HAVANA (AP) — Until recently, the space was the one-car garage of a private home in Cuba’s capital, Havana. Yet despite their modest setup, their prices are far from affordable, even for a doctor or a teacher, who make about 7,000 Cuban pesos a month (about $28 in the parallel market). Political Cartoons View All 1247 ImagesFor example, one kilo (2.2 pounds) of powdered milk from the Czech Republic costs 2,000 Cuban pesos (about $8). “I retired with 2,200 (Cuban pesos a month or $8.80) last year and I can’t even buy a package of chicken," she said. The novelty is that the small shops like the one in Vedado and bigger bodegas like the “Cuban Costco” are entirely private and accept payments in Cuban pesos.

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