The economic crisis in Cuba continues to produce unusual scenes such as charging 10 pesos for something as simple as lighting a cigarette in Havana, an offer that even surprised a woman who decided to pay to verify that the service was indeed being provided.
The post was made this Tuesday by Yulieta Hernández Díaz on , where she showcased the unusual charge and ended up providing more details in response to the disbelief of those who began to comment.
Hernández stated that she paid the 10 pesos herself after coming across the advertisement.
"Yes, I paid for it because I saw the sign and couldn't believe it. So I paid for the service to verify," he explained in one of his responses.
The publication quickly sparked a mix of surprise, humor, and criticism regarding how far people have gone in seeking ways to generate income amid the crisis.
"The entrepreneurship, based on necessity, is madness," wrote a user, who recalled the old saying: "In times of crying, sell handkerchiefs".
Another person joked, "Soon they'll charge you just for saying 'good morning,' even if you don't want to. In Havana, you can even buy a laugh."
The price also prompted jokes about the limited purchasing power of the national currency. «Ah, look at that, 10 Cuban pesos are good for something. I thought you couldn't do anything with that», commented a user.
New business unlocked, wrote another, while one internet user summarized with irony: "Long live the Cuban economy. Anything goes!".
There were also those who claimed to have witnessed similar situations.
A user claimed that they had recently found the same service among the offerings of a café.
Others approached the debate from the opposite side. A smoker shared that often several people ask him for a light when he is sitting in front of his house and questioned why someone who smokes regularly wouldn't carry matches or a lighter.
The fact that the service costs exactly 10 Cuban pesos is notable for another reason: this denomination has lost so much practical utility that in July several private businesses in Santiago de Cuba were reported for refusing to accept bills of one, five, ten, and twenty pesos, even though they remain legal tender.
On the other hand, the monetization of basic needs is not new either.
In October 2024, during several days of widespread power outages, in Havana they charged up to 200 pesos to charge a mobile phone using electric generators.
The lack of electricity had then created an informal market for basic services, ranging from battery recharging to the sale of drinking water.
Most recently, in August, the prolonged blackouts drove the sale of ice as a booming business in several areas of Cuba, with offerings ranging from full blocks to smaller quantities for those trying to preserve food and beverages.
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