In Cuba, a family of six—comprising two working adults, three retirees, and a school-aged child—requires a staggering 130,990 Cuban pesos each month to afford basic necessities such as food, medicine, hygiene, transportation, connectivity, and other essential services. Yet, their fixed income from pensions barely reaches 6,000 CUP, and even if both adults earned the average state salary, they would only bring home 19,013 CUP. This leaves a daunting gap of over 111,000 CUP every month.
This calculation was shared on Facebook by Yulieta Hernández, an engineer and the head of the private microenterprise Pilares Construcciones. In a post titled "How Much Does It Cost to Survive in Cuba Today?", she emphasized that this is a "very conservative estimate."
The analysis reveals that food expenses consume the largest portion of the family budget: over 93,000 CUP is needed to secure a minimal diet that meets the 456,000 kilocalories per month recommended by the Ministry of Public Health. The items considered are basic: rice, beans, essential proteins, bread, vegetables, and powdered milk. Just the cost of frozen chicken is 25,080 CUP monthly; five cartons of eggs are 15,000 CUP.
Additional expenses include 8,950 CUP for hygiene, 7,000 CUP for medications, 3,500 CUP for school-related costs, 10,000 CUP for transportation, 5,500 CUP for clothing and home maintenance, and 1,800 CUP for basic digital connectivity. Basic utilities such as electricity, water, and gas account for 450 CUP.
The National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) reported that the average salary in April 2025 was 6,506.5 CUP, meaning each worker would need to earn nearly ten times this amount to cover essential needs. Even the highest state salary, in the electricity, gas, and water sector, only amounts to 19.4% of what is necessary.
This budget does not account for emergencies, leisure, or personal aspirations. It's the cost of a survival devoid of dignity, where every missing peso is often obtained illegally or at the expense of physical and emotional health.
The analysis sparked immediate reactions. Many felt that even the grimmest estimation falls short of capturing the physical and emotional toll of mere endurance. One online commenter remarked, "It's not living, not even surviving; it's dying slowly," echoing a popular sentiment that circulates online: "This isn't a crisis; it's a planned punishment."
Deisy Rivera was more blunt: "Can you imagine a retired couple living on a total income of 6,000 CUP a month with chronic illnesses? If medications cost up to 10,000 CUP on the black market, they're condemned to die." Jorge Manuel Almagro Calderón noted that even those who manage to meet the minimum amount only barely "survive." He added, "A generator, money for gas, a relative abroad to buy data, daily water, medicines for chronic illnesses that aren't available in pharmacies... and a million etceteras are still missing."
Iván Romero defended the value of the analysis, stating, "It brings us closer to the Cuban reality. I can't say the same for the estimates from the Tarea Ordenamiento, which are far removed from our realities. It's the truth." Jorge Juis Díaz Coca concluded with a striking statement: "It seems like a science fiction script... an impossible elevated to infinity. Simply put, living in Cuba is a luxury."
A few weeks ago, Hernández published another analysis revealing the gap between wages and prices, laying bare the precarious purchasing power in the country. Her findings showed that with the minimum wage (11 CUP per hour), a worker could only afford 15 grams of rice or a third of an egg. For retirees, their pension barely covers four grams of rice or a tenth of an egg. This calculation was widely shared on social media.
"Working in Cuba literally doesn't pay for even the food needed to keep working," Hernández concluded. Independent economist Omar Everleny Pérez Villanueva estimated that in December 2024, around 24,351 CUP was required to cover the basic needs for two people in Havana, equivalent to over $200. This figure is alarming as it represents 12 times the minimum wage, set at 2,100 CUP.
When adding other essential costs like transportation, internet, clothing, and personal hygiene, the monthly cost for two people would exceed 45,000 CUP. According to official data, 39% of Cuban retirees receive the minimum monthly pension, equivalent to 1,528 CUP, making them highly susceptible to falling into extreme poverty.
The situation is particularly dire for those without family abroad to send dollars, which could provide access to a balanced diet in their remaining years. They rely exclusively on rationed supplies that are plagued by extreme shortages and delays in distributing basic foods like rice and sugar.
The rampant inflation resulting from the failed Tarea Ordenamiento has driven up the prices of essential goods, while wages remain stagnant and the purchasing power of Cubans continues to erode. They are exhausted from the queues, power outages, hunger, and despair.
In the first half of 2025, Cuba's food crisis has evolved from a temporary issue into a chronic humanitarian emergency, as recently denounced by the Food Monitor Program (FMP), an independent organization monitoring food security in the island.
Understanding the Economic Struggles in Cuba
Why is the cost of living so high in Cuba?
The cost of living in Cuba is high due to rampant inflation, stagnant wages, and a dysfunctional economy plagued by shortages and rationing.
How are Cuban families coping with the financial crisis?
Many Cuban families are forced to rely on the black market, remittances from relatives abroad, or illegal activities to meet their basic needs.
What are the main challenges for retirees in Cuba?
Retirees face significant challenges such as inadequate pensions, high medication costs, and a lack of access to basic necessities.
What impact has the Tarea Ordenamiento had on the Cuban economy?
The Tarea Ordenamiento has exacerbated economic issues by increasing inflation and failing to address the underlying problems of wage stagnation and market dysfunction.