This week, a Cuban woman highlighted the staggering cost of preparing just one meal on the island, revealing it to be a hefty 3,000 pesos—equivalent to the full monthly salary of a typical Cuban worker. Her video, shared on Facebook, sheds light on the harsh reality many face daily.
Content creator SoyEly Vlog documented the process of making a dish known as "arroz con suerte," a popular Cuban meal designed to stretch resources and feed multiple people despite limited ingredients. The dish includes rice, pork pieces, sweet corn, onion, garlic, and various seasonings. Ely meticulously broke down the expenses involved.
"The meal you're looking at, which is just for today, includes 600 pesos for rice, 2,000 pesos for pork, and 400 pesos for corn, not even counting the spices I added. Altogether, it costs around 3,000 pesos, which matches the salary of an average Cuban worker," Ely explained.
Impact of Removing Price Caps
The video emerged shortly after the government lifted price caps on essential goods such as chicken, cooking oil, powdered milk, pasta, and sausages, as per Resolution 150/2026 issued by the Ministry of Finance and Prices on June 20.
Ely criticized this policy decision, stating, "It basically means that I can sell you a pound of rice for 300 pesos today, and tomorrow, if I choose to raise it to 500, no one will question me. Meanwhile, your salary remains the same 3,000 pesos it has always been."
She also noted that the previous price caps were largely ineffective, as enforcement was lax and vendors often ignored them without repercussions.
The Intersection of Banking Woes and Inflation
Adding to the economic turmoil is the collapse of the banking system. Ely warned that a trip to the bank for cash withdrawal could cost up to 300 pesos just in transportation. Frequently, banks dispense only 500 or 1,000 pesos, a mere fraction of one's salary, which is hardly enough to purchase essentials.
The video struck a chord with many Cubans, who expressed their frustrations in the comments. "Now everything is getting more expensive, but wages remain unchanged," lamented one viewer. From Camagüey, another commented, "You have to spend the entire night in line just to withdraw 500 or 1,000 pesos, which isn't enough for anything."
Another follower expressed the widespread despair: "Our wages don't cover anything, but we have to endure it. It's beyond words."
Economic Reforms and Daily Struggles
The removal of price caps is part of a broader package of 176 economic measures introduced by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz to parliament on June 18-19, with backing from the Communist Party's Central Committee, including Raúl Castro.
The discrepancy between these reforms and everyday life is stark: fulfilling basic needs demands around 96,000 pesos monthly, while the official minimum wage stands at 3,210 pesos, less than $5 at the informal exchange rate, and the average wage is roughly 7,000 pesos, about $10.
The "arroz con suerte" dish gets its name because it relies on whatever ingredients are available, embodying a survival mentality prevalent in Cuban households. The fact that a single pot of this meal costs an entire salary speaks volumes about the crisis more than any official statistics could.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges
Why does preparing one meal in Cuba cost 3,000 pesos?
The cost of a single meal can reach 3,000 pesos due to high prices of basic ingredients like rice, pork, and corn, which together can consume an entire monthly salary for many Cuban workers.
What impact has the removal of price caps had in Cuba?
The removal of price caps has led to unchecked price increases for essential goods, allowing vendors to set prices without restrictions, despite stagnant wages for the population.
How do economic reforms affect daily life in Cuba?
Economic reforms have failed to improve daily living conditions as the cost of basic necessities far exceeds the average salary, making survival a daily challenge for many Cubans.