The Cuban informal market begins the week with two updates: a sharp drop 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 previous day.
The MLC also falls, decreasing by 15 pesos and standing at 385 CUP, dropping below the threshold of 400, as revealed by the daily report from the independent outlet elTOQUE.
The U.S. dollar, for its part, has steadily maintained the 510 CUP it reached almost 10 days ago. In a scenario 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 real 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 currency market) remains far below the values that govern everyday practice.
The gap between the official and informal exchange rates reflects the persistent shortage 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 compounded by the so-called "floating" exchange rate, which, although introduced as a more flexible mechanism since mid-December, remains very distant from the informal quote and fails to meet the actual currency demand of the population.
Equivalence of United States Dollar (USD) bills to Cuban Peso (CUP), based on the exchange rates for 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.
Equivalence of Euro banknotes (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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