Sort:  

can you expand on that?

Cuba is under a communist Dictatorship, 3.5k USD is the minimal cost of fly out to countries open to give refuge or political asylum to cubans.
Risky in some aspects, but is the cheaper and faster way.
Minimal wage here is 10 USD monthly.

Freedom As in the ability to do whatever you want whenever you want?

kind of, Cuba is under a communist Dictatorship so freedom in general is limited.