A resident from Camagüey caused a stir on social media Saturday night after she revealed the staggering price of an onion in her city: 400 Cuban pesos for just one onion, and 1,200 pesos for a pound of white onions, on Facebook.
Yanisleidys Ulloa shared her ordeal, explaining how she set out to buy some seasonings, only to be shocked into reconsideration when she heard the price. "400 PESOS FOR A SINGLE ONION! And white onions at 1,200 pesos per pound. No way, I'm not buying seasonings at those prices!" she exclaimed.
She further lamented, "I don't know what we're going to have to invent to flavor our food because, at this rate, we'll have to cook with just the memory of seasonings."
Skyrocketing Prices Across Provinces
People from various provinces shared their own shocking experiences, with prices far exceeding any official estimates. In Havana, one person warned that the situation was even worse: "And that's cheap, here in Havana it's already 2,000 pesos per pound, meaning one white onion and the purple ones are 1,400." Another simply stated, "In Havana, 1,200 per pound for either. Horrible."
In Holguín, a pound of three onions was selling for 1,500 pesos—around 500 each—though another commenter from the same province reported a price of 2,000 pesos per pound. In Colón, Matanzas, white onions reached 1,500 pesos per pound, while in the city of Matanzas, they hit 2,000. In Pinar del Río and Las Tunas, reports indicated prices ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 pesos per pound. Within Camagüey itself, another person noted prices between 600 and 1,200 pesos, with a small cup of peppers at 350 and a head of garlic at 100.
Onions: A Luxury Item in Cuba
Onions have nearly become a luxury item in Cuba. "Five onions cost you a month's salary," one user commented. Another added, "You go out with your salary and can't even fill a small bag, and if we talk about rice, it's another ordeal." The average monthly salary in Cuba is about 7,354 pesos, which is less than $10 at the informal exchange rate.
Historical Context of Price Hikes
Earlier in October, a woman in Havana displayed a small onion priced at 610 pesos, mentioning that a pound reached 1,700 pesos. Back in April, another person reported prices of up to 900 pesos for a single onion in private street carts. By September 2025, data from the National Office of Statistics and Information already placed Camagüey among the provinces with the highest prices, ranging from 1,000 to 1,375 pesos per pound.
According to the ONEI, the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages saw an annual increase of 42.66% by September 2026. Just last week, a neighborhood market in Sagua de Tánamo, Holguín, was selling chicken at 900 pesos per pound and a carton of eggs for 3,500 pesos.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rising Food Prices in Cuba
What is causing the high price of onions in Cuba?
The high prices are largely attributed to economic instability, supply chain disruptions, and inflation, exacerbated by the communist regime's policies.
How do onion prices compare across different Cuban provinces?
Prices vary significantly, with Camagüey reporting 1,200 pesos per pound, while Havana sees prices as high as 2,000 pesos for the same quantity.
What is the average monthly salary in Cuba?
The average monthly salary in Cuba is approximately 7,354 pesos, which is less than $10 when converted at the informal exchange rate.