In eastern Cuba, bus terminals paint a misleading picture: vehicles such as trucks and buses are available, yet they remain nearly empty. This isn't due to an improvement in transport services—it's because Cubans lack the financial means to afford these rides.
José Daniel Ferrer García, the founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and currently exiled in Miami, highlighted this reality in a video shared on Facebook this past Monday. He referenced an activist's firsthand account of traveling from Bayamo to Campechuela, accompanied by images depicting a sparsely populated terminal in Bayamo with several trucks and a bus.
"You might think transportation has improved. The truth is the population isn't moving, traveling, or going anywhere because they can't afford the transport costs," Ferrer García explained, quoting the activist.
The financial burden is clear. Traveling by truck from Bayamo to Manzanillo costs 2,000 pesos on the informal market. This is nearly as much as the newly increased minimum monthly wage of 3,210 pesos, which was adjusted in July, barely covering such a trip and leaving little for other expenses.
"Imagine this: 2,000 pesos for a truck from Bayamo to Manzanillo. In a country where the minimum wage, recently raised in July, stands at 3,210 pesos," Ferrer García emphasized.
The situation worsens with longer journeys, such as from Santiago de Cuba to Havana. According to the video testimonies, this less-than-900-kilometer trip costs between 5,000 and 6,000 pesos by truck. This is nearly double the minimum wage and comparable to the monthly salary of a recently graduated doctor, which is around 7,000 pesos.
"Heading to Santiago de Cuba, another passenger tells me, is 6,000 pesos, or 5,000 if you're lucky. That's almost double the minimum wage for a trip less than 200 kilometers," said the activist, although the true distance between these cities exceeds 800 kilometers.
The impact on the most vulnerable sectors is profound. A newly graduated doctor barely earns enough to cover the cost of a single interprovincial ticket, and pensioners find themselves completely unable to afford any travel.
"A pensioner could never travel from Santiago to Havana. A pensioner can't even afford the trip from Bayamo to Santiago," Ferrer García asserted.
This grim scenario is exacerbated by the Cuban state's drastic reduction of public transport options throughout 2026. National buses between Havana and provincial capitals have reduced their frequency from daily to three times a week. Routes such as Baracoa, Manzanillo, and Moa now only have one weekly departure, and trains to the east operate every 16 days. Informal private transport steps in to fill the gap, but at prices that most cannot afford.
Official annual inflation in Cuba reached 25.19% in August 2026, with transportation among the most affected sectors, showing nearly a 24% year-over-year increase in June.
The wage increase in July—from 2,100 to 3,210 pesos, a nominal rise of 53%—has not altered the financial dynamics. The regime itself has acknowledged that the new minimum wage does not meet basic living needs.
"Under these conditions, transportation hasn't improved; it's just so expensive that almost no one is willing to travel," Ferrer García concluded.
Understanding Cuba's Transportation and Economic Challenges
Why is transportation in Cuba unaffordable for most citizens?
The cost of transportation in Cuba far exceeds the average citizen's income, with trips costing nearly as much as or more than the minimum monthly wage. This economic disparity makes it difficult for many to afford necessary travel.
How has the Cuban government adjusted public transport in recent years?
In 2026, the Cuban government significantly reduced the frequency of public transport services, with many routes seeing a drop from daily to weekly services, and some train routes operating only every 16 days.
What has been the impact of inflation on transportation in Cuba?
Inflation in Cuba has reached over 25%, with transportation being one of the most affected sectors. This has resulted in significant price increases, making travel unaffordable for many citizens.