"Cuban Voices Concerns Over Rising Living Costs in Miami: 'This Is Just the Start; It's Going to Get Worse'"

A Cuban man has ignited a heated debate on TikTok with a video where he harshly criticizes the escalating cost of living in Miami. Known on the platform as @xmen_coco, he records his message from a Miami street, highlighting the drastic economic decline. "I just filled up my gas tank at $4 a gallon, and I can't believe people are still blind to the fact that this country is going downhill, that everything is getting terrible," he begins.

Throughout his video, he emphasizes that prices are spiraling out of control, and the quality of life has significantly diminished. "A two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment costs $3,000. You need to gather the whole family, cousins, nephews, everyone to live together because it's too difficult for one person alone," he notes. He insists that the situation is bound to worsen: "This is just the beginning; it's going to get worse."

He also criticizes food prices: "Groceries are insanely overpriced, and you'll spend $400 or $500 at the market." While he admits that "it will always be better than Cuba," he stresses that those who lived in Miami between 2017 and 2018 know that "things are really tough right now."

The young man argues that even higher salaries fail to cover basic expenses: "Earning $20 an hour is pointless, it doesn't cover costs. Earning $30 an hour is pointless, it doesn't cover costs." He adds, "Gas prices are sky-high, food prices are sky-high, and many people are living under bridges—there's nothing, no money, it's suffocating."

Later in the video, he warns, "People with jobs are living under bridges," concluding with a call to action: "Things are going to get worse. So get your act together. Leave Miami, it's burning up here."

The video sparked a wave of reactions on TikTok, mostly critical. Comments like "Go back to Cuba," "Shut up, clown," and "Why don't you go to Cuba?" were common. Many accused him of being a "crybaby" and linked his discontent to a political change of heart, with remarks such as "Weren't you a Trump fan, haha?" and "Enjoy what you voted for, you fool."

Some questioned his credibility, noting he had recently claimed to be in Canada. Questions like "Weren't you in Canada?" and "Did you get a visa to go to Canada or not?" were frequently asked. Others mocked his accent or manner of speaking: "Can someone translate what this little Cuban said? I didn't understand a thing."

However, there were those who supported his testimony. "You're clear and honest," one user wrote. Another commented: "Very true, it's not just Miami that's bad," while someone else valued his honesty with a succinct "Truths." One user defended his right to speak out: "We are lucky to live in a country where you can say what you think. No one has to leave for expressing their feelings. They did that in Cuba."

The young man's account adds to a series of recent viral posts where other Cubans have shared their struggles to make ends meet in Miami. Earlier this year, user @orlycastillo1401 claimed that living in the city was "unsustainable," paying $1,600 for a small room with only one day off a week. "No one can live in Miami," he said.

In another instance, a young woman living in Miami Lakes explained that despite sharing a home, her rent, utilities, internet, and other expenses exceeded $1,800 monthly. "You can't live in Miami on $1,400," she asserted.

Official figures confirm these testimonies. According to a Redfin report, the average rent in Miami was $2,373 in December 2024. To afford that rent, an annual income of nearly $95,000 would be required, while the actual average income in the city was just $57,157. Miami remains one of the most expensive cities in the country.

In March, user @dianelarodrgz claimed that "the cheapest efficiency costs you $1,500 and it's a shoebox." Her video also went viral. Another Cuban complained about paying $1,200 for a small space without a kitchen, saying, "What do you think is in the closet? A fridge with a microwave on top." This situation also sparked outrage.

These statements, like those from @xmen_coco, not only depict an increasingly challenging economic reality but also reopen the debate about immigrants' expectations and the tension between quality of life, financial stability, and the desire to stay close to the Cuban community in South Florida.