This is how the informal market in Cuba closes: the dollar ends the day stable

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By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Thursday, August 6, 2026 - 8:46 PM

Reference image created with Artificial IntelligencePhoto © CiberCuba / ChatGPT

At 8:00 PM, Cuban local time, closes its session this Thursday, August 6, without any surprises. The dollar ends the day at 673 Cuban pesos, exactly the same as yesterday and a week ago. The euro also concludes without changes compared to the previous session, at 785 pesos, although it has accumulated an upward trend in the monthly balance. The MLC, with limited data available and indicative value, is around 449 pesos, slightly below today's opening.

The United States dollar (USD)

The U.S. dollar is quoted at 673 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this Thursday. It remains unchanged from the previous day and has not recorded any variations compared to seven days ago, when it was also at 673 pesos. In the monthly balance, the North American currency has increased by just 2.5 pesos from the 670 recorded 30 days ago, a change that, with the caution warranted by such a time frame, indicates sustained stability. Over the last 30 days, the dollar has fluctuated between a minimum of 655 and a maximum of 675 pesos in the informal market. It continues to set the pace of the informal market in a context of structural currency shortages.

The euro (EUR)

The euro closes at 785 Cuban pesos (CUP), unchanged from the previous session and from seven days ago. However, on a monthly horizon, the European currency has gained 29.5 pesos compared to 756 from 30 days ago, representing a 3.9% increase, although it is advisable to approach this comparison with caution as it may reflect adjustments in the methodology of the index in addition to market movements. In the last month, the euro has reached a low of 745 and a high of 790 pesos. It surpasses the dollar by 112 pesos, solidifying its dominant position in the Cuban parallel market.

The MLC

The MLC is closing around 449 Cuban pesos (CUP), which is a guiding value given that available data in this range is scarce. Compared to today's opening, it has decreased by 1.5 pesos (-0.3%), and it also fell by 1.5 pesos from the previous day. In the weekly comparison, the decline is more pronounced: 25.5 pesos less than seven days ago (-5.4%). In the monthly balance, the drop reaches 44 pesos compared to 493 from 30 days ago (-8.9%), although this reference should be taken with caution. Without physical existence, its use is limited to the state-run shops that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash currencies.

Exchange Rate Evolution

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: 449 CUP (indicative value, limited data)

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III), at 618 CUP per dollar and 714 CUP per euro, remains well below the values that govern everyday transactions 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 the official and informal rates reflects the ongoing shortage of foreign currency in the state banking system and the high demand for dollars and euros by the population, whether for emigration, importing goods, safeguarding savings, or making purchases in the private sector.

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

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