Equipping a student with a backpack, lunchbox, shoes, and basic school supplies in Cuba can set families back 34,600 pesos. This amount is nearly equivalent to 11 minimum wages, as demonstrated by a young Cuban named Emanuel González Moral, who surveyed several shops in preparation for the 2026-2027 school year.
In a video shared on Facebook, González Moral highlighted the expenses required to minimally prepare a student, opting for the most affordable choices available in each case.
The shopping list included a backpack, a lunchbox, shoes, colored pencils, glue, erasers, and a mechanical pencil.
"For such basic items that you can easily buy in any other country, the total came to 34,600 pesos," he explained.
Breakdown of School Supply Costs
Even the cheapest backpack he found was priced at 8,000 pesos, with others starting at 18,000. Additionally, a lunchbox added 10,000 pesos and shoes accounted for another 14,000 pesos.
Colored pencils ranged from 1,500 to 1,800 pesos; a glue stick cost 650 pesos; erasers were priced at 200 pesos; and a mechanical pencil was 250 pesos.
Comparing Prices to Cuban Wages
This stark contrast between expenses and Cuban workers' salaries highlights a significant issue.
"Keep in mind that the current minimum wage is just 3,210 pesos. This total equals nearly 11 months of minimum wage income," González Moral pointed out.
In other words, a minimum wage worker would need to allocate almost an entire year's salary solely to buy these items, without spending a cent on food, transportation, electricity, or other essentials.
Struggles of Cuban Families
The list, González Moral warned, doesn't even cover all the necessities for starting school.
His own situation reflects the struggle to replace these items. He mentioned he has been using the same backpack for more than five years and the same pair of shoes for over four years due to high prices.
"After seeing these numbers, you might understand better why I still use all of this. And this isn't even everything. There are many more items left out," he stated.
The video sparked numerous reactions from Cubans both on the island and abroad. Some noted that prices can vary significantly depending on the locality. One user mentioned finding erasers for 70 pesos, mechanical pencils for 120, and backpacks starting at 6,000 pesos in their area.
Users from other Latin American countries also reacted, astonished by the disparity between the shown prices and Cuban incomes.
González Moral's exploration illustrates one of the challenges families face when sending children back to school: salaries that have drastically lost their purchasing power against the rising costs of essential products needed for education.
Amid the ongoing economic crisis and inflation plaguing the island, getting a student ready for the school year can become an insurmountable expense for those relying solely on a state salary.
FAQs on the Cost of School Supplies in Cuba
What is the minimum wage in Cuba?
The current minimum wage in Cuba is 3,210 pesos.
How much do basic school supplies cost in Cuba?
Basic school supplies can cost around 34,600 pesos, nearly equivalent to 11 months of a minimum wage salary.
Why are school supplies so expensive in Cuba?
High prices are a result of the ongoing economic crisis and inflation in Cuba, which have reduced the purchasing power of salaries.