The informal currency market in Cuba is witnessing a significant upward trend as of Tuesday, October 20, with the primary foreign currencies experiencing notable pressure.
By 10:00 a.m. local time, the American dollar had climbed to an impressive 817 Cuban pesos, while the Euro reached 905 CUP, and the MLC (Moneda Libremente Convertible) was around 576 pesos.
Informal Market Exchange Rate Overview
USD to CUP: 817 CUP
EUR to CUP: 905 CUP
MLC to CUP: 576 CUP (indicative value, limited data)
USD's Upward Trajectory
The U.S. dollar is trading at 817 Cuban pesos (CUP) on the informal market, with a buying rate of 814 CUP and a selling rate of 820 CUP. This reflects a 5-peso increase from the previous day when it closed at 812 CUP.
Looking at the weekly trend, the dollar has risen from 788 CUP just a week ago, marking a nearly 30-peso increase over seven days.
In the past month, the dollar has surged from 713 CUP, although this 30-day comparison might partly reflect methodological adjustments in the index.
Over the last 30 days, the dollar has reached a peak of 817 CUP — the current level — and a low of 712 CUP.
The demand for dollars remains high as individuals seek to safeguard their savings from the depreciation of the Cuban peso.
Euro's Climb to Monthly Peak
The Euro is trading at 905 Cuban pesos (CUP), with a buying rate of 900 CUP and a selling rate of 910 CUP. This represents a 2-peso increase from the previous day, where it stood at 903 CUP.
Over the past week, the European currency has risen by 20 pesos from 885 CUP just seven days ago.
Similar to the dollar, the euro is hitting its highest point in the last 30 days, with a monthly low of 812 CUP.
It is now the most expensive currency in Cuba's parallel market, surpassing the dollar by 88 pesos on average.
MLC's Indicative Value Due to Low Volume
The MLC stands at approximately 576 Cuban pesos (CUP), with a buying rate of 496 CUP and a selling rate of 656 CUP.
This reference should be approached with caution due to limited data available during this time frame, making it more of an indicative value.
According to the previous session's data, the MLC was at 637 CUP, implying a 61-peso decrease, although the wide bid-ask spread indicates low liquidity for this currency in the informal market.
In the last 30 days, it has fluctuated between a high of 665 CUP and a low of 457 CUP.
Widening Gap with Official Exchange Rates
The official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) remains at 725 CUP per dollar and 813 CUP per euro, significantly lower than the rates prevailing in the informal currency market.
Today, the gap between the official and informal prices stands at 92 pesos for both the dollar and the euro.
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rates continue to fall short of meeting the real currency demand among the population.
Over the past month, the official rate for the dollar has increased from 669 to 725 CUP, an adjustment that nonetheless fails to bridge the gap with the parallel market.
This disparity between official and informal rates highlights the persistent currency shortages in the state banking system and the significant demand for dollars and euros by the public, whether for emigration, importing goods, protecting savings, or making purchases in the private sector.
USD to Cuban Peso Conversion
According to the exchange rates on Tuesday, October 20, 2026:
1 USD = 817 CUP
5 USD = 4,085 CUP
10 USD = 8,170 CUP
20 USD = 16,340 CUP
50 USD = 40,850 CUP
100 USD = 81,700 CUP
EUR to Cuban Peso Conversion
According to the exchange rates on Tuesday, October 20, 2026:
1 EUR = 905 CUP
5 EUR = 4,525 CUP
10 EUR = 9,050 CUP
20 EUR = 18,100 CUP
50 EUR = 45,250 CUP
100 EUR = 90,500 CUP
200 EUR = 181,000 CUP
Methodology
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the Cuban informal market created through automated analysis of thousands of currency exchange posts in Telegram and Facebook groups. It filters out unusual offers and spam messages, weights each transaction by its age, and consolidates a representative value that updates multiple times a day.
Key Insights into Cuba's Currency Exchange Dynamics
Why is the dollar demand high in Cuba?
The high demand for dollars in Cuba is driven by individuals aiming to protect their savings from the depreciation of the Cuban peso, as well as for purposes such as emigration, importing goods, and private sector purchases.
How does the Euro compare to the dollar in the Cuban market?
In Cuba's parallel market, the Euro is currently more expensive than the dollar, with a difference of 88 pesos on average in their value.
What is the official exchange rate of the Cuban peso?
The official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Cuba is 725 CUP per dollar and 813 CUP per euro, which is significantly lower than the rates in the informal market.