At 10:00 a.m. local time in Cuba, the informal currency market opened on Monday, October 5, 2026, with a surprising dip in the two major foreign currencies.
Both the U.S. dollar and the euro have lost ground compared to the previous day. Meanwhile, the MLC, with scant data available at this early hour, shows a tentative value that should be approached with caution.
Current Exchange Rates in Cuba's Informal Market
The current exchange rates in the informal market are as follows: The U.S. dollar is trading at 773 Cuban pesos (CUP), the euro at 875 CUP, and the MLC at 562 CUP, albeit with limited data.
U.S. Dollar Decline
The U.S. dollar now stands at 773 CUP, with buying at 760 CUP and selling at 785 CUP, marking a decrease of 12.5 pesos from the previous day's average of 785 CUP. Over the past week, the dollar has climbed 30 pesos from 743 CUP, a 4% increase, and over the past month, it has surged 90 pesos from 683 CUP, a 13.2% rise, although some of this might be due to methodological adjustments rather than pure market dynamics. In the last month, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 683 CUP and a high of 785 CUP.
The demand for dollars remains high among those seeking to safeguard their savings against the depreciating peso.
Euro Holds Strong Despite Decline
Despite the euro's dip to 875 CUP, with buying at 870 CUP and selling at 880 CUP, it retains its stronghold in the market. This is a decline of 10 pesos from the previous session's 885 CUP. Over the past week, the euro has risen by 28 pesos from 847 CUP, a 3.3% increase. Compared to 30 days ago, when it was 777 CUP, it has gained 98.5 pesos, which translates to a 12.7% increase, though monthly changes should be viewed cautiously due to potential methodological adjustments. The euro has peaked at 885 CUP and bottomed out at 775 CUP in the past month, maintaining a lead over the dollar by 102 pesos.
MLC's Tentative Rise
The MLC, a digital-only currency, is approximately 562 CUP, with buying at 464 CUP and selling at 660 CUP. This is an 87.5 pesos increase from the previous day's 475 CUP, although the wide gap between buying and selling indicates limited reference points. This figure should be considered provisional, as few transaction records are available at this time of day. Over the last week, the MLC has increased by 29 pesos from 533 CUP, and over the past month, it has advanced by 111 pesos from 451 CUP, a 24.6% rise, though this may include methodological adjustments. Without a physical presence, its use is restricted to state-run stores that accept it, limiting its circulation compared to cash currencies.
The Persistent Gap with Official Rates
The official exchange rate from the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), set at 695 CUP per dollar and 783 CUP per euro, remains significantly lower than those in the informal market. The discrepancy exceeds 78 pesos for the dollar and 92 pesos for the euro. Even though Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rates are still far from meeting the real demand for foreign currency by the population. In the last month, the official dollar rate increased from 640 to 695 CUP, and the euro from 744 to 783 CUP, adjustments that have yet to close the gap with the parallel market. Amid ongoing inflation, low state salaries, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, any shift in the informal market directly impacts domestic prices and Cubans' purchasing power.
USD to CUP Conversion Rates
1 USD = 773 CUP
5 USD = 3,865 CUP
10 USD = 7,730 CUP
20 USD = 15,460 CUP
50 USD = 38,650 CUP
100 USD = 77,300 CUP
EUR to CUP Conversion Rates
1 EUR = 875 CUP
5 EUR = 4,375 CUP
10 EUR = 8,750 CUP
20 EUR = 17,500 CUP
50 EUR = 43,750 CUP
100 EUR = 87,500 CUP
200 EUR = 175,000 CUP
Methodology
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the Cuban informal market, crafted from the automated analysis of thousands of currency exchange listings in Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weighing each transaction by its recency to consolidate a representative value that is updated multiple times a day.
Key Questions About Cuba's Informal Currency Market
Why did the dollar and euro decline in Cuba's informal market?
The decline in dollar and euro values in Cuba's informal market can be attributed to market fluctuations and potential adjustments in methodology used to calculate exchange rates.
How does the MLC's value compare to the dollar and euro in the informal market?
The MLC is valued at approximately 562 CUP, with a wide range between buying and selling due to limited data, making it less stable compared to cash currencies like the dollar and euro.
What is the official exchange rate difference compared to the informal market?
The official exchange rates are significantly lower, with the dollar and euro values being 78 and 92 pesos less, respectively, than those in the informal market.