A Cuban woman living in Trinidad, located in the province of Sancti Spíritus, captured the essence of the island's food crisis with a phrase that resonated widely: "Everything is available, but not for everyone."
The creator of these videos, Mirelis Dapresa, was responding to social media comments labeling Cubans as "crybabies" for complaining about shortages when markets seemed stocked with goods.
The initial video, filmed on June 13 in front of an informal market next to a karaoke bar in Trinidad, quickly amassed nearly 238,000 views and over 4,600 reactions.
"Everything is available, but not for everyone. Prices, not just at the karaoke but everywhere, are exorbitant. So don't assume that the abundance of food you see is accessible to everyone," Dapresa declared in her first video.
Economic Disparity in Food Access
The prices at that market on June 13 underscored her point: white cheese was selling for 400 to 500 Cuban pesos (CUP) per pound, pork was between 750 and 800 CUP—down from 850 CUP the previous week—rice prices were climbing, and malanga was virtually absent.
In a follow-up video posted on June 14, Dapresa elaborated on who can actually afford to shop in these markets: "Most of the people who manage to buy at the karaoke receive financial support from relatives or friends abroad, helping their families here because otherwise, they wouldn't be able to eat."
The Struggle to Meet Basic Needs
The statistics are telling. Cuba's official average salary in 2025 was 6,930 CUP, roughly equivalent to 12 to 15 dollars at the informal exchange rate. A study cited in June 2026 estimated that one needs 96,060 CUP monthly to meet basic needs, about 14 times the average salary.
A basic shopping trip at a Cuban fair on June 4 cost 21,060 CUP, over three times the nation's average monthly salary. In Havana, the basic basket for two people exceeds 41,000 CUP per month, with the average wage covering less than 20% of that amount.
Dapresa also countered the argument that food access inequality is normal globally: "In most parts of the world, there are multiple options. When someone can't get anything, it's often because they're extremely unlucky," she sarcastically quoted her critics before debunking their reasoning.
A Deepening Divide
Her sharpest criticism targeted the official rhetoric of the Cuban regime: "They always claimed to have fought against social inequality."
The gap Dapresa describes has widened since the 2021 reforms that legalized small and medium-sized private enterprises. An analysis by Cuban sociologists, cited by EFE on May 25, 2026, indicates that the "polycrisis" in Cuba has exacerbated inequalities along economic, racial, territorial, generational, and gender lines.
Meanwhile, in Sancti Spíritus—the province where Dapresa resides—reports in June 2026 highlighted the arrival of donations including rice, sugar, peas, and children's compotes due to shortages in state-run stores, sparking bitter reactions among Cubans: "The Mipymes are stocked with goods and dollar stores are also full," users wrote on social media.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges
What does Mirelis Dapresa highlight about food availability in Cuba?
Mirelis Dapresa points out that while food is available in markets, it is not accessible to everyone due to high prices, limiting access to those who receive external financial support.
How have economic reforms affected social inequality in Cuba?
Economic reforms since 2021, which legalized small and medium private enterprises, have deepened social inequalities across economic, racial, and generational lines in Cuba.
What are the challenges in meeting basic needs in Cuba?
Cuban citizens face significant challenges in meeting basic needs due to salaries that are far below what is required to cover essential expenses, with average wages covering only a fraction of necessary costs.