At 10:00 a.m. local time in Havana, Cuba's informal currency market hit a significant milestone on Thursday, September 17, 2026: the US dollar reached a value of 700 Cuban pesos. Meanwhile, the euro followed this upward trend, while the MLC showed a decline.
US Dollar Reaches 700 Pesos
Today, the US dollar is valued at 700 Cuban pesos (CUP) in the informal market, marking its highest point in the last 30 days. This represents an increase of 2 pesos compared to the previous day when it was exchanged at 698 CUP.
Looking at the weekly trend, the rise becomes even more pronounced: just seven days ago, the dollar was being traded at 688 pesos, which means a 12-peso increase over the week, translating to a 1.8% rise.
Compared to the rate 30 days ago of 663 CUP, the US dollar has gained 37 pesos. It should be noted, however, that part of this change might be due to methodological adjustments in the index rather than solely market movements.
Euro Climbs to 796 Pesos
The euro is trading at 796 Cuban pesos (CUP) this Thursday, with a buying rate of 793 CUP and a selling rate of 800 CUP. This is up 1 peso from the previous session when it was at 795 CUP.
Over the past week, the European currency has risen by 15 pesos from 781 CUP. Thirty days ago, the euro was exchanged at 758 CUP. As with the dollar, this comparison should be interpreted cautiously due to potential methodological adjustments.
The euro stands 97 pesos above the dollar, solidifying its status as the most expensive currency in Cuba's parallel market.
MLC Dips with Indicative Data
The MLC is listed at 448 Cuban pesos (CUP) this Thursday, with a buying rate of 443 CUP and a selling rate of 463 CUP. This represents a drop of 98 pesos from the previous day.
However, it's crucial to treat this figure as indicative since the volume of transactions during this time is limited, reducing the representativeness of the data.
Exchange Rate Overview
Exchange rate for the US dollar USD to CUP: 700 CUP.
Exchange rate for the euro EUR to CUP: 796 CUP.
Exchange rate for the MLC to CUP: 448 CUP (indicative value, limited data).
Market Trends Over the Last 30 Days
Today's milestone is even more notable when contrasted with the past month's records. The dollar has ranged between a low of 663 CUP and the current high of 700 CUP, marking its peak for the period. The euro, similarly, has fluctuated from 746 to its current 797 CUP, also at its highest in 30 days. The MLC, on the other hand, has shown greater volatility, ranging from 408 to 542 CUP in the same timeframe.
The official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) remains at 664 CUP per dollar and 766 CUP per euro, significantly lower than the values prevailing in the daily informal currency market.
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far from the informal market, failing to meet the real currency demand of the population. The gap between the two markets today stands at 36 pesos for the dollar and 31 pesos for the euro.
This disparity between the official and informal rates highlights the ongoing scarcity of foreign currency in the state banking system and the high demand for dollars and euros among the population, whether for emigration, importing goods, protecting savings, or purchasing in the private sector.
In a context of sustained inflation, low state salaries, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every change in the informal market directly impacts internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans. The fact that the dollar has reached 700 pesos in the informal market—compared to the 631 CUP marked by the official rate just a month ago—illustrates the rapid deterioration of the Cuban peso's purchasing power.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the Cuban informal market developed from the automated analysis of thousands of currency buy-sell posts in Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each transaction according to its age, and consolidates a representative value updated several times daily.
Dollar to Cuban Peso Conversion
1 USD = 700 CUP
5 USD = 3,500 CUP
10 USD = 7,000 CUP
20 USD = 14,000 CUP
50 USD = 35,000 CUP
100 USD = 70,000 CUP
Euro to Cuban Peso Conversion
5 EUR = 3,980 CUP
10 EUR = 7,960 CUP
20 EUR = 15,920 CUP
50 EUR = 39,800 CUP
100 EUR = 79,600 CUP
200 EUR = 159,200 CUP
500 EUR = 398,000 CUP
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Informal Currency Market
Why is the informal market exchange rate higher than the official rate in Cuba?
The informal market rate is higher due to the scarcity of foreign currency in the official system and high demand among the population for dollars and euros. This demand is driven by needs such as emigration, importing goods, and protecting savings.
How often does the CiberCuba Exchange Rate update?
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate updates multiple times a day, providing a representative value based on the analysis of thousands of currency buy-sell transactions in social media groups.