As of 8:00 p.m. local time in Cuba, the informal foreign exchange market concluded Thursday, September 24, 2026, with a continued upward trend for the two main currencies. Both the U.S. dollar and the euro experienced increases compared to the previous session, reinforcing a persistent trend that continues to erode the purchasing power of Cubans. The MLC offers only a guiding value due to limited data availability. For a comprehensive look at the evolving exchange rates in Cuba's informal market, refer to the latest updates.
The U.S. dollar closed at 728 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the end of today's trading. This marks a rise of 3 pesos from the prior day, where the average stood at 725 CUP. Looking at the weekly trend, there's been a 25-peso increase from the 703 CUP recorded seven days ago, equating to a 3.6% uptick. Over a month, the dollar has seen a gain of 60 pesos from 668 CUP—a 9% increase, although this monthly comparison may partly reflect index methodological adjustments rather than pure market movements. In the past month, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 668 CUP and the current peak of 728 CUP, underscoring the challenges in Cuba's cash-strapped currency landscape.
Meanwhile, the euro ended the day at 830 CUP, reflecting a 4-peso climb from the previous close of 826 CUP. Over the past week, the euro has surged by 32 pesos from 798 CUP, representing a 4% increase. On a monthly scale, the euro has added 74.5 pesos from the 755 CUP level 30 days ago—a 9.9% rise, with similar methodological caution as the dollar. The euro's peak over the last 30 days coincides with today's close at 830 CUP, establishing its superiority over the dollar by 102 pesos in the parallel market.
The MLC stands approximately at 493 CUP, though this figure should be considered indicative due to the limited volume of data available at this time. Compared to the previous day, when the median value was reported at 468 CUP, it shows an increase of 24.5 pesos. In the past week, it has risen by 40 pesos from 453 CUP. Over the last month, the MLC has ranged from a low of 415 CUP to a high of 542 CUP. Without physical presence, its application is confined to state-run stores that accept it, limiting its circulation compared to cash currencies.
Exchange rates are as follows: USD to CUP stands at 728 CUP; EUR to CUP is at 830 CUP; MLC to CUP is at 493 CUP (indicative, due to limited data). The official rate from the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) remains at 676 CUP per dollar and 770 CUP per euro, significantly lower than the values in the practical everyday informal market.
Even though Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rates remain far from the informal market's reality and fail to meet the real currency demand of the populace. The gap between the official dollar rate (676 CUP) and the informal rate (728 CUP) is 52 pesos; for the euro, the disparity is 60 pesos, from the official 770 CUP to the 830 CUP of the parallel market.
In a context of ongoing inflation, low government wages, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, each fluctuation in the informal market directly impacts internal prices and the purchasing ability of Cubans. The close of this Thursday, with the dollar at its highest in the last month and the euro at its peak for 30 days, highlights the relentless pressure on the Cuban peso.
The Cuban Informal Exchange Rate Index by CiberCuba is derived from automated analysis of thousands of currency trade posts on Telegram and Facebook groups; the calculation filters out atypical offers and spam, weighting each transaction by its recency to consolidate a representative value updated multiple times daily.
U.S. Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP) exchange equivalencies for Thursday, September 24, 2026:
- 1 USD = 728 CUP
- 5 USD = 3,640 CUP
- 10 USD = 7,280 CUP
- 20 USD = 14,560 CUP
- 50 USD = 36,400 CUP
- 100 USD = 72,800 CUP
Euro (EUR) to Cuban Peso (CUP) exchange equivalencies for Thursday, September 24, 2026:
- 1 EUR = 830 CUP
- 5 EUR = 4,150 CUP
- 10 EUR = 8,300 CUP
- 20 EUR = 16,600 CUP
- 50 EUR = 41,500 CUP
- 100 EUR = 83,000 CUP
- 200 EUR = 166,000 CUP
Understanding Cuba's Informal Currency Exchange
What is the current exchange rate for the U.S. dollar in Cuba's informal market?
As of September 24, 2026, the U.S. dollar is exchanged at 728 Cuban pesos in the informal market.
How does the euro compare to the dollar in the Cuban informal market?
The euro is exchanged at 830 Cuban pesos, surpassing the dollar by 102 pesos in the informal market.
Why is the Cuban peso under pressure in the informal market?
The Cuban peso is pressured by sustained inflation, low state salaries, and increasing dollarization, impacting its value in the informal market.