.
The list of purchases starkly illustrates the collapse of purchasing power in Cuba: 20 eggs at 120 pesos each; three avocados that cost 550 pesos in total; two bundles of beans, at 250 pesos each; two small portions (less than a pound) of salt totaling 300 pesos; two pounds of flour at 250 pesos each, adding up to another 500 pesos; a can of puree costing 750 pesos, and two lollipops for 160 pesos.
The author points out that flour has become the de facto food for many Cuban families. “It’s a pretty quick meal and it’s what people are eating the most here right now because, well, there really isn’t anything else,” she states.
"The total of all this, if you see it, if you calculate the little things, isn't that significant; it was 5,160 Cuban pesos," concludes Herrera.
The young woman notes while presenting the video that with that purchase, "I spent the salary of a healthcare professional in Cuba," to illustrate how much the purchasing power of the population has declined.
Since July 1, the Ministry of Labor has set the base salary for a newly graduated doctor in Cuba at 7,045 CUP per month, and that of a first-degree specialist at 8,500 CUP.
The 5,160 CUP spent on this purchase —which Herrera herself acknowledges is not a big deal— is equivalent to almost three-quarters of what a doctor earns in an entire month.
In May 2026, a Cuban doctor revealed that she spent 8,760 CUP in a single day, exceeding her entire monthly salary. In August, a weekly grocery purchase documented by a content creator reached 40,400 CUP.
Herrera's video garnered nearly 23,000 views and adds to a growing trend on Cuban social media, where citizens document the collapse of purchasing power against the actual prices of food, amid prolonged blackouts that hinder the preservation of the little food that can be purchased.
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