A video shared on Facebook by user Alianis Leyva starkly illustrates what a newly graduated educator in Cuba can purchase with their monthly paycheck: a small basket of six basic items that, in total, costs more than their entire monthly earnings.
In the video, the creator breaks down the prices found in the informal market: a carton of eggs costs 4,300 pesos, a pound of beans is priced at 500 pesos, a kilogram of rice sells for 850 pesos, four pounds of potatoes are 1,000 pesos, six green plantains are 300 pesos, and four pounds of yuca cost 200 pesos.
The sum of these expenses is 7,150 pesos, while a freshly graduated teacher earns a monthly salary of just 7,035 pesos.
“An education graduate earns 7,035 pesos a month, and I spent 7,150 on this purchase. Recently, there was a salary increase. Depending on accumulated years of service and specialties, some may earn slightly more,” Leyva explains.
The conclusion is indisputable: a full month of work is insufficient for a teacher to afford even this minimal basket of goods.
"As you can see, the only thing that might last for a few days are the eggs, and that depends on how many people live in the household," the author adds.
In July 2026, the regime approved a salary increase for the teaching sector through Resolution 18/2026 by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. This set the base salary for teachers with higher education at 7,735 pesos monthly, those with a higher technical level at 6,740 pesos, and those with a medium level at 6,130 pesos, effective from July 1 with payment in August.
However, the nominal pay raise fails to stand up against the harsh reality of the informal market, where the monthly basic basket for one person is estimated to cost over 100,000 pesos, according to calculations by Javier Pérez Capdevila, an expert in economic sciences.
At the informal exchange rate of roughly 722 pesos per dollar recorded this Thursday, the maximum salary for a teacher with a medium level amounts to just 8.49 dollars per month.
The irony circulating on Cuban social media following the announcement of the salary increase summed up the public sentiment: "Now you can buy the carton of eggs and the oil in the same month."
The wage crisis is compounded by systematic non-payments in several provinces. Teachers in Camagüey reported in July that they had gone two months without pay, with the only official response being that "there is no money."
In August, teacher María Luisa Casal Castillo from Urbano Noris, Holguín, publicly addressed Díaz-Canel on her Facebook page: "We haven't been paid since May."
By mid-September, dozens of teachers in Santiago de Cuba waited for hours at the Heredia Theater, unable to withdraw their salaries in cash due to a malfunction in the bank system set up for payment.
The Cuban educational system also faces a significant shortage of at least 24,000 teachers —12.5% of the teaching positions— at the start of the 2026-2027 school year, leaving over 380,000 students without an assigned lead teacher, a result of the migratory exodus and the shift to the private sector.
Frequently Asked Questions on Cuban Teacher Salaries
What is the monthly salary of a newly graduated teacher in Cuba?
A newly graduated teacher in Cuba earns a monthly salary of 7,035 pesos.
What can a Cuban teacher afford with their monthly salary?
With their monthly salary, a Cuban teacher can afford a small basket of basic items that costs more than their entire earnings, making it difficult to sustain themselves and their families.
What are the challenges faced by the Cuban education system?
The Cuban education system faces challenges such as a significant teacher shortage, systematic non-payments, and the inability of teachers to cover basic living expenses with their salaries.