The Cuban informal market starts the week with two updates: a sharp decline in the value of the euro and the Convertible Currency (MLC).
At 6:00 a.m. (local time) this Monday, the euro drops to 565 CUP, which is 15 pesos less than the value it reached the day before.
The MLC also falls, decreasing by 15 pesos to 385 CUP, dropping below the 400 threshold, as revealed by the daily report from the independent media elTOQUE.
The U.S. dollar, for its part, has consistently maintained the 510 CUP level it reached nearly 10 days ago. In an environment of sustained inflation, low state wages, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, the informal currency market directly impacts internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.
Exchange Rate Evolution
Exchange rate today 09/03/2026 - 6:17 a.m. in Cuba:
Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP according to elTOQUE: 510 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP according to elTOQUE: 565 CUP.
Exchange rate of MLC to CUP according to elTOQUE: 385 CUP.
The rates published by elTOQUE have become a key indicator for measuring the actual evolution of the Cuban peso against foreign currencies, in a context where the official exchange rate (1 USD = 24 CUP for legal entities and 1 USD = 120 CUP in the state foreign exchange market) remains far below the values that prevail in everyday practice.
The gap between the official and informal rates reflects the ongoing scarcity of foreign currency in the state banking system and the high demand for dollars and euros among the population, whether for emigration, importing goods, protecting savings, or making purchases in the private sector.
This is further compounded by the so-called "floating" exchange rate, which, although introduced as a more flexible mechanism since mid-December, remains far from the informal rate and fails to meet the actual demand for foreign currency among the population.
Equivalence of United States Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP), according to the exchange rates as of March 9:
1 USD = 510 CUP.
5 USD = 2,550 CUP.
10 USD = 5,100 CUP.
20 USD = 10,200 CUP.
50 USD = 25,500 CUP.
100 USD = 51,000 CUP.
Exchange rate of Euro notes (EUR) to Cuban Peso (CUP):
1 EUR = 565 CUP.
5 EUR = 2.825 CUP.
10 EUR = 5,650 CUP.
20 EUR = 11,300 CUP.
50 EUR = 28,250 CUP.
100 EUR = 56,500 CUP.
200 EUR = 113,000 CUP.
500 EUR = 282,500 CUP.
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