A Cuban woman known on TikTok as @yanelasinfiltro recently shared a video highlighting the harsh reality of Cuba's purchasing power crisis. In the video, she reveals what she was able to buy with 10,500 Cuban pesos during a typical shopping trip.
On Wednesday, she displayed nine items: two packets of detergent, each costing 1,000 pesos; a bottle of mayonnaise priced at 1,000 pesos; a can of condensed milk for 550 pesos; a bottle of lemon juice at 1,500 pesos; two bottles of oil priced at 1,450 and 1,350 pesos respectively; and a 400-gram package of chocolate for 1,400 pesos.
Yanela enumerated the items in front of the camera: "Two packets of detergent at 1,000 pesos each, a bottle of mayonnaise for 1,000 pesos, condensed milk at 550 pesos, this lemon juice for 1,500 pesos, and two bottles of oil, one for 1,450 pesos and the other for 1,350."
Her purchase lacked basic staples like meat, rice, and beans, consisting instead of cleaning products, condiments, and a treat.
The 10,500 pesos spent equate to roughly 19 dollars at the current informal exchange rate, which hovers around 550 pesos per dollar.
Perhaps most striking is the comparison with the average Cuban income: the 10,500 pesos exceed the average monthly salary of a worker in Cuba, which according to the National Office of Statistics and Information was 6,930 pesos in 2025, equivalent to about 13 or 15 dollars at the informal exchange rate.
The minimum pension in Cuba is only 4,000 pesos per month, less than half of what Yanela spent on her shopping.
Such videos have become a recurring trend on TikTok, where Cubans document their shopping experiences to highlight the gap between wages and prices. In February, another TikToker showed that 10,000 pesos could buy rice, beans, sugar, powdered milk, oil, sausages, detergent, and soap, completely exhausting the funds. This month, another Cuban showcased a "mini shopping" trip for basic food items that cost 3,875 pesos, more than 56% of the average monthly salary.
The broader economic context further exacerbates the situation: according to the Food Monitor Program, the monthly basic basket for two people in Havana exceeds 41,000 pesos, while the average salary covers less than 20% of that amount.
The Cuban peso has suffered a devaluation of nearly 48% against the dollar over the past year, and inflation between 2024 and 2026 has soared beyond 200% according to independent estimates. This economic spiral turns every shopping trip into a survival exercise for millions of Cuban families.
Cuban Economy and Purchasing Power
What did the Cuban woman buy with 10,500 pesos?
She purchased two packets of detergent, a bottle of mayonnaise, a can of condensed milk, a bottle of lemon juice, two bottles of oil, and a package of chocolate.
How does the average salary in Cuba compare to the cost of basic goods?
The average monthly salary in Cuba is 6,930 pesos, which is below the cost of many basic goods, illustrating the significant gap between income and expenses.
Why have TikTok videos documenting Cuban shopping experiences become popular?
These videos have gained popularity as they document and expose the growing disparity between wages and the high cost of living in Cuba.