A Cuban youth set out to answer a seemingly simple yet profound question: How much can you purchase in Cuba with the same amount of money that buys a fast-food burger in the United States? The outcome, captured in a TikTok video released on Tuesday, paints a stark picture of the island's dire economic situation.
Content creator @editsemanuel_2 converted $5 into Cuban pesos (CUP) through the informal exchange rate, obtaining 3,300 CUP. Armed with this amount, he ventured into the marketplace with a clear mission: to fill a grocery bag with enough food to feed his mother, younger sister, and himself.
"I changed those five dollars into Cuban pesos, which gave me three thousand three hundred pesos, and I set out with a single goal: to fill this bag using just that money," he explained in his video.
His first attempt to buy bacon was thwarted by its steep price. "The bacon is priced at one thousand four hundred pesos," the vendor informed him. Purchasing a single pound would have nearly exhausted half of his entire budget, so he opted for more economical choices.
Ultimately, with the 3,300 CUP, he managed to gather: a package of rice (750 CUP), six sausages at 100 CUP each, a pound of mortadella (500 CUP), two cucumbers at 70 CUP each, ten eggs at 110 CUP each, and three bananas at 70 CUP each. "With each product, the bag grew heavier, but the money vanished even more quickly," he admitted.
The funds were completely depleted. "All the money is gone, not a cent left," he remarked at the end of his shopping trip.
The video reveals more than just a shopping list. On that day, the informal exchange rate was 673 CUP per dollar, meaning the 3,300 pesos were worth less than five dollars. This amount is roughly equivalent to the monthly minimum wage in Cuba, set at 3,210 CUP since July 1, 2026, indicating that a Cuban worker earns in a month what an American spends on a single fast-food meal.
The official average salary hovers around 6,930 CUP per month, approximately 10 dollars at the informal exchange rate. Economists estimate that fulfilling the basic needs of one person in Cuba requires about 96,000 CUP monthly, nearly 14 times the average salary.
The creator himself noted the escalating cost of basic foods during his shopping: "Rice has gone up like crazy," he mentioned, showing the package he bought for 750 CUP.
Such experiments have become a trend on TikTok among Cubans showcasing their real purchasing power. Just days earlier, another Cuban demonstrated a similarly limited purchase with 10,000 CUP, and back in January, a young man conducted a similar test with 5,000 pesos, yielding comparable results.
The video quickly amassed over 219,000 views and 21,500 likes in under 24 hours, garnering hundreds of comments from Cubans who recognized the stark reality it depicted. The creator concluded his experiment with a phrase that encapsulates the disparity: "Different prices, different countries, but above all, different realities."
Cuban Economic Challenges Highlighted by TikTok Experiments
What did the young man manage to buy with 3,300 CUP?
He bought a package of rice, six sausages, a pound of mortadella, two cucumbers, ten eggs, and three bananas.
How does the Cuban minimum wage compare to the cost of living?
The Cuban minimum wage is equivalent to less than $5, suggesting it is significantly insufficient compared to the estimated 96,000 CUP needed monthly to cover basic needs.
Why did the young man choose not to buy bacon?
The price of bacon was too high, consuming nearly half of his budget, prompting him to seek more affordable alternatives.