The informal currency market in Cuba kicks off this Saturday, September 19, 2026, with the U.S. dollar gaining ground and the euro maintaining its robust position.
The U.S. dollar is trading at an average of 708 pesos, while the euro stands at about 805 pesos. The MLC, though lacking comprehensive data, provides a tentative value of 492 pesos. All three currencies show increases compared to the previous day, albeit at varying rates.
This morning, the U.S. dollar is valued at 708 Cuban pesos (CUP) in the informal market. This marks an increase of 5 pesos from the previous session, when it was trading at 703 CUP.
The upward trend is also evident on a weekly and monthly scale: seven days ago, the dollar was at 693 pesos, reflecting a 15 pesos rise over the week (+2.2%); 30 days ago, it was at 663 pesos, a difference of 45 pesos that, despite potential methodological adjustments in the index, indicates sustained pressure on the Cuban peso.
Over the past 30 days, the dollar has reached a peak of 708 CUP—the current value—and a low of 663 CUP. It continues to set the tone in the informal market amidst a chronic shortage of foreign currency.
Euro's Strong Performance
The euro begins the day trading at 805 Cuban pesos (CUP), an increase of 2 pesos from the previous session's 803 CUP.
In the last week, the euro has climbed 17.5 pesos from 787 CUP (+2.2%), and over the past month, it has gained 54.5 pesos from 750 CUP, although this comparison should be cautiously considered due to potential methodological tweaks.
The highest point in the last 30 days matches today's rate: 805 CUP, while the lowest was 746 CUP. It surpasses the dollar by 97 pesos, reinforcing its dominant role in Cuba's parallel market.
MLC's Marked Increase
This Saturday, the MLC is hovering around 492 Cuban pesos (CUP), though this is an indicative value due to limited data availability at this time. Compared to the previous day, when it was at 454 CUP, it shows a substantial increase of 37.5 pesos (+8.3%), the most significant percentage rise among the three currencies.
Over the past week, the MLC has increased by 32.5 pesos from 459 CUP. Over the last 30 days, it has fluctuated between a high of 542 CUP and a low of 408 CUP. Without physical form, its use is confined to state-run stores that accept it, limiting its circulation compared to cash currencies.
Official Exchange Rates vs. Informal Market
Exchange rates for USD to CUP are set at 708 CUP, EUR to CUP at 805 CUP, and MLC to CUP at 492 CUP (indicative, limited data). The official exchange rate from the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) remains at 669 CUP per dollar and 767 CUP per euro, significantly lower than the rates prevailing in the informal currency market.
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far from the informal market's and fails to meet the population's real demand for foreign currency. The gap between the official and informal rates today is 39 pesos for the dollar and 38 pesos for the euro.
This disparity highlights the ongoing shortage of foreign currency within the state banking system and the high demand for dollars and euros among the population, whether for emigration, importing goods, safeguarding savings, or making private sector purchases.
In a setting of persistent inflation, low state wages, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, any changes in the informal market directly affect internal prices and Cubans' purchasing power.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the Cuban informal market created through automated analysis of thousands of currency trading posts on Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weights each transaction by its age, and consolidates a representative value updated several times daily.
Equivalence of U.S. Dollar (USD) bills to Cuban Peso (CUP), according to exchange rates on this Saturday, September 19, 2026: 1 USD = 708 CUP, 5 USD = 3,540 CUP, 10 USD = 7,080 CUP, 20 USD = 14,160 CUP, 50 USD = 35,400 CUP, 100 USD = 70,800 CUP.
Equivalence of Euro (EUR) bills to Cuban Peso (CUP), according to exchange rates on this Saturday, September 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 805 CUP, 5 EUR = 4,025 CUP, 10 EUR = 8,050 CUP, 20 EUR = 16,100 CUP, 50 EUR = 40,250 CUP, 100 EUR = 80,500 CUP, 200 EUR = 161,000 CUP.
Understanding Cuba's Informal Currency Market
Why is the U.S. dollar rising in Cuba's informal market?
The U.S. dollar is rising due to a persistent shortage of foreign currency in the Cuban banking system and high demand from the population for various purposes, including emigration and importing goods.
How does the euro compare to the U.S. dollar in Cuba's currency market?
Currently, the euro is stronger than the U.S. dollar in the informal market, trading at 805 pesos compared to the dollar's 708 pesos. This reinforces the euro's dominant position in the market.
What is the MLC and why is its value significant?
The MLC, or freely convertible currency, is used in state-run stores. Its value is significant because it reflects the purchasing power within these stores and its circulation is limited due to its non-physical form.