A Cuban content creator highlighted on Wednesday the steep prices of a typical school snack on the island, revealing that a loaf of bread, a bar of guava paste, and a small packet of soda now exceed 500 pesos.
In a Facebook video, Alianis Leyva detailed the costs: bread priced at 250 pesos, guava paste at 350 pesos, and the soda roughly 100 pesos.
While she noted that the bread could be portioned for breakfast, a mid-morning snack, and another after school, and that the other items might last two days, she cautioned that for families with more than one child, it becomes "an almost impossible mission."
The video concluded with a poignant question: can salaries, which hover around 5,000 pesos, truly cover these expenses?
Rising Costs and Economic Strain
Leyva's calculation adds to a growing number of complaints about the escalating cost of feeding school-aged children in Cuba. Back in August, José E. González Marín estimated that providing 30 breakfasts and 30 snacks for a single child could cost over 10,000 pesos monthly, excluding lunch, transportation, clothing, and school supplies.
According to González, an average worker's salary would need to be entirely devoted to these two meals, with an additional 3,230 pesos required to make ends meet each month.
The National Office of Statistics and Information reported the average monthly salary in Cuba at 7,074 pesos as of April 2026. The minimum wage was raised to 3,210 pesos in July, yet food prices continue to soar beyond workers' earnings.
Policy Changes and Food Prices
The situation worsened following the Ministry of Finance and Prices' Resolution 150/2026, which removed price caps on essential imported foods like oil, sausages, chicken parts, powdered milk, and pasta in June.
Oil prices surged to between 4,000 and 7,000 pesos per liter, while sausages reached 1,200 pesos.
Recently, Cuban mothers took to social media to report that not even powdered drink packets were reliably available for school snacks.
"What will the children take for snack if there's not even bread with oil?" questioned Kenia Palacio in the group Madres Cubanas Luchadoras 2.
Challenges Within the Educational System
The situation is dire within schools. According to the World Food Program data released in August, 48.5% of Cuban students aged 6 to 11 receive no meal or snack at school.
In response, the organization launched an emergency initiative in July targeting 12,677 children across 74 schools in five eastern provinces.
The 2026-2027 school year began on September 1, amid daily power outages lasting over 20 hours and a shortfall of at least 24,000 teachers, representing 12.5% of the required positions. The previous school year ended early due to the energy crisis.
Economist Javier Pérez Capdevila estimated in June that an individual needs approximately 96,000 pesos monthly to meet basic needs in Cuba, with around 70,000 pesos required solely for food. This makes school snacks a luxury beyond the reach of most Cuban families.
FAQs on School Snack Costs in Cuba
How much does a typical school snack cost in Cuba?
A school snack comprising a loaf of bread, a bar of guava paste, and a small soda packet costs over 500 pesos in Cuba.
What are the implications of rising snack costs for Cuban families?
Rising snack costs place a significant financial burden on Cuban families, especially those with multiple children, making it challenging to afford basic school meals.
How has the removal of price caps affected food prices in Cuba?
The removal of price caps has led to soaring prices for essential imported foods, with items like oil and sausages reaching unprecedented costs.