As Tuesday morning dawns on September 1st, Cuba's informal currency market displays mixed signals: while the U.S. dollar remains unchanged from the previous day's trading, both the euro and the MLC have seen a price increase.
By 10:00 a.m. local Cuban time, the trading day begins with the Cuban peso under pressure against the European currency.
Currency Exchange Rates Overview
USD to CUP: 678 Cuban pesos (CUP).
EUR to CUP: 768 CUP.
MLC to CUP: 467 CUP (indicative value).
USD Remains Steady with a Weekly Upward Trend
Today, the U.S. dollar is valued at 678 CUP in the informal market, with buying at 675 CUP and selling at 680 CUP. Despite no change from the previous day, this stability marks the start of September.
Nevertheless, the weekly outlook tells a different story: just a week ago, the dollar traded at 668 pesos, indicating a rise of 10 pesos in the last seven days, equivalent to a 1.5% increase.
Compared to a month ago, when it stood at 673 CUP, there's a 5-peso increase (+0.7%). This comparison, however, should be approached with caution as it may partly reflect methodological adjustments to the index.
Throughout the past month, the dollar has fluctuated between a minimum of 663 CUP and the current peak of 678 CUP.
Euro Gains Momentum and Widens Gap Over Dollar
The euro shows the most movement in this opening, trading at 768 CUP, with buying at 760 CUP and selling at 775 CUP. This marks a 3-peso increase from the previous day when it closed at 765 CUP.
On a weekly basis, the euro has surged by 13 pesos from 755 CUP a week ago, a 1.7% increase. However, compared to 30 days ago when it was at 785 CUP, the current rate is 17.5 pesos lower (-2.2%), potentially reflecting index adjustments.
In the past month, the euro has reached a high of 788 CUP and a low of 746 CUP. It now surpasses the dollar by 90 pesos, solidifying its dominant position in Cuba's parallel market.
MLC Experiences Price Increase
The MLC is priced around 467 CUP, with buying at 451 CUP and selling at 482 CUP. This represents a 3-peso rise from the previous session, when it was at 464 CUP, equating to a 0.6% increase.
Weekly comparisons show a slight decline: seven days ago, it was trading at 468 CUP, one peso above the current level. Compared to 30 days ago (474 CUP), it has dropped by 7 pesos (-1.5%).
Over the last month, the MLC has seen a high of 529 CUP and a low of 408 CUP, indicating significant volatility. These figures should be considered indicative due to the limited volume of transactions typically recorded during opening hours.
Lacking physical existence, its use is confined to state-run stores that accept it, limiting its circulation compared to cash currencies.
The Persistent Gap with Official Exchange Rates
The official exchange rate from the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) remains significantly lower than the practical rates in the informal currency market, set at 636 CUP per dollar and 739 CUP per euro. There's a 42-peso difference for the dollar and 29 pesos for the euro.
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far from the informal market's rates and fails to meet the real currency demand of the population. Notably, the official dollar rate has climbed from 615 CUP on August 2nd to the current 636 CUP, reflecting a sustained depreciation of the peso even in official channels.
USD to CUP Conversion Based on September 1, 2026 Exchange Rates
1 USD = 678 CUP
5 USD = 3,390 CUP
10 USD = 6,780 CUP
20 USD = 13,560 CUP
50 USD = 33,900 CUP
100 USD = 67,800 CUP
EUR to CUP Conversion Based on September 1, 2026 Exchange Rates
1 EUR = 768 CUP
5 EUR = 3,840 CUP
10 EUR = 7,680 CUP
20 EUR = 15,360 CUP
50 EUR = 38,400 CUP
100 EUR = 76,800 CUP
Methodology
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the Cuban informal market, developed through the automated analysis of thousands of currency postings on Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each transaction based on its age, and consolidates a representative value updated multiple times a day.
Understanding Cuba's Informal Currency Market
Why is the informal market important in Cuba?
The informal market plays a crucial role in Cuba due to the scarcity of foreign currencies through official channels. It often provides a more accurate reflection of the real exchange rate and demand among the population.
How do the official and informal exchange rates differ?
The official exchange rates are set by the Central Bank of Cuba and are generally lower than those in the informal market. This discrepancy arises because the informal market adjusts to real-time demand and supply, whereas the official rates are more controlled and often do not meet real currency needs.
What factors influence currency fluctuations in Cuba?
Currency fluctuations in Cuba are influenced by factors such as economic policies, inflation, foreign investment levels, and changes in government regulations. Additionally, international sanctions and diplomatic relations can also impact currency values.