As of 10:29 a.m. local time in Havana, the informal foreign exchange market in Cuba opened on Monday, September 28, 2026, with a general upward trend.
The U.S. dollar is trading at 742 Cuban pesos (CUP) in the informal market today, with buying prices at 735 CUP and selling prices at 750 CUP.
This marks an increase of 1 peso compared to the previous day when the average rate was 741 CUP. The weekly trend is even more significant: just seven days ago, the dollar averaged 715 CUP, showing a rise of 27 pesos within a week.
On a monthly scale, the U.S. dollar has climbed from 674 CUP 30 days ago, although this comparison might partly reflect adjustments in index methodology. Over the past month, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 674 CUP and a high of 745 CUP, continuing to dominate the informal market amid a structural shortage of foreign currency.
Euro Rates and Market Dynamics
Today, the euro is being exchanged at 847 Cuban pesos (CUP), with buying at 840 CUP and selling at 854 CUP. Compared to the previous session when it was at 842 CUP, the euro has increased by 5 pesos.
In a weekly comparison, the euro has gained 29 pesos from the 818 CUP recorded seven days ago, a 3.5% increase. Thirty days ago, it stood at 763 CUP, and like the dollar, this monthly reference should be approached cautiously.
The highest rate in the past 30 days is the current 847 CUP, with a minimum of 761 CUP. It outpaces the dollar by 104 pesos, solidifying its dominant position in Cuba's parallel market.
MLC and Official Exchange Rates
This Monday, the MLC (Freely Convertible Currency) is around 544 Cuban pesos (CUP), with buying at 497 CUP and selling at 569 CUP. This rate should be seen as indicative due to the low volume of transactions recorded at this time.
Compared to the previous session, when the average was 483 CUP, the MLC has risen by 61 pesos, a change that should be interpreted with caution due to the limited data sample. Over the last week, it has increased by 48 pesos from the 496 CUP recorded seven days ago. Without a physical presence, its use is confined to state-run stores that accept it.
Disparity with Official Rates
Summary of exchange rates: USD to CUP at 742 CUP, EUR to CUP at 847 CUP, and MLC to CUP at 544 CUP (indicative value, few data). The official rate from the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) stands at 681 CUP per dollar and 776 CUP per euro, falling far short of the practical rates in the informal currency market.
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains significantly lower than the informal market, failing to meet the population's real demand for foreign currency. The gap between the official and informal rates is currently 61 pesos for the dollar and 71 pesos for the euro.
This gap highlights the ongoing shortage of foreign currency in 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 scenario of persistent inflation, low state salaries, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every fluctuation in the informal market directly impacts internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of Cuba's informal market derived from the automated analysis of thousands of currency buy-sell postings on Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weights each transaction according to its age, and consolidates a representative value updated several times a day.
Equivalent values of U.S. dollar bills (USD) to Cuban peso (CUP): 1 USD = 742 CUP, 5 USD = 3,710 CUP, 10 USD = 7,420 CUP, 20 USD = 14,840 CUP, 50 USD = 37,100 CUP, 100 USD = 74,200 CUP
Equivalent values of euro bills (EUR) to Cuban peso (CUP): 1 EUR = 847 CUP, 5 EUR = 4,235 CUP, 10 EUR = 8,470 CUP, 20 EUR = 16,940 CUP, 50 EUR = 42,350 CUP, 100 EUR = 84,700 CUP, 200 EUR = 169,400 CUP
Understanding Cuba's Informal Exchange Market
Why is the informal market exchange rate higher than the official rate in Cuba?
The informal market rate is higher due to a significant shortage of foreign currency in the state banking system and high demand among the population for dollars and euros, either for emigration, importing goods, or other purposes.
How does the CiberCuba Exchange Rate work?
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is determined by automating the analysis of numerous currency trading posts on Telegram and Facebook, excluding atypical offers, and updating the results multiple times a day.
What is the impact of the informal exchange rate on Cuba's economy?
Fluctuations in the informal exchange rate can significantly affect internal prices and purchasing power, especially in an economy experiencing inflation and partial dollarization.