A Cuban woman who spent four years in the United States under the I-220A immigration status and voluntarily returned to the island in May 2026 recently shared her shopping experience on TikTok. She revealed that her grocery bill for her two-year-old daughter's snacks totaled $40.35.
Currently residing in Pratacúe with her mother while renovating her own home, Débora (@soydeborah97) posted a video on Saturday showcasing her trip to a local market to purchase basic items for her little girl.
"We started the day rushing to the market because I ran out of a few things for my daughter's snacks," she mentioned at the beginning of the video.
The items she purchased included a package of waffles ($2.65), peaches ($4.20), ketchup ($2.00), hazelnut coffee creamer ($4.20), Estancia juices ($0.80 each), nail polish ($0.90), packs of elbow macaroni ($1.20 each), sodas ($0.60 each), macaroni and cheese ($1.20), and six yogurts priced at $0.75 each.
High Costs of Living in Cuba
Despite her purchases, there were items Débora decided not to buy. "I didn't get the cheese because it was priced in a free currency and was too expensive," she noted. She also avoided buying anything from the market's refrigerator section: "I looked at the fridge items, but nothing appealed to me. The prices were just too high, so I didn't buy any of it."
Débora posed a question to her followers at the end of the video: "What do you think, does it seem expensive or affordable to you here in Cuba?"
The amount she spent on snacks takes on new meaning when compared to Cuba's economic conditions. The official minimum wage is only 2,100 Cuban pesos (CUP), which equals about $3-4 at the informal exchange rate, while the average salary is around 6,930 CUP, or roughly $10. The $40.35 Débora spent represents the equivalent of four to ten months' wages for an average Cuban worker.
In June 2026, the informal exchange rate for the U.S. dollar fluctuates between 655 and 695 CUP, and food prices in Cuba continue to rise: a 50-kilogram sack of rice costs 31,800 CUP, a pound of chicken is 500 CUP, and a carton of eggs ranges from 3,000 to 3,100 CUP.
The Decision to Return to Cuba
Débora's return to Cuba followed a notification from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which required her to appear on a Saturday with all her documents. "My story is a bit sad because I was I-220A and faced a difficult situation when I had the appointment... they told me to come back on a Saturday with all my documents. I got scared, so I decided to come back," she explained in a previous video.
She opted to return before her immigration hearing to avoid formal deportation, but in doing so, she sacrificed the chance to legally return to the United States. Her two-year-old daughter is an American citizen, and Débora is currently working on obtaining Cuban citizenship for her child.
Débora's case reflects a broader trend of Cubans with I-220A status choosing voluntary return in light of stricter immigration policies under the Trump administration. In February 2026, 170 Cubans were repatriated on the year's first deportation flight.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges
What is the I-220A immigration status?
The I-220A is a form of immigration relief in the United States allowing certain individuals to remain in the country temporarily under specific conditions.
How does the cost of groceries in Cuba compare to local wages?
Groceries in Cuba can be disproportionately high compared to local wages. For instance, Débora's $40.35 grocery bill is equivalent to four to ten months' salaries for the average Cuban worker.
Why did Débora return to Cuba from the United States?
Débora chose to return to Cuba after receiving a summons from ICE, requiring her to appear with all documents. She returned voluntarily to avoid formal deportation and the potential legal consequences.