At 10:00 a.m. local time, the informal currency market in Cuba began this Wednesday, August 5, with the U.S. dollar holding steady at approximately 673 Cuban pesos.
Meanwhile, the euro saw a slight increase, trading around 785 pesos, which is a notch higher than the previous day's close.
Regarding the MLC (Moneda Libremente Convertible), the available data is limited and should be considered cautiously: it indicates a drop to around 452 pesos from yesterday's 482. This opening reflects the Cuban peso's continued weakness against major foreign currencies.
Current Exchange Rates Overview
USD to CUP: 673 CUP.
EUR to CUP: 785 CUP.
MLC to CUP: 452 CUP (indicative value, limited data).
Stability in the Dollar
The U.S. dollar remains stable at 673 Cuban pesos (CUP) in the informal market, with buying at 670 CUP and selling at 675 CUP.
This rate is unchanged from the previous day, maintaining stability over the past week and month, despite potential index methodology adjustments.
In the last 30 days, the dollar fluctuated between a low of 655 CUP and a high of 675 CUP, continuing to dominate the informal market amidst a structural currency shortage.
Euro Gains Ground
The euro opened this Wednesday at 785 Cuban pesos (CUP), with buying at 780 CUP and selling at 790 CUP.
This marks a 1.5 peso increase from the previous day, a 0.2% rise.
Over the past week, the euro's rate has remained similar to seven days ago (785 CUP). However, looking back over the past month, the euro has gained 19.5 pesos (+2.5%), although methodology adjustments might influence this comparison.
In a 30-day span, the euro ranged from a low of 745 CUP to a high of 790 CUP, establishing itself as the priciest currency in Cuba's parallel market, surpassing the dollar by 112 pesos.
MLC's Indicative and Declining Value
This Wednesday, the MLC offers an indicative value of 452 Cuban pesos (CUP), with buying at 439 CUP and selling at 464 CUP.
The limited data available at this time should be viewed cautiously. If confirmed, this would represent a 30 pesos drop from the previous day (482 CUP), a 6.2% decline.
Comparing weekly, the decrease is notable: seven days ago, it was valued at 478 CUP, a drop of 26 pesos (-5.4%). Thirty days ago, the MLC reached 512 pesos, although this difference might also reflect methodological changes in the index. Without physical presence, its use is confined to state-run stores that accept it, limiting its circulation compared to cash currencies.
Disparity with Official Rates
The official exchange rate from the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) stands at 615 CUP per dollar and 709 CUP per euro, significantly below the rates observed in the informal currency market. The dollar's gap between official and informal rates exceeds 58 pesos, while the euro's gap approaches 76 pesos.
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far from the informal market's reality and fails to meet the population's actual currency demand.
Over the past month, the official dollar rate rose from 585 to 615 CUP, and the euro from 670 to 709 CUP, but this adjustment has not bridged the gap with the parallel market.
Informal Market Context
In a setting of sustained inflation, low state salaries, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, any fluctuation in the informal market directly impacts domestic prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.
The disparity between the official and informal rates highlights the ongoing shortage of foreign currency in the state banking system and the high demand for dollars and euros by the population, whether for emigration, importing goods, protecting savings, or making purchases in the private sector.
Methodology
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the Cuban informal market, constructed through automated analysis of thousands of currency exchange postings in Telegram and Facebook groups.
The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each transaction by its age, and consolidates a representative value that updates several times daily.
Conversion of U.S. Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP) Based on August 5, 2026, Rates
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.
Conversion of Euro (EUR) to Cuban Peso (CUP) Based on August 5, 2026, Rates
1 EUR = 785 CUP.
5 EUR = 3,925 CUP.
10 EUR = 7,850 CUP.
20 EUR = 15,700 CUP.
50 EUR = 39,250 CUP.
100 EUR = 78,500 CUP.
200 EUR = 157,000 CUP.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Currency Exchange
Why is there a significant difference between the official and informal exchange rates in Cuba?
The disparity is mainly due to the persistent shortage of foreign currency in the state banking system and high public demand for currencies like the dollar and euro, for purposes such as emigration or private sector transactions.
How does the informal currency market impact Cuban citizens?
Fluctuations in the informal market directly affect domestic prices and the purchasing power of Cubans, as the gap between official and informal rates reflects inflationary pressures and economic constraints.