In a stark revelation, a woman from Ciego de Ávila shared her expenses for traveling to Havana for a visa interview with Mexico. Her calculations shed light on a harsh truth faced by those needing to travel across Cuba: a one-day trip can easily consume several months' worth of wages.
Content creator @SoyBryhtney broke down her expenses for transportation, accommodation, and meals in a Facebook video, detailing her journey to attend a consular appointment in the Cuban capital.
The fare from Ciego de Ávila to Havana alone cost her 15,000 Cuban pesos (CUP). Returning required another 15,000 CUP, totaling 30,000 CUP solely for transport.
Adding to this were lodging expenses of 8,500 CUP for a night at a private residence. "I arrived at 1 PM on the 7th and left at noon on the 8th," she elaborated in the video.
She also spent 1,500 CUP on food during the journey, buying a pork sandwich and a juice can.
All in all, traveling to Havana, staying overnight, and having some food cost her about 40,000 CUP, which translates to approximately $57.55, given an informal exchange rate of around 695 CUP to the dollar.
Examining the Financial Burden
The expenditure takes on a different significance when compared to Cuban workers' earnings.
As of July 1, 2026, the minimum wage in Cuba is set at 3,210 CUP per month, while the average state salary is about 7,074 CUP. This means that the roughly 40,000 CUP spent by the young woman equals more than five times the average monthly salary and over twelve times the minimum wage.
The 30,000 CUP for transportation alone equates to more than four times the average state worker's salary.
This situation highlights one of the harshest contradictions of Cuba's economic crisis: to perform a task that can only be completed in Havana, residents from other provinces might be forced to spend in mere hours what would take them months to earn on a state salary.
Transportation Woes Amid Economic Turmoil
The price isn't the only hurdle. Cuba is experiencing a severe interprovincial transportation crisis, characterized by fuel shortages, an aging fleet of vehicles, and drastically reduced service frequencies.
Since June 18, 2026, national buses between Havana and provincial capitals operate only three times a week, instead of daily.
In some areas, the situation is even more complicated. In Villa Clara, for instance, passengers must obtain authorization from provincial commissions to access certain bus or train trips.
In early August, the Ministry of Transportation announced that national bus tickets would once again be sold at physical agencies with only three days' notice. However, this measure doesn't increase available frequencies or alleviate the transportation burden on families' incomes.
The Essential, Yet Costly, Trip to the Capital
@SoyBryhtney's reason for traveling adds another layer to the issue.
Thousands of Cubans from outside Havana must travel to the capital for consular and immigration matters, as most foreign diplomatic missions are concentrated there and lack provincial offices.
This necessity adds interprovincial transport, meals, and, depending on the appointment time, at least one night's accommodation to the cost of any task.
The young woman's video has surpassed 27,000 views and sparked numerous comments, highlighting how her experience resonates with a daily struggle for those needing to travel for procedures, medical appointments, work-related issues, or simply to visit family.
Options are not within everyone's reach. Viazul, the bus service primarily aimed at tourists, has required payment in euros and by card since May 2025, conditions that are prohibitive for many island residents.
This all unfolds in a nation where economist Javier Pérez Capdevila estimates the basic monthly cost per person exceeds 96,000 CUP, with more than 70,000 CUP solely for food.
In this context, the nearly 40,000 CUP spent by @SoyBryhtney was not for a vacation or luxury. It was the price of traveling to Havana, staying overnight, eating a pork sandwich, and returning home after completing a consular task.
Her story quantifies a growing reality in Cuba: for many citizens, traveling between provinces is no longer a routine journey but has become a significant financial burden.
Understanding the Cost of Interprovincial Travel in Cuba
Why is traveling within Cuba so expensive?
Traveling within Cuba is costly due to high transportation fares, limited service frequencies, and additional expenses for food and lodging. The economic crisis, fuel shortages, and deteriorating infrastructure exacerbate these costs.
What are the average incomes in Cuba compared to travel costs?
As of 2026, the minimum monthly wage in Cuba is 3,210 CUP, and the average state salary is around 7,074 CUP. A trip costing 40,000 CUP can equate to more than five average monthly salaries or over twelve minimum wages.
What challenges do Cubans face with transportation?
Cubans face challenges such as reduced bus services, fuel shortages, and the need for special authorizations for certain trips, making interprovincial travel both difficult and unpredictable.