As of 11:40 a.m. local time in Havana, Cuba's informal currency market sees a decline in the value of the U.S. dollar, the euro, and the MLC as compared to the same period on Sunday. This Monday, November 9, marks the beginning of the week with these fluctuations.
The U.S. dollar is now trading at 920 Cuban pesos (CUP), reflecting a decrease of 6 pesos from Sunday, when it was valued at 926 CUP. Over the past week, the dollar has risen by 25 pesos, up from 895 CUP, showing a 2.8% increase. When looking at a 30-day period, there's been a 142-peso increase from the previous 778 CUP, though these numbers should be cautiously interpreted due to potential methodological adjustments in the index.
In the last month, the dollar's value has fluctuated between a low of 778 CUP and a high of 940 CUP.
Meanwhile, the euro has dropped to 988 CUP, a decline of 14 pesos from its previous rate of 1,002 CUP on Sunday. This movement places the European currency below the 1,000-peso threshold once again. Over the past week, the euro has gained 5 pesos from 983 CUP. Compared to 30 days ago, when it stood at 875 CUP, there has been an increase of 113 pesos. Its monthly range has varied between 875 and 1,010 CUP.
Despite the daily decline, the euro remains more valued than the dollar, with a difference of 68 Cuban pesos between them.
The MLC is now approximately 658 CUP, a significant drop of 89 pesos from the 747 CUP recorded on Sunday. This is the steepest daily decline among the three rates, showing an 11.91% reduction. However, these figures must be interpreted cautiously due to the low volume of transactions reported during this timeframe.
Over the past week, the MLC has increased by 97 pesos from the 561 CUP it stood at seven days ago.
Exchange rates are currently as follows: U.S. dollar (USD) to Cuban pesos (CUP) at 920 CUP, euro (EUR) to CUP at 988 CUP, and MLC to CUP at 658 CUP. The official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) remains at 800 CUP per dollar and 892 CUP per euro, significantly lower than the prevailing rates in the informal currency market.
Despite being introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, Segment III's official rates are still far from meeting the real demand for foreign currency by the Cuban populace. The gap between the official and informal rates highlights the ongoing scarcity of foreign currencies within the state banking system and the high demand for dollars and euros among the people, whether for emigration, importing goods, safeguarding savings, or making purchases in the private sector.
In a context of persistent inflation, low state salaries, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, any change in the informal market directly affects internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate Index is a measure of the informal Cuban market, derived from automated analysis of thousands of currency exchange listings on Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weighting each transaction by its recency to consolidate a representative value that's updated several times daily.
U.S. Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP) Equivalence — Monday, November 9, 2026: 1 USD = 920 CUP, 5 USD = 4,600 CUP, 10 USD = 9,200 CUP, 20 USD = 18,400 CUP, 50 USD = 46,000 CUP, 100 USD = 92,000 CUP.
Euro (EUR) to Cuban Peso (CUP) Equivalence — Monday, November 9, 2026: 1 EUR = 988 CUP, 5 EUR = 4,940 CUP, 10 EUR = 9,880 CUP, 20 EUR = 19,760 CUP, 50 EUR = 49,400 CUP, 100 EUR = 98,800 CUP, 200 EUR = 197,600 CUP.
Understanding Cuba's Informal Currency Market
Why is there a difference between the official and informal exchange rates in Cuba?
The disparity between the official and informal exchange rates in Cuba is primarily due to the shortage of foreign currencies in the state banking system and the high demand for dollars and euros by the population. The official rates set by the Central Bank of Cuba do not reflect the real market demand and supply, leading people to seek better rates in the informal market.
How does the fluctuation in the informal market affect Cubans?
Fluctuations in the informal market directly impact the internal prices and purchasing power of Cubans. In an economy facing inflation and partial dollarization, such changes can affect the cost of living and access to goods and services.