As of 8:00 p.m. local time in Cuba, the informal currency market has wrapped up this Saturday, October 17, 2026, with both the U.S. dollar and euro experiencing gains.
The American currency concluded the day averaging 805 Cuban pesos, while the euro climbed up to 904 pesos.
In contrast, the MLC (Moneda Libremente Convertible) saw limited trading activity and is approximately valued at 652 pesos, though this figure should be approached with caution.
The Dollar's Trajectory
Closing at 805 Cuban pesos (CUP) on this Saturday, the U.S. dollar has increased by 2.5 pesos compared to the previous day, when it ended at 803 CUP.
Over the past week, the dollar has risen by 22.5 pesos—a notable 2.9% jump—from the 783 CUP it recorded seven days ago. On a monthly scale, the dollar has increased by 102.5 pesos since it stood at 703 CUP 30 days prior. However, it's important to consider potential methodological adjustments in these comparisons.
Within the last 30 days, the highest value recorded was 805 CUP, with a low of 703 CUP, underscoring the ongoing scarcity of foreign currency in the informal market.
Euro's Performance
The euro ended the day at 904 Cuban pesos (CUP), up from 898 CUP the day before, marking a daily increase of 6 pesos or 0.7%.
Compared to a week ago when it was valued at 876 CUP, the euro has surged by 28 pesos, or 3.2%.
Over the past month, the euro has gained 106 pesos from its previous level of 798 CUP 30 days ago. This variance may include methodological adjustments.
The euro's 30-day high is 905 CUP, with the lowest being 798 CUP. It surpasses the dollar by 99 pesos, asserting its dominant position in Cuba's parallel market.
MLC's Position
The MLC has ended with an indicative value of 652 Cuban pesos (CUP), although this needs to be treated cautiously due to the low trading volume seen at this time.
This marks an increase of 20 pesos from the previous day, when it stood at 632 CUP.
The past week's change is particularly striking: it rose by 154.5 pesos from 497 CUP seven days ago, a 31.1% increase, though this should be interpreted carefully given the limited transaction data.
Without a physical form, its usage is confined to state-run stores that accept it, limiting its circulation compared to cash currencies.
Exchange Rates Recap for October 17, 2026
USD to CUP: 805 CUP.
EUR to CUP: 904 CUP.
MLC to CUP: 652 CUP (indicative value, limited data).
The official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) today stands at 720 CUP per dollar and 811 CUP per euro, significantly below the practical rates in the informal market.
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far from the informal market's reality, failing to meet the population's actual demand for currency. The gap between official and informal rates for the dollar exceeds 85 pesos, while for the euro, it's nearly 93 pesos.
In an environment of sustained inflation, low state salaries, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, changes in the informal market directly affect domestic prices and the purchasing power of Cubans. The dollar's accumulation of over 100 pesos in the last month highlights the relentless pressure on the Cuban peso that remains unalleviated by the regime's policies.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of Cuba's informal market derived from automated analysis of thousands of currency trading posts on Telegram and Facebook groups. It filters out atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each transaction by its timeliness, and consolidates a representative value updated multiple times daily.
Currency Equivalency
U.S. Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP), based on this Saturday's rates:
1 USD = 805 CUP
5 USD = 4,025 CUP
10 USD = 8,050 CUP
20 USD = 16,100 CUP
50 USD = 40,250 CUP
100 USD = 80,500 CUP
Euro (EUR) to Cuban Peso (CUP), based on this Saturday's rates:
1 EUR = 904 CUP
5 EUR = 4,520 CUP
10 EUR = 9,040 CUP
20 EUR = 18,080 CUP
50 EUR = 45,200 CUP
100 EUR = 90,400 CUP
200 EUR = 180,800 CUP
Understanding Cuba's Informal Currency Market
Why is there a significant gap between official and informal exchange rates in Cuba?
The gap arises due to the government's inability to meet the actual demand for foreign currency, causing the informal market to adjust rates based on real supply and demand dynamics.
What impact does the rising dollar have on Cuba's economy?
A rising dollar increases pressure on the Cuban peso, leading to inflation and reducing the purchasing power of citizens, as goods become more expensive.