As the clock strikes 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026, the informal currency market in Cuba kicks off with notable increases in both the dollar and the euro.
The U.S. dollar jumps to 785 Cuban pesos (CUP), the euro climbs to 880 CUP, and the MLC, with limited trading volume, hovers around 468 pesos, a figure that should be viewed as a guideline.
Dollar's Upward Momentum
The increase in the dollar is far from isolated; the American currency has steadily risen from 733 pesos just a week ago to today's 785, indicating a continuing upward trend. The euro is also riding this wave, setting a new high for the month.
Today, the U.S. dollar is valued at 785 CUP in the informal market, with buying and selling rates at 780 and 789 CUP, respectively. This marks an 11-peso increase from the previous session, where it closed at about 774 CUP.
Weekly and Monthly Trends
Over the past week, the dollar's jump is even more striking, moving up 52 pesos from its 733 rate seven days ago, reflecting a 7.1% increase. When compared to 30 days ago, the current rate is 107 pesos higher than the 678 CUP recorded at the start of September, although this may partially reflect index methodology adjustments.
In the past month, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 678 and today's high of 785 CUP. Demand for dollars remains strong among those looking to safeguard their savings against the peso's depreciation.
Euro's Performance
The euro today is priced at 880 CUP, with buying at 870 CUP and selling at 889 CUP. Compared to the previous day, when it was at 875 CUP, it has risen by 5 pesos, a 0.5% increase.
In the last week, the euro has risen by 40 pesos from its 840 CUP value seven days ago, marking a 4.8% increase. On a monthly scale, the European currency has gained 106.5 pesos from the 773 CUP of 30 days prior, although caution is advised due to possible methodological adjustments.
With the euro surpassing the dollar by 95 pesos, it stands as the most expensive currency in Cuba's parallel market, driven by limited supply and demand from those receiving remittances from Europe.
MLC Market Overview
The MLC is currently around 468 CUP, with buying at 472 CUP and selling at 463 CUP. This should be considered a rough estimate, given the limited volume of transactions at this time.
Compared to the previous session, where it stood at 504 CUP, it has decreased by 36 pesos, a 7.1% drop. Over the past week, it has fallen by 21.5 pesos from the 489 CUP of seven days ago. Without physical existence, its use is confined to state-run shops, limiting its circulation compared to cash currencies.
Informal Market Exchange Rates
Exchange rate for USD to CUP: 785 CUP
Exchange rate for EUR to CUP: 880 CUP
Exchange rate for MLC to CUP: 468 CUP (indicative value, limited data)
The official exchange rate by the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), set today at 695 CUP per dollar and 783 CUP per euro, remains significantly lower than the rates prevalent in the practical sphere of the informal currency market.
Disparity in Exchange Rates
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible foreign exchange mechanism, its official rate continues to lag behind the informal market, failing to meet the real demand for currencies among the population.
Today, the gap between the two markets reaches 90 pesos for the dollar and 97 pesos for the euro, illustrating the stark mismatch between the official economy and the everyday realities faced by Cubans.
The disparity between official and informal rates reflects 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 purchases in the private sector.
In a context of 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 of Cuba's informal market, generated from automated analysis of thousands of currency trading posts on Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weights each transaction by its age, and consolidates a representative value updated multiple times a day.
Currency Equivalences
U.S. Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP) Equivalences for October 3, 2026
1 USD = 785 CUP
5 USD = 3,925 CUP
10 USD = 7,850 CUP
20 USD = 15,700 CUP
50 USD = 39,250 CUP
100 USD = 78,500 CUP
Euro (EUR) to Cuban Peso (CUP) Equivalences for October 3, 2026
1 EUR = 880 CUP
5 EUR = 4,400 CUP
10 EUR = 8,800 CUP
20 EUR = 17,600 CUP
50 EUR = 44,000 CUP
100 EUR = 88,000 CUP
200 EUR = 176,000 CUP
Understanding Cuba's Informal Market Exchange Rates
Why is the informal market exchange rate higher than the official rate in Cuba?
The informal market exchange rate in Cuba is higher due to the scarcity of foreign currency in the official banking system and the high demand for dollars and euros among the population.
How does the fluctuation in informal exchange rates affect Cubans?
Fluctuations in informal exchange rates directly affect domestic prices and the purchasing power of Cubans, especially in a context of inflation and low state salaries.
What is the CiberCuba Exchange Rate?
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the informal market in Cuba, created from the automated analysis of currency trading posts on Telegram and Facebook groups, providing a representative value updated multiple times daily.