Prices in Cuba: What can a retired Cuban buy with the current average salary?

The price of food in Cuba continues to strain pockets, especially for those living on low pensions or middle incomes.

Let's take a figure of $1800 pesos, although there are many grandparents who receive much less than this as a pension. Well, today, with a pension of 1800 Cuban pesos, or even with the average monthly salary, estimated by the ONEI at 5839 pesos, the options are limited compared to the real cost of the most common foods.unes.

See the updated price list in Cuba here.

A pension of 1800 pesos: How many meals is that enough for?

With that figure, a Cuban retiree couldn't even cover the basics of a diet. If one tried to buy a carton of eggs (30 eggs), which cost between 2000 and 2500 pesos, their pension wouldn't be enough. One couldn't even afford one.

If the retiree decided to spend 1800 pesos on rice, he could buy approximately 6 to 11 pounds, depending on whether he gets it at 155 or 300. CUP per pound. That alone, and nothing else, would drain all his money.

Another option would be oil, an essential product but also prohibitive: a liter costs between 700 and 1500 CUPWith his pension, he could buy only one or, at best, two liters.

Pork, which is around 800 to 1000 CUP per pound, it would only allow you to buy a little over two pounds. If you opt for something more economical like ground pork (300 CUP/lb), could take six pounds.

And with the average salary of 5839 pesos?

The situation is improving, but there is still concerncupbefore. With that monthly income you could, for example:

• Buy two cartons of eggs if you get them for 2500 CUP.

• Buy about 19 pounds of rice for 300 CUP/lb, or almost 38 pounds if you find it at 155 CUP.

• Buy three liters of oil for 1500 CUP/liter, or up to eight if you get the cheapest one at 700 CUP.

If you wanted to combine food for a month, a modest basket of essentials could include:

• 5 pounds of rice: 1500 CUP

• 2 pounds of beans: 700 CUP

• 1 liter of oil: 1200 CUP

• 1 carton of eggs: 2500 CUP

Total: 5900 CUP. He has already exceeded his salary.

Eating is only part of the expense

The average Cuban not only has to feed himself. He also has to pay for electricity, water, liquefied gas, transportation, and telephone service. He also has to deal with the high cost of medicines and toiletries such as soap, detergent, toothpaste, and sanitary pads, which in many cases are only available on the informal market or in hard currency stores.

For example, a bottle of shampoo can cost more than 500 pesos, and a toothpaste exceeds 300. If you have to buy medicines, a basic antibiotic in private pharmacies can exceed 1000. CUPElectricity bills, depending on consumption, range from 300 to 700 pesos per month or more.

All of this turns daily life into a series of juggling acts for thousands of Cuban families, who must choose between feeding themselves or paying for other basic services.

The exchange context

The Cuban peso continues to lose value, further worsening the situation. On the informal market, the dollar is hovering around 310. CUP and the euro exceeds 330 CUPThis directly influences domestic prices, as many MSMEs and vendors set their prices based on these currencies.

Reality is suffocating

At current prices, a pension of 1800 pesos barely covers one or two essential items. The average salary also isn't enough to cover a complete basic food basket. And when you add living expenses beyond food, the situation is bordering on impossible for millions of Cubans.