A Cuban woman residing in Limonar, a municipality within Matanzas, shared a video on Facebook detailing the staggering expense of transporting her mother to a medical appointment at the Faustino Pérez Provincial Hospital, located in the main city. The total cost for the day amounted to a hefty 5,200 Cuban pesos, solely for transportation.
The video, created by a woman named Yaima, describes each segment of the roughly 14-mile journey from her hometown to the hospital. The trip required three transfers: the first was a ride from Limonar to Peñas Altas costing 800 pesos per person, followed by an electric cart to a nearby high school for 250 pesos, and finally, a truck ride to the hospital for an additional 150 pesos.
Return Trip and Financial Strain
Returning home proved equally costly. "We found a car to Peñas Altas, which cost us 400 pesos each. The sun was blazing hot in Peñas Altas, and I felt like I was melting until a vehicle appeared, charging us 1,000 pesos per person," Yaima recounts in the video, which has garnered nearly 177,000 views.
"In total, we spent 5,200 pesos just on transportation," she concludes, summarizing the financial burden of the journey.
The Economic Impact on Cuban Families
This expense is overwhelming when compared to the actual earnings of Cubans. The average monthly salary in Cuba is approximately 6,930 pesos, which is equivalent to just 12 or 13 US dollars at the informal exchange rate. This means the single trip consumed around 75% of a typical worker's monthly income.
The minimum wage, set at 3,210 pesos, wouldn't even cover this one trip. Last month, a Cuban economist estimated that meeting basic needs requires about 96,060 pesos monthly, roughly 14 times the average salary.
Challenges in Public Transportation
The collapse of public transportation has forced Cubans to rely on private options, regardless of the cost. As of September 2025, public transport in Matanzas was operating at less than half capacity, with only 63 of 129 buses in service.
In June of this year, private electric tricycles in the province doubled their fares, driven by the black market fuel price, which reached 6,000 pesos per liter.
The reason for the journey was an ophthalmology consultation: Yaima's mother suffers from severe myopia with very cloudy vision and requires surgery, as Yaima noted, praising the medical care they received: "The doctors who attended to us today were spectacular, providing excellent care."
The Harsh Reality of Cuban Healthcare
The irony is stark: while the Cuban healthcare system offers free consultations, the breakdown of public transport turns each medical visit into a potential month's wage expense.
Instead of easing the situation, the regime announced in June 2026 the gradual removal of transportation subsidies as part of a package of 176 economic measures, predicting further price increases for those with no choice but to pay.
The High Cost of Healthcare Transportation in Cuba
How much does the average Cuban earn monthly?
The average monthly salary in Cuba is approximately 6,930 pesos, equivalent to about 12 or 13 US dollars at the informal exchange rate.
Why do Cubans rely on private transportation?
Due to the collapse of public transportation, with less than half of the buses in service, Cubans are forced to depend on private transportation despite its high costs.
What are the economic challenges faced by Cubans?
Cubans face significant economic challenges, including high costs of living and transportation that far exceed their average earnings, making it difficult to meet basic needs.