By 10:00 a.m. Cuban local time, the informal currency market in Cuba has reached a significant milestone on Saturday, October 17, 2026, highlighting a turning point in the recent history of the Cuban peso: the U.S. dollar has exceeded the 800 peso mark for the first time.
The American currency is being traded at an average of 805 pesos, while the euro has climbed to 901 pesos. Meanwhile, the MLC (Moneda Libremente Convertible) stands at approximately 634 pesos, though this figure should be seen as a guideline due to limited data availability at this hour.
Exchange Rate Overview
The exchange rate for the U.S. dollar to CUP is set at 805, while the euro is valued at 901 CUP. The MLC, with a value of 634 CUP, is more of an approximate figure due to sparse data.
Dollar's Historic Rise
This Saturday, the U.S. dollar is valued at 805 Cuban pesos (CUP) in the informal market, with buying at 800 CUP and selling at 810 CUP. This marks a seven-peso increase from the previous day, when the average rate was 798 pesos.
For the first time, the dollar has crossed the 800 peso threshold in Cuba's informal market, marking a milestone that underscores the rapid deterioration of the Cuban peso.
Over the past week, the dollar has surged by 27.5 pesos, a 3.5% increase from 778 pesos a week ago. The monthly trend is even more pronounced: 30 days ago, the average rate was 700 pesos, signifying a 105-peso rise in that period, equal to a 15% increase, though part of this change may reflect methodological adjustments in the index rather than pure market movement.
Within the last month, the dollar has fluctuated between a minimum of 701 pesos and today's record high of 805 pesos. The demand for dollars remains high among those seeking to shield their savings from the ongoing depreciation of the peso.
Euro's Surge Past 900 Pesos
The euro begins the day at 901 Cuban pesos (CUP), with buying at 900 CUP and selling at 901 CUP. Compared to the previous day when it was reported at 895 pesos, the euro has increased by 6 pesos, a 0.6% rise. Over the last week, the European currency has gained 25.5 pesos from 875 CUP seven days ago, a 2.9% increase.
In the past 30 days, the euro has risen by 104 pesos from the 797 CUP recorded a month ago, indicating a 13.1% increase. However, this figure should be viewed with caution as it may include methodological index adjustments. Over the last month, the euro has ranged from a low of 796 pesos to a peak of 903 pesos. It stands as the most expensive currency in Cuba's parallel market, surpassing the dollar by 96 pesos, driven by limited supply and demand from those receiving remittances from Europe.
The MLC's Indicative Value
This Saturday, the MLC is approximately valued at 634 Cuban pesos (CUP), with buying at 508 CUP and selling at 760 CUP. This value should be considered as indicative only, as sources warn of scarce data in this timeframe. Compared to the previous session, where the average was 623 pesos, the MLC has risen by roughly 11.5 pesos.
Over the past week, it has climbed 110 pesos from 524 CUP seven days ago, a 21% increase. In the last 30 days, the MLC has jumped from 453 to 634 pesos, although this 40% variation may partly reflect methodological adjustments in the index.
As a purely digital currency with no physical banknotes, its use is limited to state-run stores authorized to operate in this currency, the only places where it is accepted, restricting its circulation compared to cash currencies.
An Unprecedented Milestone in the Informal Market
The dollar's surpassing of the 800 peso barrier this Saturday, October 17, 2026, marks the highest level recorded since systematic monitoring of Cuba's informal market began. Just a month ago, the dollar traded at 700 pesos; a week ago, at 778.
The rapid rise—over 100 pesos in 30 days—is unprecedented in recent history, highlighting an acceleration in the Cuban peso's depreciation, which directly impacts the purchasing power of the population.
The official exchange rate from the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), set today at 720 CUP per dollar and 811 CUP per euro, remains significantly lower than the values prevailing in the everyday informal currency market.
The gap between the official and informal rates reaches 85 pesos for the dollar and 90 pesos for the euro today, illustrating the disconnect between the formal economy and the reality experienced by Cubans.
Though Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far from that of the informal market and fails to meet the real currency demand of the population.
In the past 30 days, the official dollar rate has increased from 664 to 720 CUP, a significant adjustment that has nonetheless failed to curb the parallel market's escalation.
In a scenario of sustained inflation, low state wages, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, each variation in the informal market directly impacts internal prices and the purchasing capacity of Cubans.
The breach of the 800 peso barrier is not just a number: it reflects a structural crisis that the Cuban regime has been unable to contain.
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the Cuban informal market, developed from the automated analysis of thousands of currency exchange posts in Telegram and Facebook groups.
The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each operation according to its age, and consolidates a representative value that is updated several times a day.
U.S. Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP) Conversion:
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) Conversion:
1 EUR = 901 CUP
5 EUR = 4,505 CUP
10 EUR = 9,010 CUP
20 EUR = 18,020 CUP
50 EUR = 45,050 CUP
100 EUR = 90,100 CUP
200 EUR = 180,200 CUP
Understanding Cuba's Informal Currency Market
Why has the U.S. dollar surpassed 800 pesos in Cuba?
The U.S. dollar has surpassed 800 pesos due to the accelerated depreciation of the Cuban peso, driven by high demand from citizens seeking to protect their savings amid economic instability.
What factors contribute to the euro's value exceeding 900 pesos?
The euro's value exceeding 900 pesos is influenced by limited supply, high demand from remittances, and ongoing economic challenges in Cuba that increase its value in the informal market.
How does the informal market differ from the official exchange rate?
The informal market rates are significantly higher than the official exchange rates set by the Central Bank of Cuba, reflecting the actual demand and supply dynamics in the country, whereas the official rates often do not meet the real currency needs of the population.