Buying a new liquefied gas cylinder in Sancti Spíritus costs 80 dollars in cash, an amount equivalent to more than 22 minimum monthly salaries in Cuba. The state-owned company Unión Cuba-Petróleo (Cupet) has resumed sales in the city, but high prices and restrictions on accessing fuel make it difficult to obtain.
The information was verified by the independent newspaper 14ymedio, which documented the sale of new 20-pound gas cylinders, filled and with their accessories, at state-owned establishments.
The price represents an outlay of 71,200 Cuban pesos, using the informal exchange rate of 890 CUP per dollar as a reference recorded at the close of October 31, although the payment required by Cupet is in dollars.
To put that figure into perspective, the . A worker with that income would need to allocate over 22 full monthly salaries to gather the equivalent of the price of the cylinder, not taking into account their expenses for food, transportation, and other basic necessities.
The reopening of sales does not mean that gas can be purchased immediately. According to 14ymedio, Cupet sells it at three locations in Sancti Spíritus: its main office and outlets in the Colón and Los Olivos neighborhoods. Buyers must register on a waiting list and depend on product availability.
There is a more economical option, but it is not available to all consumers. At the establishment on Santa Elena Street, authorized customers can obtain gas for 55 dollars if they exchange an empty cylinder to be refilled. This service is reserved for healthcare workers, bank employees, and staff from certain authorized workplaces.
Even that option represents about 48,950 pesos at the mentioned informal exchange rate, which is equivalent to more than 15 minimum monthly salaries. Both conversions allow for a comparison of prices with incomes in national currency.
The resumption of sales comes after a year without regular state supply of liquefied gas. Sancti Spíritus had not had continuous state sales of liquefied gas since October 2025, a situation that drove the informal market and forced many families to seek other alternatives for cooking.
The rise in fuel prices has also been reported in other provinces. In Holguín, the reopening of a sales point in the El Llano neighborhood sparked criticism after several users pointed out that the first purchase costs 94 dollars, including the new cylinder, while subsequent refills are priced at 50 dollars.
Unlike the model in Sancti Spíritus documented by 14ymedio, users in this establishment in Holguín reported that purchases are managed through a digital platform from abroad. The prices and requirements for both operations are different, although both represent a significant expense for those relying on income in Cuban pesos.
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