Cuba’s Average Salary Rises to $16 Per Month, Can’t Cover Basic Needs

Despite an official increase in state salaries, the average income in Cuba remains far below what is needed to cover basic living expenses. According to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), the average state salary in 2024 rose by 25.6% to 5,839 Cuban pesos—approximately $48.60 USD at the official exchange rate.

However, when measured against the informal market rate of 363 pesos per U.S. dollar, used widely in private transactions, the real value of that salary drops to just $16 per month.

Even with the reported wage hike, Cuba’s formal inflation rate stands at 24.88%, limiting any meaningful gains in purchasing power. Independent economists note that a family of two would require more than four times the average salary to purchase a basic basket of 17 essential food products, making daily necessities increasingly unaffordable for many Cubans.

In the informal market, prices have surged and inflation may be reaching triple digits, according to experts .

Salary disparities also remain significant between sectors and regions. Regionally, La Habana leads with the highest average salary, while Santiago de Cuba lags behind, according to the official figures.

Professionals across sectors, including teachers and healthcare workers, continue to report that their monthly earnings are insufficient to cover even the most basic household needs. On social media, many have shared that an entire month’s salary might afford little more than a handful of minimal groceries, like a dozen eggs or a bag of charcoal for cooking.

This persistent economic strain has also contributed to a growing reluctance among young Cubans to pursue higher education, enter professional careers, or seek public-sector employment. Yet, in Cuba’s centrally planned economy, government jobs remain the dominant source of employment.

The country’s deepening economic challenges are driven primarily by the structure of its centralized socialist system, governed by the Communist Party of Cuba—the only legal political party. Decades of poor policy decisions, widespread corruption, and chronic neglect have left much of the population struggling to meet basic needs, while benefits continue to concentrate in the hands of a powerful elite, including top government and military officials.