A brief 31-second video shared by Cuban resident Yuli Mai on Facebook has sparked widespread reactions across Latin America, revealing a staggering reality: in Cuba, a single egg can cost approximately 130 pesos, with an entire carton priced at around 3,600 pesos, surpassing the country's minimum monthly wage.
In the footage, Yuli Mai, who is visibly pregnant, calmly describes the exorbitant cost of this essential food item for countless families.
"Living in Cuba, something as basic as eating an egg can be extremely difficult for many. A single egg costs about 130 Cuban pesos, and a full carton can reach up to 3,600 pesos. It's insane that the price exceeds the minimum wage here," she explains.
On that particular day, she recounts, her family managed to purchase only three eggs.
"We were fortunate enough to buy three eggs. We thank God for the blessing of having lunch every day, knowing that many don't have anything to eat," she adds.
The post quickly went viral, with the comments section turning into an impromptu comparison of egg prices across various countries in the region. For thousands of users, the contrast with Cuba was hard to fathom.
From Mexico, Jade SanMar remarked, "And here I am, complaining that an egg costs 3 pesos in Mexico." Another user, Jan Martínez, noted, "130 Cuban pesos is almost 100 Mexican pesos, meaning you could buy about three kilos of eggs. It's crazy, such different circumstances in the same world."
Reactions poured in from other countries as well. Costa Rican Yazmin Mejías Barrantes stated that a carton costs around $2.5 in her country, while Guatemalan May Santizo pointed out that 30 eggs equate to about 95 Cuban pesos, less than a single egg in Cuba. From Colombia, Heidy Vanegas highlighted the stark contrast with a phrase that garnered numerous reactions: "With what it costs to buy a carton of eggs in Cuba, you could do a whole market shopping in Colombia."
In Argentina, disbelief also prevailed. "It's incredible that it's the same world and an egg is a luxury. It's sad what's happening in Cuba and unbelievable that they endure it," wrote Magalí Martínez. Her fellow Argentine, Yael Escudero, emphasized that with the money needed for one egg in Cuba, she could buy a tray of 30 in her country and still have money left over. From Brazil, Elismar Brito mentioned that with the price of a Cuban carton, she could purchase around 25 cartons.
The video's impact coincides with an increasingly dire economic situation for Cubans. As of this month, the minimum wage in Cuba is 3,210 pesos, equivalent to about $4.65 according to the informal exchange rate, a figure insufficient to buy a carton of eggs in the informal market, where prices typically range between 3,000 and 5,000 pesos, depending on the province.
Economic Struggles and Production Challenges
The scarcity is also a result of a severe production crisis. National egg production plummeted from about five million daily in 2020 to 2.2 million in 2023, and in 2024, over 1.3 million laying hens died due to feed shortages. Additionally, there's an economic distortion: while producing an egg in the state system costs 8.65 pesos, the official price remains set at just two pesos, a discrepancy that discourages production and exacerbates shortages.
Independent economists estimate that a Cuban family needs between 50,000 and 96,000 pesos per month to meet basic needs, which is 12 to 14 times the current minimum wage. One comment on the video summed up this reality with a phrase full of irony: "Once an egg cost a peso, now earning a peso costs an egg."
Understanding Cuba's Egg Price Crisis
Why are egg prices so high in Cuba?
Egg prices in Cuba are high due to a severe production crisis, economic distortions, and a lack of feed for hens. The official pricing system discourages production, leading to shortages.
How does the cost of eggs in Cuba compare to other countries?
In Cuba, a single egg can cost around 130 pesos, whereas in other Latin American countries like Mexico, an egg costs about 3 pesos, and a carton of eggs in Costa Rica is priced at approximately $2.5.