The underground currency market in Cuba commenced trading this Tuesday, August 4, with a varied outlook: the U.S. dollar holds steady, the euro dips slightly, and the MLC experiences a minor increase.
At 10:00 a.m. local time, the dollar remained stable at 673 Cuban pesos, the euro edged down to 784 pesos, and the MLC noted a modest rise to 482 pesos. It's important to consider that the MLC's rate is indicative due to the limited volume of transactions supporting it.
Current Exchange Rates Overview
Exchange rate for USD to CUP: 673 CUP.
Exchange rate for EUR to CUP: 784 CUP.
Exchange rate for MLC to CUP: 482 CUP (indicative value).
The Dollar's Stability
Today, the U.S. dollar is valued at 673 Cuban pesos (CUP) in the informal market, unchanged from the previous day. This marks another day of stability for the American currency, maintaining the same rate as it did a week ago.
Looking at the monthly perspective, the dollar shows an increase of 12.5 pesos from its value 30 days prior, marking a 1.9% rise. However, this comparison should be approached cautiously as it might partially reflect methodological adjustments in the index.
Over the past month, the dollar has fluctuated between a minimum of 655 CUP and a maximum of 675 CUP, continuing to influence the informal market amidst a chronic shortage of foreign currencies.
The Euro's Gentle Decline
The euro is trading at 784 Cuban pesos (CUP) today, marking a decrease of 3.5 pesos from the previous session, where it stood at 787 CUP. This downward trend is also visible on a weekly scale; a week ago, the European currency was at 788 CUP, four pesos higher than its current level.
Despite this decline, the euro has gained 31.5 pesos compared to its rate 30 days ago—then at 752 CUP—an increase of 4.2%. However, this monthly change may also reflect methodological adjustments in the index.
In the last month, the euro has varied between a low of 745 CUP and a high of 790 CUP, surpassing the dollar by 111 pesos and reinforcing its leading position in the parallel Cuban market.
MLC: An Indicative Value
The MLC opens today around 482 Cuban pesos (CUP), up 1.5 pesos from the previous session's value. Nevertheless, this rate should be interpreted cautiously; the digital currency sees limited transaction volume at this hour, making its rate more indicative than definitive.
Compared to a week ago, the MLC has decreased by three pesos, from 485 CUP. Over the past month, the Freely Convertible Currency has ranged between a minimum of 425 CUP and a maximum of 543 CUP. Without a physical presence, its usage is restricted to state-owned stores that accept it, limiting its circulation compared to cash currencies.
The Gap with Official Rates
The official exchange rate from the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), set today at 615 CUP per dollar and 708 CUP per euro, remains significantly below the practical rates observed in the informal currency market. The gap amounts to 58 pesos for the dollar and 76 pesos for the euro.
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate continues to lag far behind the informal market and fails to meet the real demand for foreign currency among the population.
In the past month, the official dollar rate has climbed from 585 to 615 CUP, and the euro from 670 to 708 CUP, without closing the gap with the parallel market. Amid persistent inflation, low state wages, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, any fluctuations in the informal market directly affect internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.
The demand for dollars and euros remains high among those seeking to safeguard their savings against the peso's depreciation, emigrate, import goods, or make purchases in the private sector.
Methodology Behind Exchange Rates
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the Cuban informal market constructed from automated analysis of thousands of buy-and-sell currency listings on Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each transaction by its timeliness, and consolidates a representative value updated multiple times daily.
Exchange rate conversions for U.S. Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP) for Tuesday, August 4, 2026:
1 USD = 673 CUP.
5 USD = 3,365 CUP.
10 USD = 6,730 CUP.
20 USD = 13,460 CUP.
50 USD = 33,650 CUP.
100 USD = 67,300 CUP.
Exchange rate conversions for Euro (EUR) to Cuban Peso (CUP) for Tuesday, August 4, 2026:
1 EUR = 784 CUP.
5 EUR = 3,920 CUP.
10 EUR = 7,840 CUP.
20 EUR = 15,680 CUP.
50 EUR = 39,200 CUP.
100 EUR = 78,400 CUP.
200 EUR = 156,800 CUP.
Understanding Cuba's Currency Situation
Why is the MLC rate considered indicative?
The MLC rate is deemed indicative due to the low volume of transactions, which limits its stability and reliability compared to cash currencies.
What causes the gap between official and informal exchange rates in Cuba?
The gap is primarily due to the inflexibility and insufficiency of the official rate to meet real market demands, combined with economic issues like inflation and dollarization.
How does the informal market affect the Cuban economy?
Fluctuations in the informal market impact internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans, as many rely on it to protect savings, emigrate, or conduct private sector transactions.