The three main currencies of the Cuban informal market saw increases this Sunday compared to the previous day. According to data recorded early this morning, the dollar is priced at 665 Cuban pesos, the euro at 765 CUP, and the MLC at 453 CUP.
On Saturday, the dollar closed at 663 CUP, the euro at 756 CUP, and the MLC at 433 CUP, which means that in just one day, the dollar gained two pesos, the euro increased by nine, and the MLC rose by 20 pesos.
Informal exchange rate in Cuba Sunday, July 19, 2026 - 06:00
Exchange rate of the dollar (USD) to Cuban pesos CUP: 665 CUP
Exchange rate of the euro (EUR) to Cuban pesos CUP: 765 CUP
Exchange rate from (MLC) to Cuban pesos CUP: 453 CUP
The behavior throughout the month has been volatile. The dollar reached its all-time high on June 21 at 695 CUP, only to plummet to 605 CUP by the 30th of that month—a drop of 90 pesos in nine days—and then gradually recover during July to stabilize in the range of 660-665 CUP in the second half of the month.
The euro followed a similar trajectory: from the 790-800 CUP recorded between June 19 and 24, it fell to a low of about 700 CUP at the end of that month, and then recovered to the range of 750-765 CUP during the first two weeks of July.
Exchange Rate Evolution
The MLC was the most volatile currency during the period: from nearly 500 CUP at the beginning of July, it plummeted to a low of around 433 CUP between July 8 and 11, temporarily recovered to about 487 CUP, and then fell again before the spike this Sunday.
The Currency and Finance Observatory (OMFi) of elTOQUE warned that "the recent decline of foreign currencies at the end of June was temporary" and that "the demand for dollars has regained strength against the supply," projecting that the greenback will fluctuate between 620 and 730 CUP during July, with 700 CUP as a resistance level.
The gap between the official rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (BCC) —which sets the dollar at 592 CUP— and the informal price this Sunday exceeds 12%, highlighting the deep currency distortion that the Cuban economy suffers from.
The impact on the population is devastating. The new minimum wage of 3,210 CUP, effective since July 1st, is equivalent to less than five dollars at the informal exchange rate, while the official average salary of 6,930 CUP barely reaches 10.5 dollars per month.
Independent economists estimate that meeting basic needs requires about 96,060 pesos per month, which is approximately 30 times the minimum wage. A dozen eggs costs between 3,000 and 4,000 pesos, nearly the entire minimum wage.
In six years, the Cuban peso has lost more than 95% of its value against the dollar: from 42 CUP in 2020 to 665 CUP this Sunday. The OMFi warns that "the Cuban government faces a credibility problem" and that internal reforms "will hardly be sufficient unless accompanied by some form of negotiation with the United States."
In a pessimistic scenario, analysts project that the dollar could exceed 1,000 CUP before the end of 2026.
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