This is how the informal market closes in Cuba: the dollar and the euro remain stable

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Wednesday, August 5, 2026 - 8:49 PM

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

At 8:00 PM, local Cuban time, the closes for the day on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, with no changes in its two main indicators.

The U.S. dollar and the euro end the day exactly where they started, anchored at levels that continue to put pressure on the wallets of Cubans. The MLC, whose value is indicative due to the low volume of operations recorded in this range, closes with a slight decline.

The United States dollar (USD)

The U.S. dollar is quoted at 673 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this Wednesday. It remains unchanged compared to the previous day and matches the same value from seven days ago, indicating notable stability in the short term.

In the monthly outlook, the exchange rate rises by 2.5 pesos compared to 30 days ago, when it was at 670 CUP; however, this comparison should be taken with caution, as it may reflect methodological adjustments in the index rather than just market movement.

In the last 30 days, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 655 CUP and a high of 675 CUP. It continues to set the tone for the informal market in a context of structural currency shortages.

The euro (EUR)

The euro is priced at 785 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the end of the trading day, unchanged from yesterday and from the session seven days ago.

In the past month, however, the European currency has risen by 20 pesos —from 765 CUP thirty days ago to the current 785, an increase of 2.6%— although it is also important to note that the 30-day comparison may include methodological adjustments.

The euro exceeds the dollar by 112 pesos, consolidating its dominant position in the parallel market. Over the past 30 days, its exchange rate has fluctuated between 745 and 790 CUP. It is established as the most expensive currency in the Cuban parallel market.

The MLC

The MLC closes around 450 Cuban pesos (CUP), although this value should be considered indicative given the low volume of operations recorded.

It decreased by 1 peso compared to the previous day when it was at 451 CUP, and has accumulated a drop of 22 pesos from the 472 CUP of seven days ago.

In the last month, the drop is 25 pesos from the 475 CUP recorded 30 days ago, although this comparison may reflect adjustments in the methodology of the index. Without physical existence, its use is limited to state-run businesses that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash currencies.

Summary of exchange rates as of the close on August 5, 2026

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 673 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 785 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 450 CUP (indicative value).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) stands at 615 CUP per dollar and 709 CUP per euro, remaining well below the values that prevail in everyday practice in the informal currency market.

Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far from that of the informal market and fails to meet the actual demand for foreign currency among the population. The gap between both markets reaches 58 pesos in the case of the dollar and 76 pesos for the euro.

In a context of sustained inflation, low state wages, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every change in the informal market has a direct impact on internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.

The stability observed today does not imply relief: the dollar and the euro remain at historically high levels that erode the purchasing power of those earning in pesos.

The Exchange Rate of CiberCuba is an index of the Cuban informal market created from the automated analysis of thousands of currency trade posts in Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation excludes atypical offers and spam messages, weights each transaction according to its recency, and consolidates a representative value that is updated several times a day.