As of 10:00 a.m. local time in Cuba, the informal currency market sees a rise in the value of its two main foreign currencies on this Sunday, August 23, 2026.
The U.S. dollar has climbed to 664 Cuban pesos, marking a one-peso increase from the previous day's close. Meanwhile, the euro has jumped to 750 pesos, up from 746 pesos the day before.
The MLC, though not widely traded at this hour, is estimated at around 411 pesos. This figure should be viewed as an estimate due to the limited volume of transactions backing it.
Today's exchange rate for the U.S. dollar is 664 Cuban pesos (CUP), with a buying rate of 660 and a selling rate of 667. This represents a one-peso rise compared to the last session. Over the week, the dollar has shown little fluctuation, maintaining its position at 664 pesos, indicating short-term stability.
Comparing to a month ago, the current rate is 9 pesos lower than the 673 pesos recorded 30 days prior. However, this comparison might reflect some methodological adjustments in the index.
Over the past month, the dollar has ranged between a low of 663 and a high of 675 pesos, continuing to dictate the rhythm of the informal market amid a chronic shortage of foreign currency.
Euro's Performance in the Cuban Parallel Market
The euro has risen to 750 Cuban pesos (CUP) today, with buying at 740 and selling at 760. This is a notable increase of 4.5 pesos from the previous session, marking the most significant movement at the opening.
In a weekly comparison, the euro has lost ground; it was valued at 758 pesos a week ago, indicating a 7.5-peso decrease over this period. Looking back 30 days, when it was at 778 pesos, the euro has dropped by 28 pesos, although this may also reflect index adjustments.
The highest value in the past 30 days was 790 pesos, with the lowest at 746. The euro remains the most expensive currency in the Cuban informal market, surpassing the dollar by 86 pesos on average at this opening.
The MLC: An Overview
The MLC is currently at approximately 411 Cuban pesos (CUP), with purchase at 361 and sale at 461. Caution is advised when interpreting this value due to the low trading volume during this time, making it an indicative figure.
Compared to the previous day, the MLC has decreased by 5.5 pesos from 417. Looking at a broader period, the trend is clearly downward: it was 446 pesos a week ago and 482 pesos 30 days ago, marking a 70.5-peso drop, although part of this decline may be due to index methodology adjustments.
Without physical existence, its use is limited to state-run stores that accept it, restricting its circulation compared to physical currencies.
Official Rates vs. Informal Market
Today's exchange rates are: USD to CUP at 664, EUR to CUP at 750, and MLC to CUP at 411 (indicative, limited data). The official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) stands at 638 CUP per dollar and 745 CUP per euro, which is significantly lower than the actual rates in the informal currency market.
The gap between the official and informal dollar rates exceeds 26 pesos, while for the euro, the difference is only 5 pesos, though its sale price in the parallel market reaches up to 760 pesos.
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far from the informal market's rate for the dollar and fails to meet the real currency demand of the population.
Over the past month, the official dollar rate has risen from 598 to 638 CUP, and the euro from 680 to 745 CUP, indicating a sustained devaluation of the peso even in the official channel.
Economic Impact on Cubans
In a scenario of ongoing inflation, low state salaries, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every change in the informal market directly affects domestic prices and Cubans' purchasing power.
The concurrent rise of the dollar and euro this Sunday intensifies the pressure on those who rely on remittances or require foreign currency for daily needs.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the Cuban informal market, created from automated analysis of thousands of currency buy-sell posts in Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weights each transaction by its age, and consolidates a representative value updated multiple times a day.
Dollar to Cuban Peso Conversion:
- 1 USD = 664 CUP
- 5 USD = 3,320 CUP
- 10 USD = 6,640 CUP
- 20 USD = 13,280 CUP
- 50 USD = 33,200 CUP
- 100 USD = 66,400 CUP
Euro to Cuban Peso Conversion:
- 1 EUR = 750 CUP
- 5 EUR = 3,750 CUP
- 10 EUR = 7,500 CUP
- 20 EUR = 15,000 CUP
- 50 EUR = 37,500 CUP
- 100 EUR = 75,000 CUP
- 200 EUR = 150,000 CUP
Understanding Currency Exchange in Cuba's Informal Market
What is the current exchange rate for the U.S. dollar in Cuba's informal market?
As of August 23, 2026, the U.S. dollar is exchanged at 664 Cuban pesos in the informal market.
How does the euro compare to the dollar in the Cuban parallel market?
The euro is valued higher than the dollar in the informal market, with a rate of 750 Cuban pesos compared to the dollar's 664 pesos.
Why is the MLC's value considered indicative?
The MLC's value is considered indicative due to the low volume of transactions during certain hours, which makes the data less reliable.
What is the impact of currency fluctuations on the Cuban economy?
Fluctuations in the informal currency market affect domestic prices and the purchasing power of Cubans, especially in a context of inflation and low state salaries.