As of 8:00 p.m. local time in Cuba, the informal currency market concluded its trading on Saturday, October 24, 2026, with both the US dollar and the euro experiencing an uptick. The American currency averaged 834 Cuban pesos, marking an increase of four pesos from the previous session. Meanwhile, the euro rose to 925 pesos, up by 6.5 pesos from the day before. The MLC (freely convertible currency), on the other hand, hovered around 585 pesos, a figure that should be considered indicative due to the low volume of transactions supporting it. You can track the trends in Cuba's informal exchange rates for further insights.
The US dollar closed the day valued at 834 Cuban pesos (CUP), reflecting a 4 pesos rise from its prior close of 830 CUP. Over the past week, the dollar has gained 29 pesos against the 805 CUP recorded seven days ago, signifying a 3.6% increase. In the last month, the dollar has surged from 728 pesos; however, it should be noted that some of this fluctuation could be attributed to index methodology adjustments rather than pure market dynamics. Over the past 30 days, today's peak of 834 CUP was the highest, with the lowest being 728 CUP. The demand for dollars remains high among those seeking to safeguard their savings from the peso's depreciation.
The euro ended the day at 925 Cuban pesos (CUP), reaching its highest level in the past 30 days. This represents a 6.5 pesos increase compared to the previous day when it stood at 919 CUP. Over the last week, the European currency has gained 21.5 pesos from the 904 CUP it was valued at seven days ago. The euro's monthly low was 830 CUP. It stands as the most expensive currency in Cuba's parallel market, surpassing the dollar by 91 pesos and cementing its dominant position.
MLC Trends and Its Implications
The MLC closed approximately at 585 Cuban pesos (CUP), though this figure should be approached with caution due to the limited number of transactions that support it at this time. Compared to the previous day, it rose by 15 pesos from 570 CUP. Nonetheless, it has retreated by 66.5 pesos over the past week from 652 CUP seven days ago. The MLC's 30-day high was 742 CUP, with a low of 457 CUP. Without physical existence, its use is confined to state-run stores that accept it, restricting its circulation compared to cash currencies.
The official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) is pegged at 743 CUP per dollar and 832 CUP per euro, significantly lower than the rates prevailing in the informal currency market. The gap between the two markets exceeds 90 pesos for the dollar and approaches 93 pesos for the euro.
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rates remain far from those in the informal market and fail to meet the real demand for foreign currency among the population. Over the last month, the official dollar rate climbed from 676 to 743 CUP, while the euro rose from 770 to 832 CUP, yet this increase has not bridged the gap with the parallel market.
Amid persistent inflation, low state salaries, and an increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every fluctuation in the informal market directly impacts domestic prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.
Informal Market Exchange Rates
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of Cuba's informal market, developed through automated analysis of thousands of currency trading posts on Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weighting each transaction by its recency and consolidating a representative value that is updated multiple times a day.
US Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP) Equivalency for Saturday, October 24, 2026:
1 USD = 834 CUP
5 USD = 4,170 CUP
10 USD = 8,340 CUP
20 USD = 16,680 CUP
50 USD = 41,700 CUP
100 USD = 83,400 CUP
Euro (EUR) to Cuban Peso (CUP) Equivalency for Saturday, October 24, 2026:
1 EUR = 925 CUP
5 EUR = 4,625 CUP
10 EUR = 9,250 CUP
20 EUR = 18,500 CUP
50 EUR = 46,250 CUP
100 EUR = 92,500 CUP
200 EUR = 185,000 CUP
Understanding Cuba's Informal Currency Market
What is the current exchange rate for the US dollar in Cuba's informal market?
As of October 24, 2026, the US dollar is trading at 834 Cuban pesos in the informal market.
How does the euro compare to the dollar in Cuba's informal market?
The euro is currently more expensive than the dollar, trading at 925 Cuban pesos compared to the dollar's 834 pesos.
Why is the MLC less frequently used than other currencies?
The MLC lacks physical form and is mainly accepted in state-run stores, limiting its circulation compared to cash-based currencies.