A Cuban social media user, known as El Quijote Bayamés, shared a video on Facebook this past Saturday that starkly encapsulates the exhaustion gripping much of the island's population. Persistent power outages, rising prices, and stifling heat without electricity for relief are taking a heavy toll.
Juan Luis Vasallo Palomo, who filmed the video in Bayamo, capital of the Granma Province, expressed his dire situation with a phrase that resonated with thousands: "Between the blackouts, the cost of goods, and this immense heat, my head is spinning, and even the will to live fades away. What wrong have we Cubans done to endure this ordeal?"
In his recording, Vasallo Palomo recounts going out at noon in search of food, only to find that pork prices had jumped from 1,300 to 1,400 pesos per pound in a single day at one market, while another offered it at 3,800 pesos. "What are we supposed to do, ma'am? Where are we headed?" he asks, visibly sweating and distressed on camera. The clip ends with a candid admission: "I'm here in this tremendous heat. I don't know what to do or where to go."
The prices Vasallo Palomo describes are not anomalies. As of August 2026, pork prices range from 850 to 1,900 pesos per pound, depending on location, with a butcher's board documented that same Saturday confirming 1,400 pesos as a common price in various markets.
The disparity with incomes is staggering. The minimum wage in Cuba stands at 3,210 pesos monthly, while basic living costs for one person are estimated at around 96,060 pesos per month, according to independent estimates. Official annual inflation reached 20.70% in July 2026, with food prices accounting for nearly two-thirds of the monthly increase in the consumer price index.
Bayamo is among the hardest-hit cities by power outages in eastern Cuba. The Granma Province recorded a provincial electricity deficit of 110 MW by mid-August, with blackouts exceeding 20 hours daily. Nationally, Cuba has experienced at least seven total electrical system collapses in 2026, with peak disruptions of up to 2,411 MW recorded on August 11.
Vasallo Palomo's video sparked dozens of comments echoing the same despair. One of the most shared, signed by Juan López Sánchez, directly targeted the disparity between the rulers and the ruled: "We must endure with or without bread, but the administration has meat, fish, cheese, eggs, wine, rum, whiskey, gasoline, cars, electricity, and we are told to endure."
Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges
What are the main causes of power outages in Cuba?
Cuba's power outages are primarily due to an aging electrical infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and insufficient investment in energy resources, exacerbated by economic sanctions and poor management.
How do rising prices impact the Cuban population?
Rising prices significantly impact the Cuban population by reducing purchasing power, making it difficult for individuals to afford basic necessities like food and healthcare, and increasing overall economic insecurity.
What is the current inflation rate in Cuba?
As of July 2026, the official annual inflation rate in Cuba was 20.70%, with a significant portion driven by increases in food prices.