A Cuban woman has sparked a heated discussion on social media after revealing on TikTok the exorbitant expenses she encountered during a trip from a province in Cuba's interior to Havana. Noelia Hernández Arias, the woman in question, raises a poignant question in her video: "How much do you think it costs for a Cuban who earns only $15 a month to travel to Havana?" Her detailed account highlights what she sees as an insurmountable financial burden for most of the country's workforce.
Hernández Arias explains that the cost of a ticket alone nearly swallows an entire month's wages. Adding to this are unavoidable expenses such as food, water, or snacks required during the journey. "You realize you'll spend roughly another month's salary," she remarked.
In total, the expense of her trip amounted to around $60, which is equivalent to three months' worth of the average salary in Cuba. "It's unbelievable that trips made out of necessity are so expensive that a working person cannot afford them," Hernández Arias lamented.
Her story has resonated with numerous Cubans who echo her sentiments about the difficulty of traveling within the country without relying on remittances or additional income.
The Cost of Domestic Travel in Cuba
How much does an average trip to Havana cost for a Cuban?
An average trip to Havana can cost around $60, which is equivalent to three months of the average salary in Cuba.
What additional expenses are incurred during travel in Cuba?
In addition to the ticket cost, travelers need to cover expenses for food, water, and snacks, which can add up to another month's salary.
How do Cubans manage these travel costs?
Many Cubans rely on remittances or additional sources of income to afford domestic travel due to the high costs involved.