Thus closes the informal market in Cuba: the dollar and the euro rise at the end of the day

Latest News
By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Saturday, July 25, 2026 - 00:39

An upward trend is consolidating throughout the weekPhoto © CiberCuba/ChatGPT

At 8:00 PM, local Cuban time, the informal currency market in Cuba closes this Friday, July 24, with a day marked by the rise of the dollar and the euro.

Both currencies end the day higher compared to the previous session, consolidating an upward trend that has been ongoing throughout the week.

The MLC, for its part, shows a slight decline compared to yesterday, although its quote should be taken as a guiding reference given the low volume of transactions that underpins it.

You can check the historical data and real-time evolution of the .

Exchange Rate Evolution

The United States dollar

The U.S. dollar closes this Friday with an average value of 674 Cuban pesos (CUP), representing an increase of 3.5 pesos compared to the previous day, when it was at 670 CUP. The North American currency has steadily gained ground throughout the week: seven days ago it was trading at 660 pesos, which means an increase of 13.5 pesos during that period, equivalent to a rise of 2%.

In the monthly perspective, the dollar is slightly below the 680 pesos it marked 30 days ago, although this comparison should be viewed with caution, as it may reflect adjustments in the methodology of the index in addition to the market movement itself.

In the last 30 days, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 610 and a high of 680 pesos in the informal market. It continues to dictate the rhythm of the informal market in a context of structural currency shortages.

The euro

The euro ends the day at 785 Cuban pesos (CUP), marking an increase of 7 pesos compared to the previous session, when it was quoted at 778 CUP. It is the currency that shows the most significant rise of the day, both in absolute and percentage terms, with a gain of 0.9% compared to yesterday.

In the past week, the euro has risen by 30 pesos from 755 CUP a week ago, an increase of 4% that solidifies it as the most expensive currency in the Cuban black market.

Compared to 30 days ago, when it was around 790 pesos, the difference is minimal and may be due to methodological variations in the index. The monthly range of the euro has fluctuated between 688 and 790 pesos. It exceeds the dollar by 111 pesos, solidifying its dominant position in the informal market.

The MLC

The MLC closes this Friday with a benchmark value of 470 Cuban pesos (CUP), a decrease of 2.5 pesos compared to the previous day, when it was at 473 CUP.

This reference should be taken with caution, as the trading volume supporting its quote is low during this time period. However, in the last week, the MLC has increased by 36 pesos from 434 CUP seven days ago, a rise of 8.3%.

In a monthly perspective, the decline is significant: 30 days ago it was priced at 532 pesos, although this variation may partly reflect adjustments in the index methodology.

The monthly range of the MLC has been extended between 399 and 543 pesos. Without physical existence, its use is limited to the state-run stores that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash foreign currencies.

Summary of informal market exchange rates — closing on July 24, 2026

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 674 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 785 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 470 CUP (indicative value, limited data).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) is 598 CUP per dollar and 680 CUP per euro, remaining well below the values that prevail in everyday practice in the informal currency market.

The gap between the official dollar price and the informal rate exceeds 76 pesos, while in the case of the euro, the difference reaches 105 pesos.

Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official quotation remains far from that of the informal market and fails to meet the actual demand for foreign currency by the population.

In the last month, the official dollar has risen from 574 CUP to 598 CUP, and the official euro has increased from 653 CUP to 680 CUP, adjustments that have not managed to close the gap with the parallel market.

In an environment of sustained inflation, low state wages, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every fluctuation in the informal market directly affects internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.

The simultaneous rise of the dollar and the euro this Friday increases pressure on the Cuban peso and makes everyday transactions that rely on foreign currencies even more expensive.

The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the informal Cuban market created through the automated analysis of thousands of currency trading posts in Telegram and Facebook groups.

The calculation disregards atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each transaction based on its age, and consolidates a representative value that is updated several times a day.