By 8:00 PM local time, Cuba's informal currency market wrapped up trading on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, with both the U.S. dollar and the euro climbing in value.
The American currency ended the day valued at 823 Cuban pesos, while the euro increased to 912 pesos.
The MLC, meanwhile, showed a tentative value that should be approached cautiously due to the limited volume of transactions at this time of day. For a comprehensive view, one can refer to the evolution of the informal exchange rate in Cuba.
U.S. Dollar's Performance
The U.S. dollar closed this session at 823 Cuban pesos (CUP), marking a 5-peso increase compared to its previous closing of 818 CUP.
Over the past week, the currency has risen by 27.5 pesos from 795 CUP, reflecting a 3.5% increase. In the last month, it has surged from 718 CUP, although some of this change may be attributed to methodological adjustments in the index rather than purely market movements.
The highest value recorded in the last 30 days aligns with today's figure: 823 CUP. This highlights the ongoing challenges in the informal market amid a systemic shortage of foreign currency.
Euro's Momentum
Closing at 912 Cuban pesos, the euro rose by 4 pesos from the previous day's 908 CUP, marking its peak in the last 30 days. A week ago, it was at 890 CUP, showing a 2.4% increase.
The euro remains the most expensive currency in Cuba's shadow market, surpassing the dollar by 89 pesos and solidifying its dominant position.
MLC's Indicative Value
At the close, the MLC indicated an average value of 733 Cuban pesos, yet this figure is based on limited data and should be viewed with skepticism.
Compared to the previous day's 587 CUP, this change is significant, but the low volume of trades diminishes its reliability. Without physical existence, its use is confined to state-run stores that accept it, limiting its circulation compared to cash currencies.
Exchange Rates Recap
USD to CUP exchange rate: 823 CUP.
EUR to CUP exchange rate: 912 CUP.
MLC to CUP exchange rate: 733 CUP (indicative value, limited data).
The official exchange rate from the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) stands at 729 CUP per dollar and 819 CUP per euro, significantly lower than the rates prevailing in the informal currency market.
Even though Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rates remain far from the informal market's levels and fail to meet the real demand for foreign currency among the population.
In the past month, the official dollar rate has risen from 669 to 729 CUP, and the euro from 767 to 819 CUP, but this upward trend still does not bridge the gap with the parallel market: currently, the difference is 94 pesos for the dollar and 93 pesos for the euro.
Amid persistent inflation, low state wages, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every shift in the informal market directly impacts internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of Cuba's informal market derived from automated analysis of thousands of currency trade posts on Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam, weighs each transaction by its recency, and consolidates a representative value updated multiple times a day.
Currency Equivalences
U.S. Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP) Conversion:
1 USD = 823 CUP
5 USD = 4,115 CUP
10 USD = 8,230 CUP
20 USD = 16,460 CUP
50 USD = 41,150 CUP
100 USD = 82,300 CUP
Euro (EUR) to Cuban Peso (CUP) Conversion:
1 EUR = 912 CUP
5 EUR = 4,560 CUP
10 EUR = 9,120 CUP
20 EUR = 18,240 CUP
50 EUR = 45,600 CUP
100 EUR = 91,200 CUP
200 EUR = 182,400 CUP
Understanding Cuba's Informal Currency Market
Why is the informal currency market important in Cuba?
The informal currency market in Cuba is crucial because it reflects the real demand and supply of foreign currency, which significantly affects the local economy, internal prices, and purchasing power.
How does the exchange rate in the informal market compare to the official rate?
The exchange rate in the informal market is typically higher than the official rate. The gap reflects the inefficiencies and limitations of the official exchange mechanism in meeting the population's currency needs.
What influences the fluctuation of the dollar and euro in Cuba's informal market?
Fluctuations in the informal market are influenced by factors such as foreign currency availability, economic policies, inflation, and the general economic situation in Cuba.