A young Cuban known as @jeancaimanera took to TikTok to showcase his white Peugeot car with the caption: “Securing my own, let the workers work.”
The video displays the freshly cleaned vehicle parked in front of a house, seemingly located in a residential area of the island.
In the comments, the video's creator claimed that the car cost him around $20,000. This figure far exceeds the average salary in Cuba, where the typical monthly income is approximately 4,000 Cuban pesos, equivalent to less than $20 on the informal exchange market.
Posted in late December 2025, the video sparked a multitude of responses. Some users commended the young man for his hard work and personal success:
“This is the dream for many of us, buddy. To have a nice little house in Cuba, a business that provides for our daily needs, and a car like this one,” commented one follower.
However, others took a more sarcastic view of the expenditure:
“Brother, you should have saved for a small Toyota or one of those Hyundai cars that are coming in, but step by step, greetings and blessings anyway, it’s modern,” another user remarked.
In a country where public transportation is experiencing one of its worst crises and access to new cars is limited by high prices and state restrictions, the post highlights the growing economic disparity between Cubans earning in foreign currency and the rest of the population surviving on state wages.
The video has garnered thousands of views and adds to the trend of young Cubans showcasing their personal achievements on social media, generating both pride and controversy in a society marked by scarcity and inequality.
The Economic Gap and Social Media Trends in Cuba
What is the significance of the $20,000 car in Cuba?
The $20,000 car represents a significant economic achievement in Cuba, where the average salary is much lower, highlighting economic disparities and the challenges faced by those relying on state wages.
How do social media trends reflect economic disparities in Cuba?
Social media trends in Cuba often showcase personal achievements, such as owning expensive items, which highlight the economic divide between those with access to foreign currency and those who do not.