A video shared on social media by user Sisi Aguilera starkly illustrates the dual reality of commerce in Cuba: two stores in Havana, situated merely a few meters apart, yet they display radically different realities depending on the currency they operate in.
"What you're about to see will surprise you; two stores in Havana, side by side, that seem like two completely different countries," Aguilera comments in the video as she walks through both stores.
On the side of the store operating in Cuban pesos, the scene is bleak: a dimly lit space, scarce options, low-quality products, and prices that are still high compared to the average salary of most Cuban workers.
Conversely, the store accepting dollars boasts shelves overflowing with a variety of foods, cleaning supplies, beverages, and children's snacks. "Virtually everything," summarizes the video creator.
However, Aguilera pinpoints the core issue: "The hardest part isn't that such a store exists; the hardest part is that most Cubans earn their wages in pesos and don't have easy access to dollars, a currency that's becoming increasingly difficult to obtain."
Statistics back up this disparity. The average monthly salary in Cuba was 6,930 pesos in 2025, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information. With the informal dollar exchange rate at 685 pesos this Thursday, that salary amounts to just 10 to 12 dollars per month.
The gap between income and real needs is even wider. Economist Javier Pérez Capdevila estimates that covering the basic monthly basket requires about 96,060 pesos, roughly 14 times the average salary. It's estimated that between 80% and 90% of the population lacks real access to dollar stores.
This commercial model dates back to July 2020, when Miguel Díaz-Canel's regime opened 72 stores in Freely Convertible Currency to gather foreign exchange amid supply breakdowns. By May 2025, at least 85 establishments operated exclusively in dollars, while peso stores gradually emptied. In June of this year, Cubans reported chaos in MLC stores, accessible only to those with foreign currency.
Aguilera also highlights the general decline: "The economy is on the ground, many businesses are closing, more Cubans feel exhausted every day, both physically and emotionally. Diseases are upon us, stress consumes us, and uncertainty has become a routine part of life."
She dismantles the official rhetoric of "resistance": "Resistance doesn't fill a plate with food, it doesn't buy medicine, it doesn't provide a child with a glass of milk."
The video has amassed nearly 28,000 views and over 1,000 reactions, with dozens of comments from Cubans recognizing their own daily experience in these images.
"Cuba belongs to Cubans, and it's painful to see that many of the products a family needs are out of reach for those who live and work here," Aguilera concludes. "No matter how hard I try to understand it, I feel something is upside down, and that causes not only anger but deep sadness, a sadness increasingly visible on the faces of our people."
Understanding the Economic Divide in Cuba
What is the primary difference between peso and dollar stores in Havana?
Peso stores are characterized by scarcity and low-quality products, while dollar stores offer a wide variety of goods, reflecting a stark economic divide based on currency.
Why do most Cubans struggle to access dollar stores?
Most Cubans earn their wages in pesos and lack straightforward means to acquire dollars, which are increasingly difficult to obtain given the economic circumstances.
How has the Cuban government contributed to this economic situation?
The government established dollar-only stores to capture foreign currency, exacerbating the economic disparity and leaving peso-earning citizens facing scarcity.