Gasoline in Havana reaches 4,000 CUP per liter on the informal market, reports independent journalist

The price of gasoline in Cuba's informal market continues to surge amidst the deep energy crisis the country is experiencing.

According to the report by independent journalist Camila Acosta, a liter of fuel is now being sold in Havana for around 4,000 Cuban pesos (CUP), which is approximately equivalent to 8 dollars at the current informal exchange rate. 

“4,000 CUP (approximately 8 USD) per liter of gasoline in Havana; that’s in the black market, of course, otherwise, it’s almost impossible to find,” Acosta wrote in a message posted on the social network X. The journalist accompanied her post with a video recorded in the vicinity of El Curita Park in Havana, in March 2026.

According to their complaint, the price of fuel in the informal market now exceeds 30 dollars per gallon, a figure that reflects the severity of the shortages on the island.

The situation is particularly dramatic when compared to the income of the population. Acosta pointed out that the average salary in Cuba does not even reach 15 dollars per month, while pensions are around less than 6 dollars, according to the value of the Cuban peso against the U.S. dollar in the informal market.

With the dollar trading at around 513 CUP, a liter of gasoline costing 4,000 pesos represents more than half of the average monthly salary, making it practically impossible for many Cubans to afford fuel regularly.

The shortage of gasoline has become one of the most visible problems of the economic crisis the country is experiencing. In numerous cities, gas stations remain closed for days or weeks, while the lines to buy fuel stretch for hours when a supply finally arrives.

Due to the lack of supply in official channels, many drivers—from private transporters to citizens with personal vehicles—depend on the informal market to obtain fuel. This has led to a constant increase in prices and has also raised transportation costs within Havana and between provinces.

Acosta's complaint adds to the numerous testimonies from Cubans reporting that, in some places on the island, the price of gasoline is already being sold for between 7 and 8 dollars per liter, an unprecedented figure amid the ongoing energy crisis in the country.