On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Cuba's informal market opened lower for its key currencies.
The U.S. dollar is currently trading at 665 Cuban pesos (CUP) in the informal market, with buying at 660 CUP and selling at 670 CUP. This marks a drop of 3 pesos compared to the previous day, when the average rate was 668 CUP.
The euro has seen a more significant decline, now valued at 760 CUP, with a buying range at 750 CUP and selling at 770 CUP, an 8-peso decrease from the 768 CUP recorded yesterday.
The MLC (Moneda Libremente Convertible) hovers around 441 CUP, with buying at 420 CUP and selling at 461 CUP, although this rate should be taken as indicative due to limited data available at this time.
The Disparity Between Official and Informal Exchange Rates
Exchange rates stand at 665 CUP for USD, 760 CUP for EUR, and 441 CUP for MLC (indicative, based on limited data). The official exchange rate from the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) remains at 624 CUP per dollar and 720 CUP per euro, significantly lower than the practical informal market rates.
Despite Segment III being introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rates remain far removed from the informal market, failing to meet the real demand for foreign currency among the population.
The gap between the official and informal rates exceeds 40 pesos for both the dollar and the euro, highlighting the disconnect between the formal economy and the everyday reality for Cubans.
Understanding the Informal Market Rates
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the Cuban informal market, created through automated analysis of thousands of currency trading posts in Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation filters out atypical offers and spam, weighting each transaction by its age to consolidate a representative value updated multiple times a day.
Currency Conversion Examples
According to the exchange rates on Wednesday, August 12, 2026:
U.S. Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP)
- 1 USD = 665 CUP
- 5 USD = 3,325 CUP
- 10 USD = 6,650 CUP
- 20 USD = 13,300 CUP
- 50 USD = 33,250 CUP
- 100 USD = 66,500 CUP
Euro (EUR) to Cuban Peso (CUP)
- 1 EUR = 760 CUP
- 5 EUR = 3,800 CUP
- 10 EUR = 7,600 CUP
- 20 EUR = 15,200 CUP
- 50 EUR = 38,000 CUP
- 100 EUR = 76,000 CUP
- 200 EUR = 152,000 CUP
Key Questions About Cuba's Informal Currency Market
Why is there a significant difference between the official and informal exchange rates in Cuba?
The disparity arises because the official rates do not reflect the real market demand and conditions. The informal market adjusts more dynamically to economic realities, creating a gap between the two.
How does the informal market determine its exchange rates?
The rates in the informal market are determined by supply and demand dynamics, often calculated from transactions observed in social media groups and other unofficial channels.
What is the role of the Central Bank of Cuba in setting exchange rates?
The Central Bank of Cuba sets the official exchange rates through Segment III, but these rates are often disconnected from the practical realities faced by Cubans in the informal market.