A Cuban doctor with two specialties, a master's degree, and over 35 years of professional experience took to Facebook this Sunday to illustrate the irony behind the new 10,000 and 20,000 Cuban peso bills: her entire monthly salary, including incentives, doesn't even match the value of one of these notes.
Health professional Alina Arcos Fdez-Britto expressed, "With the introduction of 10,000 and 20,000 Cuban peso bills, I'm faced with the reality that my salary as a healthcare professional, including 'salary incentives,' could be summed up to a single bill. And I would still need to provide change... which wouldn't be insignificant."
Dr. Arcos clarified that her monthly earnings amount to approximately 13,125 Cuban pesos (CUP), which, at the informal exchange rate on Sunday, equals less than $19 per month.
This amount is less than one-fifth of the extreme poverty threshold set by the United Nations: $90 a month, or three dollars a day, as per the updated 2025 index.
Stark Economic Disparities
The contrast is even more severe when compared to the minimum estimated expenditure to meet basic needs in Cuba. Economist Javier Pérez Capdevila estimated this threshold at 96,060 CUP per month, a figure that exceeds Dr. Arcos's salary by more than sevenfold.
On September 16, the Central Bank of Cuba introduced the 10,000 and 20,000 CUP bills, the highest denominations ever issued in the country's history. Juana Lilia Delgado Portal, the bank's president, justified the move due to current price and monetary circulation conditions.
This marks the second cycle of high-denomination issuance in 2026: in April, 2,000 and 5,000 CUP bills had already been introduced.
Cuba's Economic Model Under Scrutiny
Economist Pedro Monreal warned that the new bills reflect a system where work no longer holds value: "When the highest denomination bill far exceeds the monthly payroll, it usually indicates chronic inflation, monetary duality, or a dollarized circuit, not a payment system anchored in work." The national minimum wage is set at 3,210 CUP, and the average state salary barely surpasses 7,000 CUP, meaning a 20,000 CUP note equates to nearly three average payrolls.
Dr. Arcos emphasized that doctors are far from being the worst-paid workers and directed her thoughts towards those in even more precarious situations: "What can be said about the retirees who gave their entire lives and dreams for the 'bright future' promised by the Revolution?" Her own mother, a pensioner, receives just over four dollars a month, even below the official minimum pension of 4,000 CUP.
The Reality of "Modern Slavery"
The doctor described the situation as "modern slavery" and highlighted the core contradiction of the Cuban economic model: "The Cuban state continues to pay its workers in national currency. A currency that is blatantly devalued and holds minimal purchasing power," while de facto dollarization advances as state policy.
The post also challenged the embargo narrative as the root of Cuba's issues and rejected the idea that the situation could improve with multidimensional assessments: most Cubans lack stable electricity, regular potable water, secure housing, and food security. "Not even health and education are guaranteed anymore," she wrote, "because both, although public, have long ceased to be free in practice. And I can attest that many times, even if you pay for them, they aren't of quality."
The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights estimated in 2026 that 94% of the Cuban population lives in extreme poverty due to income, a statistic that makes Dr. Arcos's case a snapshot of a widespread reality across the island.
Cuban Economic Challenges and Implications
What is the significance of the new 10,000 and 20,000 Cuban peso bills?
The introduction of these high-denomination bills highlights the severe inflation and economic challenges in Cuba, as they represent a currency devaluation and the struggles of many professionals whose salaries do not match the value of these notes.
How does Dr. Arcos's salary compare to the poverty threshold?
Dr. Arcos's monthly salary, including incentives, is less than $19, which is significantly below the extreme poverty threshold of $90 a month set by the United Nations.
What is the broader economic situation for workers in Cuba?
The broader economic situation is dire, with the national minimum wage at 3,210 CUP and the average state salary just above 7,000 CUP, making it difficult for workers to meet basic living standards.