This Thursday, August 13, the informal currency market in Cuba opens with stability in its two primary currencies.
The US dollar is valued at 665 Cuban pesos (CUP) in the informal market, with a buying rate of 660 CUP and a selling rate of 670 CUP. This reflects no change from the previous day's rates.
Similarly, the euro remains unchanged, trading at 760 CUP, with a purchasing price of 750 CUP and a selling price of 770 CUP. Its exchange rate is identical to the previous session.
The MLC, or freely convertible currency, averages 450 CUP, with buying at 439 CUP and selling at 461 CUP. This marks an increase of 9.5 pesos from the previous day, equivalent to a 2.2% rise. However, this figure should be considered as a guide due to limited data and the small volume of transactions at this time.
Exchange Rates Overview: - USD to CUP: 665 CUP - EUR to CUP: 760 CUP - MLC to CUP: 450 CUP (indicative value, limited data)
The official exchange rate from the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) is set at 624 CUP per dollar and 720 CUP per euro, significantly lower than the rates prevailing in the practical everyday transactions of the informal market.
Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, yet its official rate remains far from the informal market's values and fails to meet the real currency demand of the population.
In the past month, the official dollar rate has risen from 592 to 624 CUP, and the euro from 674 to 720 CUP, but the gap with the informal market persists at around 41 pesos for the dollar and 40 pesos for the euro.
Amid ongoing inflation, low state salaries, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every fluctuation in the informal market directly impacts domestic prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index reflecting the Cuban informal market, derived from automated analysis of thousands of currency trading posts in Telegram and Facebook groups. It filters out atypical offers and spam, weights each transaction by its recency, and consolidates a representative value that is updated multiple times a day.
Currency Conversion Examples for August 13, 2026:
- USD to CUP:
- 1 USD = 665 CUP
- 5 USD = 3,325 CUP
- 10 USD = 6,650 CUP
- 20 USD = 13,300 CUP
- 50 USD = 33,250 CUP
- 100 USD = 66,500 CUP
- EUR to CUP:
- 1 EUR = 760 CUP
- 5 EUR = 3,800 CUP
- 10 EUR = 7,600 CUP
- 20 EUR = 15,200 CUP
- 50 EUR = 38,000 CUP
- 100 EUR = 76,000 CUP
- 200 EUR = 152,000 CUP
Understanding Cuba's Informal Currency Market
Why is the informal market exchange rate higher than the official rate?
The informal market rate is higher because it reflects the actual market demand for foreign currency, which is not met by the official rates due to limited availability and restrictions imposed by the Cuban government.
How does the informal currency market affect everyday life in Cuba?
The informal market influences the cost of goods and services, as many are priced based on these rates rather than the official ones, impacting the purchasing power of everyday Cubans.