Miami, United States. – A recent article published Tuesday by the Russian media RUNEWS24 dismantle the extended idea among some citizens of the Euroasy country that moving to Cuba can represent a paradisiacal retirement at low cost. Under the title “Paradise in a hut?the report concludes that surviving with an average pension of 250 dollars per month is unfeasible for any foreigner without other sources of income.
“What can one imagine upon hearing the word ‘Cuba’? Turquoise sea, golden sand, tropical fruits and smiling people,” says the article. “But is it worth believing in those rumors? Let’s see what a Russian pensioner can really afford on that Caribbean island.”
One of the first barriers indicated is The house. Unlike Cuban citizens, foreigners have no right to free properties or access to the state housing network. Since 2011, real estate property is only allowed for those who have legal residence on the island, a difficult status to achieve if a Cuban citizen is not married.
Meanwhile, rentals range between $ 140 and $ 500 depending on the quality of the property, which also must be added between 60 and 80 dollars in basic services. “At this point many begin to realize that an average pension is not enough,” warns the text.
The food Nor is it economical. According to the report, a dozen eggs can cost up to nine dollars, a liter of milk 19 and a half kilo of rice $ 1.7. “The minimum basic basket costs $ 113 per month per person. If transport, internet, clothing and hygiene products are added, monthly spending exceeds $ 190,” said an expatriate quoted in the article.
Although state transport is cheap, it is usually chaotic and inefficient. In practice, many opt for taxis or shared vehicles, with an estimated monthly expense of at least $ 11. But the biggest obstacle is in Internet access, which the article qualifies as “a real luxury” with basic connection packages that can cost up to 70 dollars per month.
To all this are added medical expenses. Although health care is free for Cubans, foreigners must pay for each service. “A medical consultation costs $ 120, a day of hospitalization 40, and a complete check up to 515,” says the article, which also warns about the generalized shortage of medicines. In addition, visitors must hire medical insurance with monthly rates that vary between 50 and 100 dollars.
The possibility of residing permanently also represents a challenge. Russian citizens can remain in Cuba up to 90 days without visa, but beyond that period, they must briefly leave the country and re -enter or process special visas difficult to obtain. “The most popular option is the ‘tourist scheme’: 90 days in Cuba, fast exit to another nearby country and re -entry. Tired, expensive, but it works,” explains the report.
In her conclusions, the author of the article, Vlada Krapivina, estimates that a minimally comfortable life for a foreigner in Cuba would require between $ 700 and $ 1,000 per month. A sum far above the average pension in Russia. “Theoretically you can survive with a pension if one lives on the outskirts of a town, eat the most basic, relies on the neighbors, forget about the internet and pray not to get sick,” he quotes the text as a testimony of a retiree who settled on the island.
The article ends with a clear warning: “Cuba remains an excellent destination for a two -week vacation, where your charms can be enjoyed without facing daily hardness. But before luggage, think well if the promised paradise will not become a expensive illusion and difficult to sustain.”
