In Cuba, eating at a restaurant has become an unattainable luxury for most locals. On February 25, TikTok user @oficialsentelemald shared a video that attracted over 233,000 views, revealing the bill from one of Havana's so-called budget-friendly establishments: 13,000 Cuban pesos, roughly equivalent to $26 at the informal exchange rate of that time.
For this price, two diners enjoyed a meal that included French fries with tomato sauce, cheese sticks with tomato sauce, two natural guava juices, and two seafood marinara dishes featuring octopus, lobster, shrimp, and fish. The video creator described the place as an Italian-themed restaurant offering good value for money considering Cuban standards.
However, the creator pointed out the stark reality: "While this might not seem expensive to some, considering that the minimum wage here in Cuba is between 3,000 to 4,000 pesos, spending 13,000 pesos is equivalent to saving for several months."
Wage Discrepancy Highlights Economic Hardships
The figures illustrate the gap between wages and living costs. The official minimum wage in Cuba has been stagnant at 2,100 Cuban pesos since January 2021, with no increase expected until at least 2026. The national average monthly salary is around 6,830 pesos, meaning that a single meal at this "affordable" restaurant costs between two to six months' worth of minimum wages or nearly two average monthly salaries.
Economic Context and Inflation Woes
The economic backdrop intensifies the struggle. The Cuban peso has depreciated by nearly 48% against the dollar over the past year, dropping from 345 CUP per dollar in March 2025 to 515 CUP currently. Cumulative inflation from 2024 to 2026 exceeds 200%, with the basic basket for two people costing between 25,000 and 27,000 pesos monthly, a figure that the average salary barely covers by 20%. Independent economists suggest that surviving in Cuba requires between 40,000 and 50,000 pesos per person each month.
Private Dining and the Growing Divide
In this environment, private gastronomy has thrived, primarily catering to tourists and Cubans with access to remittances or foreign currency, widening the gap with the rest of the population. The seafood items featured on the menu—lobster, shrimp, octopus—are designated for export or tourist establishments and remain largely out of reach for the average Cuban.
Sharing restaurant prices on social media has become a viral trend both inside and outside the island. According to The Economist Intelligence Unit, the Cuban economy is projected to contract by 7.2% in 2026, marking a cumulative decline of 23% since 2019. This suggests that the disparity between private dining costs and actual purchasing power for Cubans will continue to widen.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges
Why is dining out so expensive for Cubans?
Dining out is costly due to economic factors like stagnant wages, high inflation, and the devaluation of the Cuban peso, all of which reduce purchasing power significantly.
What is the impact of the peso's devaluation?
The devaluation of the peso means that Cubans need more currency to purchase goods or services priced in dollars, making imports and dining out more expensive.
How is the private dining sector affecting local Cubans?
The private dining sector caters mainly to tourists and those with foreign currency, creating a divide between them and the average Cuban, who cannot afford such luxuries.