On Monday, August 17, Cuba's informal currency market saw a slight dip in the United States dollar, stability in the euro, and a rise in the MLC, amid ongoing demand for foreign currencies and the diminishing purchasing power of the Cuban peso.
By 8:00 p.m., the dollar (USD) was trading at 663 Cuban pesos (CUP), while the euro (EUR) remained steady at 760 CUP. The MLC reached an indicative average value of 462 CUP, though this figure should be approached with caution due to the low volume of transactions.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate, which tracks buying and selling ads on Telegram and Facebook groups, showed minimal fluctuations for the main cash currencies.
USD Rate Falls to 663 CUP
The dollar closed Monday at 663 CUP, showing a slight downward trend over the week.
Last week, it was at 670 CUP, marking a 7-peso drop, nearly 1% down.
Over the past month, the U.S. currency has fluctuated between 663 and 675 CUP, a relatively narrow range compared to other periods of greater volatility.
Despite the recent decline, the dollar remains a key reference point in the informal market and influences price formation in the Cuban economy.
Euro Stays Firm at 760 CUP
The euro closed at 760 CUP, unchanged for the day.
However, on a weekly comparison, it shows a decrease: it was at 773 CUP last week, which represents a loss of 13 pesos, around 1.7%.
In the last 30 days, it has traded between 755 and 790 CUP.
The European currency maintains a significant advantage over the dollar in the Cuban informal market, where its availability is often lower.
MLC Sees Uptick, Yet Remains Tentative
The most notable movement was the MLC, closing with an indicative average value of 462 CUP.
Compared to 423 CUP a week ago, it has risen by 39 pesos, over 9%. Compared to 430 CUP 30 days ago, the increase is 32 pesos.
These variations should be taken carefully due to the smaller volume of MLC transactions, a digital reference tied to bank accounts and primarily used in state-run establishments that still accept this payment method.
Exchange rate for the USD to CUP: 663 CUP. Exchange rate for the EUR to CUP: 760 CUP. Exchange rate for the MLC to CUP: 462 CUP (indicative value). Informal rates continue to surpass the Central Bank of Cuba's (BCC) references for Segment III.
With official values at 628 CUP per dollar and 727 CUP per euro, the gap with the informal market is about 35 pesos for the dollar and 33 pesos for the euro.
This disparity highlights that the new official exchange scheme still coexists with an informal market where currencies fetch higher values, in a scenario marked by the scarcity of foreign currency and the partial dollarization of the economy.
For Cubans, these fluctuations have consequences that extend beyond currency trading. The dollar and the euro serve as benchmarks for numerous products and services, especially those linked to imports, which means their movements ultimately affect the cost of living.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the informal market derived from the automated analysis of thousands of currency trading posts in Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation filters out atypical offers and spam, weighs transactions based on their recency, and consolidates a representative value updated several times a day.
Equivalence of U.S. Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP) bills, according to the exchange rates of this Monday, August 17, 2026: 1 USD = 663 CUP, 5 USD = 3,315 CUP, 10 USD = 6,630 CUP, 20 USD = 13,260 CUP, 50 USD = 33,150 CUP, 100 USD = 66,300 CUP.
Equivalence of Euro (EUR) to Cuban Peso (CUP) bills, according to the exchange rates of this Monday, August 17, 2026: 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.
Understanding Informal Exchange Rates in Cuba
What is the current exchange rate for the USD in Cuba's informal market?
As of Monday, August 17, 2026, the exchange rate for the U.S. dollar in Cuba's informal market is 663 Cuban pesos (CUP).
Why is there a difference between official and informal exchange rates in Cuba?
The difference arises due to foreign currency scarcity and the partial dollarization of the Cuban economy, leading to higher values in the informal market compared to the official rates set by the Central Bank of Cuba.