My family and I explored Cuba for two weeks over winter break 2016 but I did not bring enough money so we learned how to survive in Cuba the way the locals do. The average Cuban makes 30 CUC per month. This is equal to $35. The average tourist spends close to $100 per day in Cuba. How can that be? There are two currencies. The CUP (also known as Moneda Nacional) is the currency that most Cubans use. There are 24 CUP to 1 CUC. Cubans use CUP for food, transportation, and rent. Tourists end up mostly in establishments that take only CUC. These include restaurants, taxis, and lodgings. These are the same basic necessities the Cubans must access to survive. Same objectives in two parallel worlds.

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