During a recent visit to Bayamo, a city in Cuba, Martha María Montejo, a Cuban journalist residing in Texas, was shocked by the staggering prices of basic goods. She reported that a carton of eggs costs nearly 4,000 Cuban pesos, a bottle of oil is priced at 1,500, and a pound of sugar exceeds 400. Montejo shared these observations in an interview with Tania Costa, following her trip to the island earlier this June.
Montejo spent ten days visiting family in Bayamo and returned with a grim perspective on the local markets. "A two-kilogram or smaller bag of rice costs 900, 800 pesos," she detailed.
The steep prices didn't stop there. She noted that a pound of pork with bone is around 1,000 pesos, while lean pork — cleaned and cut — reaches 1,800. Bananas cost more than 200 pesos per pound, and a pound of lemons, roughly seven or eight lemons, is priced at 500 pesos.
"It's utterly extraordinary. I'm talking about basic necessities. I'm not discussing treats like a cake or a cappuccino," Montejo emphasized.
The disparity between prices and real incomes in Cuba is overwhelming. According to Montejo, a Cuban retiree earns between 2,000 and 3,000 pesos monthly, insufficient to cover even a carton of eggs. A specialist doctor, considered one of the higher-paid roles in the state sector, earns between 6,000 and 8,000 pesos. "I don't see any correlation," Montejo concluded.
Faced with this gap, Montejo questions how people survive on these pensions. "And how do people live? Those with 2,000 or 3,000 pesos who have to pay 4,000 for a carton of eggs, what do they do?" Costa inquired.
Montejo's response was blunt: "I am absolutely convinced that some people go several days without a hot meal. They either lack the product or the means to cook it."
This challenge is compounded by a severe shortage of electricity. Montejo reported experiencing less than 20 hours of electricity during her ten-day stay in Bayamo. This forces residents to cook with charcoal, which is also costly. A sack of charcoal costs between 1,400 and 1,500 pesos, a can between 400 and 500, and a charcoal stove exceeds 3,000 pesos.
"So, what are we talking about? We're discussing a truly alarming state," she concluded.
The situation in Bayamo is not unique. Recent accounts from other parts of Cuba reveal similar or even higher prices. The official annual inflation rate hit 15.89% in May 2026, though prices in the informal market far exceed this figure.
According to a report cited by Infobae, the average salary in the Cuban healthcare sector is equivalent to about 16 USD per month at the informal exchange rate, highlighting the collapse of purchasing power.
Understanding Bayamo's Economic Crisis
What are the prices of basic goods in Bayamo?
In Bayamo, a carton of eggs costs nearly 4,000 pesos, a bottle of oil is 1,500, and a pound of sugar exceeds 400 pesos.
How does the cost of living compare to the income in Cuba?
The cost of living far surpasses the average income. For instance, retirees earn between 2,000 and 3,000 pesos monthly, which is not enough to afford even basic necessities like a carton of eggs.
How is the power shortage affecting daily life in Bayamo?
The severe lack of electricity forces residents to use costly alternatives like charcoal for cooking, adding to their economic woes.