A Cuban entrepreneur known as Lety Lety recently took to Facebook to express her outrage over the exorbitant cost of juices in Cuba. She revealed that a box of juice now costs 300 pesos and a can 500 pesos, items she had to purchase for her ailing daughter.
"How much do you think these juices cost me? 300 pesos for a box of juice. And 500 pesos for a can. What is this? How long will this continue?" she questioned in her video.
Despite being able to afford these goods due to her job, Lety directed her frustration towards those less fortunate: "Thank God I have the money to buy them for my sick child. But what about the countless mothers who can't afford this for their kids?"
She highlighted the dire situation, pointing out that "currently, there are millions of children with digestive illnesses" in Cuba, making access to essential drinks like juices a critical need many families struggle to meet.
In her complaint, she called out the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for their role in the inflated prices, suggesting a deeper issue beyond market forces: "Everyone knows who owns these SMEs. Are they just lining their pockets from on high?"
Struggling to Make Ends Meet
As a self-employed worker, Lety described the vicious cycle she finds herself in: purchasing supplies at inflated prices due to the exchange rate and facing the dilemma of selling at high prices or shutting down. "They sell us supplies at outrageous prices. When it comes time to sell, you have to charge a high price. What can we do? As someone once told me, I could close my business. But how would I survive?" she lamented.
Lety concluded her message with a question that resonates with many on the island: "It's become a blatant disrespect towards us Cubans. Disrespect, lack of empathy, lack of morals, lack of humanity. How long will this go on?"
A Nation in Crisis
This testimony emerges amidst a backdrop of food prices spiraling out of control in Cuba.
On June 20, the Cuban government removed price caps on basic imported goods such as chicken, oil, powdered milk, pasta, and sausages under Resolution 150/2026, part of a set of 176 economic measures introduced by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz.
The informal market sees the dollar trading between 655 and 695 Cuban pesos, further inflating the cost of imported goods.
Official annual inflation in May 2026 stood at 15.89%, with food and non-alcoholic beverages increasing by 19.24%. However, independent estimates suggest the real inflation rate is closer to 70%.
The average monthly salary in Cuba is around 5,827 pesos, yet a basic shopping trip in the informal market can exceed 30,000 pesos, an unsustainable equation highlighted by the viral videos proliferating on social media.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges
Why are juice prices so high in Cuba?
Juice prices in Cuba are inflated due to the removal of price caps on imported goods and the high exchange rate of the dollar in the informal market, making imports more expensive.
What impact do these prices have on Cuban families?
The high prices of basic goods like juices severely strain Cuban families, especially those with sick children who require these items for health reasons, exacerbating their economic hardships.
How is the Cuban government addressing inflation?
The Cuban government has introduced economic measures, such as lifting price controls, but these actions have not curbed inflation, with real rates estimated significantly higher than official figures.