The economic crisis in Cuba continues to leave 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 herself paid the 10 pesos after coming across the advertisement.
"Yes, I paid it because I saw the sign and couldn't believe it. So I paid for the service to confirm," he explained in one of his responses.
The publication quickly unleashed a mix of surprise, humor, and criticism regarding how far people have gone in their search for income amidst the crisis.
"The entrepreneurship, based on need, is madness," wrote a user, who recalled the old saying: "In times of sorrow, sell handkerchiefs."
Another person joked, "Soon they'll charge you just for saying 'good morning,' even if you don't want to. In Havana, even laughter is for sale."
The price also sparked jokes about the limited purchasing power of the national currency. «Oh, 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 ironically summarized: "Long live the Cuban economy. Everything goes!"
There were also those who claimed to have seen similar situations.
A user claimed that she had recently found the same service among the offerings of a café.
Others approached the debate from the opposite side. A smoker shared that frequently 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 precisely 10 Cuban pesos is noteworthy for another reason: that denomination has lost so much practical use that in July several private businesses in Santiago de Cuba were reported for refusing to accept bills of one, five, 10, and 20 pesos, despite the fact that they continue to be legal tender.
On the other hand, the monetization of basic needs is not new either.
In October 2024, during several days of widespread blackouts, in Havana, they charged up to 200 pesos to charge a mobile phone using electric generators.
The lack of electricity had therefore 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 business in various areas of Cuba, with offerings ranging from full blocks to small amounts for those attempting to preserve food and beverages.
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