An Arizona-based Cuban woman posted a TikTok video this Wednesday that has struck a chord within the emigrant community: a direct appeal to families on the island to appreciate the true sacrifice involved in sending them money from abroad.
The creator, known on the platform as "Bichota De Cuba" (@ladayien), left Cuba in 1998 and has been living outside the island for nearly three decades. In a video lasting over four minutes, she breaks down with specific figures why a salary that seems high from Cuba quickly disappears in the United States.
"Here, at least where I live in Arizona, you're looking at a minimum of $1,200 for a one-bedroom apartment. You still have to add utilities, gas, insurance. If you have a car, you need to include car payments, car insurance, life insurance, and health insurance. By the time you realize it, there's nothing left in your account," she explains in the video.
The message is aimed directly at those who downplay these remittances: "Family over there doesn't want to see it. And they say, send me this much, send me 500, send me 300, send me a thousand, because that's nothing for you. Yes, it is. It is, and it's quite a lot."
The Cuban woman describes a reality many emigrants recognize: working two or three jobs to be able to help their loved ones, foregoing vacations and cutting back on personal expenses, while some family members on the island spend what they receive on parties without showing gratitude.
"Many people here don’t go on vacation, these immigrants who are here, they don't go on vacation to help their family, and they are not appreciated," she points out.
The creator states she has made a personal decision due to this lack of acknowledgment: "There are some people I decided not to help anymore. And if they want to call me bad, stingy, say whatever they want. I have the right to live. I have the right to take vacations because I'm the one working."
The video highlights a tension frequently discussed on social media among the Cuban community abroad: the gap between what seems "a lot" from Cuba and what's truly left after covering basic expenses in the U.S.
From the emigrant's perspective, monthly expenses in the U.S. tell a different story: the total cost of living for one person in Phoenix exceeds $2,800 a month, according to 2026 data. Cubans in Miami send an average of $2,165 annually to their families, with a median of $1,200 per year, based on statistics cited by elToque.
This kind of testimony, led by Cuban women who vent their frustrations against those asking for money from the island, has multiplied on TikTok since 2024, with voices from Miami, Spain, Arizona, and other places seeking the same acknowledgment.
"Have a little awareness and appreciate it if they're helping you," the video creator concludes.
Understanding the Economic Challenges for Cuban Emigrants
Why is it difficult for Cuban emigrants to send money home?
Cuban emigrants face high living costs in places like the United States, where expenses such as rent, utilities, and insurance consume much of their income, leaving little room for sending remittances.
How much do Cubans in Miami typically send back to their families?
Cubans in Miami send an average of $2,165 annually to their families, with a median amount of $1,200 per year, highlighting the financial strain despite the need to support loved ones back home.