A Cuban woman living in Spain has taken to TikTok to deliver a heartfelt message to her family members back on the island, urging them to acknowledge the sacrifice involved in sending even the smallest items from abroad, like a piece of gum or a lollipop.
The TikTok user @aldanelys.avila.m recorded the video with sincerity and directness, addressing those still in Cuba to help them understand the economic challenges faced by Cuban emigrants in Spain.
"Folks, there are people here in Spain on minimum wage who can't make it to the end of the month. They must work extra hours, sometimes off the books, just to get by," she stated in her recording.
Her message wasn't just a complaint; she concluded with a heartfelt plea. "Appreciate, appreciate the effort each person makes to send something to their family. I'm telling you the truth," she expressed.
In 2026, Spain's minimum wage is set at 1,221 euros gross per month. According to Cuban expatriates living there, a family of four with a monthly income of 2,000 euros spends approximately 1,600 euros on fixed expenses—rent, food, insurance, taxes—leaving only 400 euros for emergencies or to support their families in Cuba.
Many Cuban emigrants work in low-wage sectors like hotel cleaning, elderly care, or hospitality, yet they still allocate part of their limited budget to send money or goods to the island.
The divide between the two realities is stark. As of July 1, Cuba's new minimum wage is set at 3,210 Cuban pesos, a 53% increase from the previous amount, but equivalent to just about $4.65 at the informal exchange rate.
To illustrate how insufficient this amount is, a carton of eggs in Cuba costs between 3,000 and 4,000 pesos, which could exceed an entire month's minimum wage. Economist Javier Pérez Capdevila estimated that a person needs 96,060 pesos per month to cover basic expenses, with 70,070 dedicated solely to food.
In this context of critical dependency, remittances and packages from abroad have become a lifeline for thousands of Cuban families, yet also a constant source of tension between senders and receivers.
The video by @aldanelys.avila.m adds to a growing trend on TikTok. In June, another Cuban in Spain reported sending 4,000 euros over six months to her family on the island, only to be met with hostility. In May, creator @arguellespositivo urged Cubans in Cuba to appreciate remittances of 10, 15, or 20 dollars, with a phrase that went viral: "Money doesn't grow on trees."
Cuban women living in the United States have joined the debate with messages rejecting family pressure with statements like "I'm not an ATM," while audios from the island reflect desperation: "Can you send me at least a scooter for the kid?" asked a woman to a contact abroad in a viral audio from January.
Before recent restrictions, remittances from the Cuban diaspora exceeded $2 billion annually, but only 24% of the island's population received these funds, highlighting that while the dependency is widespread, it is not universal, and the burden on emigrants is disproportionate to what many can truly afford.
Addressing Economic Challenges for Cuban Emigrants
What challenges do Cuban emigrants in Spain face?
Cuban emigrants in Spain often work in low-wage sectors and struggle with high living costs, making it difficult to support themselves and send aid back to Cuba.
How significant are remittances for Cuban families?
Remittances are crucial for many Cuban families, serving as a financial lifeline amid economic challenges. However, they also cause tension between those sending and receiving the aid.