opens the day this Wednesday, August 19, with uneven movement among the three reference currencies.
At 10:00 a.m. (local Cuban time), the euro has seen a significant decline compared to the previous day, the US dollar remains unchanged, and the MLC is rising, although its valuation should be taken with caution due to the low trading volume that supports it.
Summary of informal market rates
- Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 663 CUP.
- Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 751 CUP.
- Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 488 CUP (indicative value, limited data).
The dollar remains unchanged
The U.S. dollar is trading at 663 Cuban pesos (CUP) in the informal market, the same value it had on the previous day.
Stability also extends to the weekly comparison: seven days ago, the greenback averaged 665 pesos, just 2 pesos above the current level, representing a variation of -0.4%.
Exchange Rate Evolution
In the monthly outlook, the figure is the same: 30 days ago, the dollar was also at 665 pesos. However, it's important to note that this comparison may reflect adjustments in the index's methodology and not just market movements.
In the last 30 days, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 663 and a high of 675 pesos. It continues to set the tone for the informal market in a context of structural currency scarcity.
The euro is on the decline
The euro opens this Wednesday at 751 Cuban pesos (CUP), which represents a decrease of 6.5 pesos compared to the previous day, when it was exchanged at 758 pesos.
The downward trend is also confirmed in the weekly comparison: a week ago, the euro averaged 760 pesos, which is 9 pesos more than today (-1.2%).
In the last month, the European currency has lost 14 pesos from the 765 it recorded 30 days ago, although this comparison may include adjustments to the index methodology.
The maximum over the last 30 days was 790 pesos, while the minimum was precisely the current 751 CUP.
It maintains its advantage over the dollar, driven by limited supply and the demand from those receiving remittances from Europe, although the trend in recent sessions suggests a gradual correction.
The MLC is on the rise with caution
The MLC, for its part, is priced around 488 CUP, a value that should be interpreted as indicative given the low volume of transactions recorded during this time frame.
Regarding the previous day, when it was at 459 pesos, the MLC has risen by 29 pesos (+6.3%).
In the weekly comparison, the increase is even more pronounced: a week ago, the MLC averaged 441 pesos, which indicates a rise of 47 pesos (+10.7%) during that period.
In the last 30 days, it has fluctuated between a minimum of 413 and a maximum of 496 pesos.
Without physical existence, its usage is limited to state-run businesses that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash currencies.
Gap between the informal market and the official rate
The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) is 631 CUP per dollar and 731 CUP per euro, remaining well below the rates that prevail in everyday practice in the informal currency market.
The difference between the two markets is 32 pesos for the dollar and 20 pesos for the euro.
Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far removed from that of the informal market and fails to meet the actual demand for foreign currency from the population.
In the last month, the official exchange rate of the dollar has risen from 592 to 631 pesos, and that of the euro from 676 to 731 pesos, yet this has not narrowed the gap with the parallel market.
The difference between the official and informal exchange rates reflects the ongoing scarcity 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.
In a scenario 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.
Equivalence of United States Dollar (USD) to Cuban Peso (CUP), according to the exchange rates of this Wednesday, August 19, 2026
- 1 USD = 663 CUP.
- 5 USD = 3,315 CUP.
- 10 USD = 6,630 CUP.
- 20 USD = 13,260 CUP.
- 50 USD = 33,150 CUP.
- 100 USD = 66,300 CUP.
Equivalence of Euro (EUR) banknotes to Cuban Peso (CUP), according to the exchange rates this Wednesday, August 19, 2026
- 1 EUR = 751 CUP.
- 5 EUR = 3.755 CUP.
- 10 EUR = 7,510 CUP.
- 20 EUR = 15,020 CUP.
- 50 EUR = 37,550 CUP.
- 100 EUR = 75,100 CUP.
Methodology
The CiberCuba Exchange Rate is an index of the Cuban informal market created through the automated analysis of thousands of currency buy-sell posts in Telegram and Facebook groups.
The calculation rules out atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each operation based on its age, and consolidates a representative value that is updated several times a day.
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