Holguín's Motorbike Sales Highlight Economic Disparities with Prices Reaching Nearly $7,000

The state-run chain, Tiendas Caribe, has recently launched a new service in Holguín offering combustion motorcycles for sale. Despite being advertised as a boon for motorcyclists, pricing ranging from $2,130 to $6,590 USD places these vehicles far beyond the reach of the average Cuban salary. Located at the Universal Store on the Central Highway, the sales point was inaugurated with corporate executives present, touting it as an "opportunity" to purchase models from brands like Suzuki, Haojue, and Nipponse, each offering various features and technical specifications.

Tiendas Caribe Holguín emphasized on their Facebook page that the service includes the "added benefit" of vehicle registration documentation processing, presenting this as a special perk despite being a basic requirement in vehicle purchases worldwide. The motorcycles are priced between $2,130 USD for the Nipponse R1 and $6,590 USD for the Suzuki DS250, with mid-range options like the JC125 at $2,195 USD, the NK150 at $3,320 USD, and the GSX-250 RL at $6,165 USD. All transactions must be completed in foreign currency using international magnetic cards like Clásica, AIS, or BANDEC prepaid cards.

For those without card access, the government mandates purchasing a Clásica card and loading it before payment, ensuring every dollar funnels through their coffers. Although presented as a proposal of "guaranteed quality and specialized attention," public reaction has focused on the stark contrast between dollar-denominated prices and the national economy, which is plagued by inflation, shortages, and state wages barely exceeding $20 USD monthly at actual exchange rates.

The Discrepancy Between Prices and Cuban Economy

While the official narrative frames this as "good news," the sale of motorcycles in Holguín underscores yet again the disconnect between the state sector's foreign currency offerings and the actual needs of the Cuban populace. Many have noted that the same or even superior models are available in other countries at significantly lower prices.

Andrés Hernández Sánchez called for immediate action against resellers, asking, "What solutions are there for reselling queue-jumpers? When will measures be taken against them? Put police at the door." The discourse expanded with Adrián Aguilera questioning store access mechanisms, to which Hernández replied, "They post up at a corner and sell you a spot for $200 USD."

Ali Hernández Alameda criticized the official prices, comparing them to other markets: "They’re crazy with those prices for those bikes. There are 17 times better ones for $2,500." Rodrigo Torres expressed indignation over converting the price to the national currency: "3,320 USD is 1,345,000 CUP—this is robbery, they pay us in national currency."

Wider Economic Implications

Rey Machado criticized the institutionalized reselling logic: "What kind of merchants resell at double price—this is outrageous." Papo López was harsher, denouncing regional price disparities: "Insanity, these same bikes sell cheaper in Havana and they're state stores. We’re killing each other. One price here, another in the East—it's disrespectful. $1,000 more. Don’t buy any bikes, let them rot. They live off us as if we’re paid in USD while forcing us to pay in USD."

In 2019, Holguín's Autos y Piezas La Central opened as the second foreign currency sales facility in the eastern region, offering electric motorcycles, lithium batteries, car parts, and more. Isael Zaldívar, the then-manager, stated there were about 22 types of items, including electric motorcycles and parts for Lada and Moskvich cars.

Since early 2025, the government has pushed the establishment and reopening of numerous foreign currency-only stores, widening the gap between those with dollar access and the majority reliant on the devalued Cuban peso. In February, the Ministry of Domestic Trade announced 50 new dollarized stores across the nation, and quietly opened "Las Maravillas" in Holguín with products like perfumes and baby items. By March, the policy had solidified a foreign currency trade network excluding CUP and MLC, with over 85 dollar-only stores reported by May.

This trend has intensified, and by July, reports warned that the dollarization of essential goods was expanding while MLC usage rapidly declined. This development confirms that access to essential goods increasingly depends on the ability to obtain U.S. dollars, exacerbating social inequality in Cuba.