A Cuban mother, Yoly Miranda, took to Facebook to humorously yet candidly highlight the exorbitant prices she encountered during her visit to the Festival Pa'Cuba at the National Aquarium in Havana. Her video raises a crucial question: Are these costs truly affordable for the average Cuban family?
The most striking revelation was a stroller priced at an astounding 15,000 pesos. Miranda sarcastically remarked, "15,000 pesos for a stroller. Just when you thought the money transfer hangover was over." She and her child opted for the 1,000 peso version, which she described as "a tour shorter than the circuit your electricity covers."
The festival's aquatic park charged 3,000 pesos for 30 minutes, 10,000 pesos for two hours, or 30 dollars for an entire day. "And they say there are no water parks in Cuba—there are. You just have to sell a kidney first," Miranda quipped in her video. The waterslide was the only free attraction available.
Food Prices Leave Attendees in Shock
Gastronomy was no exception to the steep pricing: a pizza cost 1,350 pesos, two cups of fried rice were 2,000 pesos, and two servings of fish with rice and salad came to 3,500 pesos. "I'm still trying to figure out if these reasonable prices live in Cuba or fly in directly from Miami," she joked, alluding to the festival's portrayal as a "reasonably priced" family event.
The stark contrast with the island's economic reality is undeniable. The average monthly salary in Cuba is approximately 6,930 pesos, equating to about five to 13 dollars on the informal market. The minimum wage, raised to 3,210 pesos as of July 1, barely amounts to 4.65 dollars per month. A simple family outing to the festival—tickets, two meals, and two drinks—could easily exceed 10,000 pesos, more than 150% of the average monthly wage.
Festival Highlights and Economic Disparity
The Festival Pa'Cuba, orchestrated by Conex, a company under the Palco Business Group, took place from June 5 to July 19 at the National Aquarium, featuring around 100 private enterprises. Entry was priced at 150 pesos for adults and 50 pesos for children, marketed as the event's affordable option. Other reported prices included a pork sandwich for 1,000 pesos and skewers for 1,600 pesos.
Miranda was careful to mention that her video wasn't meant as a critique of the festival itself. "My intention with this video is not to criticize the event, because there are truly many beautiful things and the children have an amazing time. I just wanted to share my experience and spark a conversation about something many of us are discussing: Are these prices really within reach for Cuban families?" she wrote on Facebook.
In an additional note not included in her video, Miranda revealed there was a power outage affecting the National Electric System during her visit to the water park. "The SEN decided it wanted to attend the Festival Pa'Cuba too," she noted with sarcasm.
Despite all this, her child enjoyed the outing, which, she acknowledged, "is ultimately the most important part." Yet her closing question lingered: "Am I the one exaggerating, or are these prices completely out of touch with reality?"
Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges in Events
How do festival prices compare to the average Cuban salary?
Festival prices are significantly higher than the average Cuban salary. For instance, a family outing could cost over 10,000 pesos, which is more than 150% of the monthly average wage of 6,930 pesos.
What were some of the prices highlighted at the Festival Pa'Cuba?
The festival featured a stroller priced at 15,000 pesos, water park access costing up to 10,000 pesos for two hours, and food items like pizza and fish dishes priced between 1,350 and 3,500 pesos.