Imagine a Halloween pumpkin costing more than half of the monthly minimum wage. That's exactly what Chequera, a character played by Cuban actor Mario Sardiñas, brought to his niece this October 31st in a 21-second clip shared on Facebook. This brief yet powerful skit humorously captures the harsh economic reality faced by those on the island.
The scene is short but impactful. Chequera arrives with the expensive pumpkin, and when his niece comments that "it’s not scary," his retort is swift: "Not scary? Wait until you hear what it cost!" When she inquires about the price, the revelation is shocking: "1,700 pesos! I told you it would scare you!"
The humor hits home because the numbers are both real and alarming. In Cuba, the monthly minimum wage, which was increased to 3,210 pesos in July 2026 from a previous 2,100 pesos, is still deemed insufficient by the regime itself to meet basic needs. Consequently, a decorative pumpkin consumes more than half of what the lowest-paid workers earn in a month. Converted to the informal exchange rate, this minimum wage amounts to less than five dollars.
A Frightening Economic Context
The broader economic scenario amplifies the horror. As of September 2026, Cuba's official annual inflation rate hit 28.44%. Meanwhile, prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages soared by 42.66% compared to the previous year, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
Poultry prices, previously between 2,000 to 2,600 pesos, skyrocketed to 7,000 pesos or more following the removal of price caps. A liter of cooking oil now sells for 6,000 pesos or higher, and a carton of 30 eggs has surpassed 4,300 pesos in certain areas. In this context, spending 1,700 pesos on a purely decorative pumpkin is not just a purchase; it's an act of bravery or madness.
Halloween in Havana: Real-Life Horror
This year's Halloween in Havana brought its own kind of terror. Young people dressed as the Joker, a nun, and a doctor gathered in private cultural venues like El Proyecto in El Vedado, amidst a 30-hour blackout. In Cuba, Halloween scares don't come in costumes—they appear in electricity bills, market prices, and in the ever-devaluating peso.
Sardiñas has been using Chequera to humorously highlight the Cuban crisis for months. Recently, he shared a video describing his neighborhood, Arroyo Arenas, as a "tribe" without electricity, internet, or gas, where cooking with wood is the norm—a clip that reached tens of thousands of views.
In mid-September, he comically reacted with exaggerated fear to "paranormal" items: a bottle of cooking oil, a small gas cylinder, and a water tank... He also satirized the rising price of chicken with the line, "They raised the chicken's salary too. That's what I call equality," capturing the absurdity of wage increases amid rampant inflation.
Furthermore, another skit depicted him attempting to turn a food tray into an antenna to "tune in" to a food signal, which garnered over 334,000 views.
The comments on the pumpkin video reveal users recognizing the genuine fear and horror inflicted by Cuba's prices. In 2026 Cuba, where over 90% of the population lacks adequate food access according to the Food Monitor Program, true fear requires no costume, pumpkins, or Halloween celebration.
The pumpkin video amassed nearly 30,000 views and over 2,000 likes within hours, reaffirming Chequera as one of the most insightful and relatable humorists capturing the essence of life in Cuba, where even the 31st of October comes with a luxury price tag.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges
What is the minimum wage in Cuba?
As of July 2026, the minimum wage in Cuba is 3,210 pesos per month.
Why is the cost of living in Cuba so high?
The high cost of living in Cuba is due to inflation, removal of price caps on essential goods, and an economic crisis that has led to severe shortages and skyrocketing prices.
How does inflation affect Cuban citizens?
Inflation in Cuba significantly reduces purchasing power, making basic goods and services increasingly unaffordable for the average citizen.