A young Cuban woman known on TikTok as Anni (@annilacubanita_97) recently shared a video showcasing what 10,000 Cuban pesos can buy in terms of groceries. This amount exceeds the entire current monthly minimum wage in Cuba.
The video, uploaded on April 28, takes viewers on a tour of a local market near her home, which Anni describes as relatively well-stocked. Available items included ground meat, chicken breasts, hamburgers, sausages, pork chops, canned goods, and grains like beans and chickpeas.
Despite this availability, Anni quickly pointed out the harsh reality: "I'm not going to lie, everything is quite expensive, at least for a typical worker's salary, but I have 'fee.'"
Economic Context in CubaThe term "fee" is a colloquial Cuban reference to remittances from abroad, which are crucial for many families on the island as a way to access the market.
With the 10,000 pesos, Anni's purchases were modest: a carton of eggs, two bags of rice, a 10-pound package of chicken, and two cubes of chicken bouillon.
Regarding the rice, Anni was blunt: "it lasts for three days at most." The chicken, however, received a more favorable review: "this package does last quite a bit," she noted, compared to the rest of her purchases.
The Reality of Grocery ShoppingAs the video concluded, Anni expressed a mix of disappointment and gratitude: "One feels a bit let down, honestly, but there are many people who can't even buy these foods, so I feel very blessed."
This video is part of a growing trend on TikTok where Cubans share their grocery shopping experiences to highlight the stark disparity between prices and wages, becoming a form of spontaneous social protest on the platform.
The economic backdrop of Anni’s shopping trip is grim. According to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), in 2025, the average official salary in Cuba was only 6,930 pesos monthly. From July 1, 2026, the new minimum wage was set at 3,210 pesos, roughly equivalent to $4.65 on the informal exchange rate.
Cuban Economy and InflationThis means that the 10,000 pesos Anni spent represent more than three monthly minimum wages, and they barely covered basic proteins and carbohydrates for a few days.
Independent estimates suggest that the minimum cost of living in Cuba is around 96,000 pesos per month, with approximately 70,000 dedicated solely to food, making it impossible for any budget reliant solely on state earnings to survive.
Anni's situation is not unique. On July 22, another Cuban shared on TikTok that with a full month's basic salary, he could only afford five bags of rice. Meanwhile, in June, a young woman documented her purchase of just over 11,000 pesos: five pounds of pork, five of chicken, three of ground meat, a tube of luncheon meat, ten eggs, and five pounds of salt.
Official interannual inflation in Cuba reached 18.27% in June 2026, with food prices rising 4.29% in that month alone, and oil prices soaring by nearly 15%.
The regime itself has recently admitted that the new minimum wage is insufficient to meet the basic needs of the population, an acknowledgment that confirms what Cubans like Anni have been documenting on camera for months.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges
What does "fee" mean in the Cuban context?
In Cuba, "fee" is a colloquial term used to refer to remittances sent from abroad, which are a crucial source of income for many families to access goods in the market.
Why is grocery shopping in Cuba a challenge?
Grocery shopping in Cuba is challenging due to the high prices of basic goods compared to the low official wages, making it difficult for many to afford essential items.
How does inflation affect Cuban consumers?
Inflation in Cuba significantly impacts consumers by continually raising the cost of food and other essentials, further widening the gap between income and the cost of living.