The U.S. dollar reached its highest value in 30 days in Cuba's informal currency market, closing at 683 Cuban pesos (CUP) on Thursday. This represents a five-peso increase from the previous day.
As of 8:00 p.m. on September 3rd, the euro was valued at 773 CUP, while the MLC stood at 509 CUP. However, the MLC rate should be considered an estimate due to the low volume of transactions. For a detailed view of the currency fluctuations in Cuba's informal market, further analysis is available.
End-of-Day Currency Rates
The following exchange rates were recorded at the close of the day:
- USD to CUP: 683 CUP
- EUR to CUP: 773 CUP
- MLC to CUP: 509 CUP (indicative, limited data)
The dollar's movement was one of the most significant events of the day, marking a five-peso increase from 678 CUP the day before. Over the past week, the dollar has climbed by 13 pesos, reflecting a nearly 2% rise. Compared to 30 days ago, the dollar has increased by 10 CUP, reaching its peak for this period.
Meanwhile, the euro ended at 773 CUP, unchanged from the morning but three pesos higher than the previous day. Over the past week, it has gained approximately 17 pesos, maintaining its position as the most valuable currency among the major references in Cuba's informal market.
Cautious Interpretation of MLC Rates
The MLC's indicative value of 509 CUP marks a sharp rise from the previous day. However, the limited number of transactions complicates interpreting this change with the same confidence as the dollar and euro movements.
The appreciation of foreign currencies further widens the gap between these rates and the official exchange rates set by the Central Bank of Cuba for Segment III, which are 638 CUP per dollar and 739 CUP per euro.
As of Thursday's close, the informal dollar rate was 45 pesos above the official rate, while the euro showed a 34 CUP difference. This disparity highlights that despite the implementation of a more flexible official exchange mechanism, significant differences remain between government-established rates and those in the informal market.
For Cubans primarily earning in the national currency, the dollar's rise is particularly impactful. In just one week, an additional 13 pesos are required to purchase each dollar in the informal market.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the informal market generated through automated analysis of thousands of currency exchange postings in Telegram and Facebook groups. The system filters out atypical offers and spam, weighs transactions by their recency, and calculates representative values that are updated several times daily.
Conversion Rates for USD and EUR
According to the exchange rates on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026, the conversion from U.S. dollars to Cuban pesos is as follows:
- 1 USD = 683 CUP
- 5 USD = 3,415 CUP
- 10 USD = 6,830 CUP
- 20 USD = 13,660 CUP
- 50 USD = 34,150 CUP
- 100 USD = 68,300 CUP
The conversion from euros to Cuban pesos is as follows:
- 1 EUR = 773 CUP
- 5 EUR = 3,865 CUP
- 10 EUR = 7,730 CUP
- 20 EUR = 15,460 CUP
- 50 EUR = 38,650 CUP
- 100 EUR = 77,300 CUP
- 200 EUR = 154,600 CUP
Understanding Cuba's Informal Exchange Market
Why is the informal exchange rate higher than the official rate in Cuba?
The informal exchange rate is often higher due to the limited availability of foreign currency through official channels, driving demand in the informal market where supply constraints can lead to higher prices.
How often are the exchange rates updated in Cuba's informal market?
Exchange rates in Cuba's informal market can fluctuate multiple times a day, influenced by supply and demand dynamics as well as external economic factors.
What factors contribute to the recent rise of the dollar in Cuba's informal market?
The recent increase in the dollar's value can be attributed to heightened demand for foreign currency amidst economic instability and limited access to dollars through official means.